Development Of Trap-Irradiate-Release/Sterile Insect Technique As A Tool For Integrated Pest Management Of Bac/Rocera Dorsalis Hendel (D1ptera: Tephritidae) In Mango Orchards

Abstract

One major important fruit Ily causing widespread damage to fruits and vegetables in Ghana is the oriental fruit fly, Bacfrocera dorsalis Hendel. Current management strategies such as male annihilation technique, bait application technique and insecticide applications are unable to eliminate the challenges posed by B. dorsalis. This study therefore sought to determine a new strategy in which B. dorsalis might be managed in a more integrated fashion . Over a period of one year, the fruit fly population in the south-eastern mango enclave of Ghana was monitored using baited traps to ascertain their diversity and population dynamics. This was followed by another study to determine the most efticient trap types and time of day to mass trap B. dorsalis for irradiation studies. In another study, the optimum dose of gamma irradiations to cause sterility in adult male B. dorsalis Jor trap-iITadiate-release/sterile insect technique was investigated. Furthermore, the behavioural response of adult males of B. dorsalis that have been pre-exposed or un-exposed to methyl eugenol (ME) to ME-baited traps was investigated. Ten fruit fly species were identified in the study area with B. dorsalis being the most dominant. Through this study, Dacus langi and Dacus longislylus were detected and recorded for the first time in Ghana. Ecoman traps were most efficient for trapping large numbers of adult B. dorsalis and evening-captured flies survived better. Moreover, trapping of flies that were un-exposed to ME yielded a higher recovery rate compared with nies that were pre-exposed to ME. This study has demonstrated that. a large population of adult male B. dorsalis exist in the south-eastern mango enclave of Ghana that could be trapped in the evenings with Eeoman traps for irradiation and TIR technique of insect pest management. Furthermore, TIR has a great potential to be successful since the males trapped with ME-baited traps and irradiated are less likely to be re-trapped in ME-baited traps.