title: Field Evaluation of Melolure, a Formate Analogue of Cuelure, and Reassessment of Fruit Fly Species Trapped in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
abstract: In Australia, tephritids are usually attracted to either cuelure or methyl eugenol. Methyl eugenol is a very effective lure, but cuelure is less effective likely due to low volatility. A new formate analogue of cuelure, melolure, has increased volatility, resulting in improved efficacy with the melon fruit fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae Coquillett. We tested the efficacy of melolure with fruit fly species in Sydney as part of the National Exotic Fruit Fly Monitoring programme. This monitoring programme has 71 trap sites across Sydney, with each trap site comprising separate Lynfield traps containing either cuelure, methyl eugenol, or capilure lure. In 2008, an additional Lynfield trap with melolure plugs was added to seven sites. In 2009 and 2010, an additional Lynfield trap with melolure wicks was added to 11 trap sites and traps were monitored fortnightly for 2 yr. Capture rates for melolure traps were similar to cuelure traps for Dacus absonifacies (May) and Dacus aequalis (Coquillet), but melolure traps consistently caught fewer Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) than cuelure traps. However, trap sites with both a cuelure and melolure traps had increased capture rates for D. absonifacies and D. aequalis, and a marginally significant increase for B. tryoni. Melolure plugs were less effective than melolure wicks, but this effect may be related to lure concentration. The broader Bactrocera group species were attracted more to cuelure than melolure while the Dacus group species were attracted more to melolure than cuelure. There is no benefit in switching from cuelure to melolure to monitor B. tryoni, the most important fruit fly pest in Australia.
authors.affiliation: NSW Department of Primary Industries, Locked Bag 21, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia. bernie.dominiak@dpi.nsw.gov.au.
authors.forename: Bernard C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Dominiak
authors.affiliation: NSW Department of Primary Industries, P O Box 1386, Bathurst, NSW 2795, Australia. bernie.dominiak@dpi.nsw.gov.au.
authors.forename: Angus J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, P O Box 4459, Hilo, HI 96720.
authors.forename: Eric B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Research and Development, Scentry Biologicals Inc., 610 Central Avenue, Billings, MT 59102.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramsey
authors.affiliation: School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre of Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3216, Australia.
authors.forename: Benjamin G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Fanson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D009517:New South Wales; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D010675:Pheromones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D033621:Tephritidae / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D010675:Pheromones; C010411:insect attractants
keywords: Bactrocera; Dacus; Queensland fruit fly; cuelure; melolure