Assessment of Fruit Fly Trapping System in Mango Orchards in Northern Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract

Mango is the third largest export fruit in Côte d’Ivoire. However, its yield is limited by the damage caused by fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae). This study aimed at assessing the trapping system for fruit fly detection and monitoring in mango orchards in Northern Côte d’Ivoire. Four sites were selected in Northern Côte d’Ivoire in mango production area and in timber yard areas. Five trapping systems were tested: two food attractants (torula yeast, CeraTrap) and three sex attractants (methyl eugenol, trimedlure, cue-lure). Plastic bottles were used for food attractants and commercial traps for sex attractants. Five traps per treatment with three repetitions per site were set up. Ten species of flies have been identified: Bactrocera dorsalis, B. cucurbitae, Ceratitis anonae, C. bremii, C. capitata, C. cosyra, C. punctata, Dacus ciliatus, D. punctatifrons and Dacus spp.. Among these species, B. dorsalis was dominant. It was captured by 94.04% and 90.94%, respectively, in mango orchards and forest areas included wild fruits. The average number of individuals captured varied from one species to another, depending on the attractants. This average was estimated to 379.91, 27.58, 25.55, 15.1 and 11.93, respectively, for méthyl eugénol, torula yeast, CeraTrap, cue-lure, trimedlure. The attractants have shown their specificity in capturing fly species. Methyl eugenol had the highest capture and was the most effective.