Mass trapping is a viable alternative to insecticides for management of Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae) in apple orchards in Brazil

Abstract We evaluated a new integrated pest-management system for Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann, 1830), the main insect pest of apple crops in Brazil. Our strategy combined mass trapping and application of toxic baits in crop systems without (Area 1) and with (Area 3) anti-hail netting. The treatments were compared with the conventional management (applications of toxic baits and insecticides as cover sprays) in two areas without (Area 2) and with (Area 4) anti-hail netting. The study was conducted for two consecutive years (2017–2018 and 2018–2019 seasons). In areas with mass trapping (Area 1 and Area 3), 120 PET traps (600 mL), baited with 300 mL of CeraTrap® hydrolyzed protein, were used per hectare. Fewer A. fraterculus adults were caught in crop systems without anti-hail netting using McPhail monitoring traps in Area 1 (mass trapping) than under conventional management (Area 2). The infestation of A. fraterculus was similar in areas with anti-hail netting with mass trapping (A3) and under conventional management (A4). In the 2017–2018 season, the areas with mass trapping (A1 and A3) had fewer damaged fruits (%) either without (0.4%) and with (0.7%) anti-hail netting than in the areas with conventional management (A2 and A4) without (1.7%) and with (0.8%) anti-hail netting. However, in the 2018–2019 season, fruit damage was similar in all areas studied. Mass trapping combined with the use of toxic baits can be an alternative to the conventional management of A. fraterculus.