Effect of variable storage periods of male annihilation technique (MAT) lure on their attractancy to tephritids, fruit flies, Bactrocera spp. (tephritidae: Diptera)

The data on number of fruit flies trapped per week for a period of 7 weeks were taken at cucumber field var., Pusa Sanyog. It can be inferred from the data that irrespective of container, the mean number of trapped fruit flies was found to be significantly more in lure stored for 10 days (259.25 flies/trap/7 weeks) and was at par those stored for 15 days (184.75 flies/trap/7 weeks). Overall mean numbers of fruit flies trapped at other storage periods were found at par. The trap catch of males in parapheromone traps is affected by a large number of factors including the abiotic factors of the environment which indirectly alter the target insect i.e., fruit fly and behavior of the target pest. The maximum trap catch at 10 days storage period could be ascribed due to peak activity of the pest during this period. The critical examination of data indicated a consistent trapping between 127.5–142.5 flies/trap/7 weeks at 5, 20, 25 and 30 days storage period. Efficacy on different insecticide revealed that wooden pheromones lures containing spinosad as insecticide resulted in attracting maximum fruit fly population (88.65 flies/trap/weeks) followed by malathion (28.32 flies/trap/weeks) and Lambdacyhalothrin (8.67 flies/trap/weeks).