Efficacy of the "Mitchell Station," a New Bait-Station for the Control of the Caribbean Fruit Fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew) (Diptera: Tephritidae)
Academic Article
Overview
Research
Additional Document Info
Other
View All
Overview
abstract
Insecticide bait sprays for the control of fruit flies are often applied to nonagricultural areas. As a result urban populations and environmentalists have expressed concerns for both human health and the conservation of nontarget organisms. One alternative to bait sprays is the deployment of portable bait units which attract pests to a limited number of sites and there expose them to the toxicant. The late Dr. Everett Mitchell designed such an "attract and kill" device and considered the possibility of its use in fruit fly suppression / eradication programs. The ability of this "Mitchell Station" (=MS), with or without the addition of an ammonium acetate and putrescine attractant, to kill Caribbean fruit flies (Anastrepha suspensa [Loew]) was compared in field cages to the standard McPhail and Multi Lure traps. The MS station was not as efficient as either the McPhail or Multi-lure traps. However, it would be considerably less expensive to manufacture and deploy, and might find a niche within area-wide management programs. Subsequent deployment of the MS in the field significantly suppressed previously released populations of sterile A. suspensa.
