Optimizing the Delivery of GF-120 NF Naturalyte Fruit Fly Bait to Control Apple Maggot in Organic Orchards

The apple maggot (Rhagoletis pomonella) is a key pest of apples in eastern Canada and the United States causing fruit damage and significant economic losses. Research was conducted to optimize the delivery of a newly registered product, GF-120 NF Naturalyte Fruit Fly Bait (GF-120; active ingredient: spinosad) to control apple maggots in organic orchards. The effectiveness of applying GF-120 at two application intervals (7- and 14-day) and the potential of using perimeter sprays and alternate row spraying to control apple maggots were tested in apple orchards. The goal is to achieve acceptable level of pest control by using the minimum amount of control product. In a separate trial, application methods were refined for the maximum distribution of GF-120 within tree canopies and to prune fully grown, 45-year old ‘McIntosh’ large-sized trees for better penetration of GF-120 into inner tree canopies. Results showed that GF-120 should be applied every 7-10 days following label recommendations to adequately control apple maggots in orchards with severe pest pressure and resident infestations. If the apple maggot is not a resident pest, it is possible to apply spray to alternate tree rows or only to the perimeter of the orchard to control pest invasions. In orchards consisting of very large trees with dense foliage, uniform distribution and good penetration of GF-120 into tree canopies are extremely important to attain effective apple maggot control.