Biology and control of Dacus ciliatus
As reported in EPPO RS 96/065, Dacus ciliatus (EPPO A1 quarantine pest) has been recently found on cucurbits in Israel, in a limited area in the Arava valley. The pest is under eradication. Laboratory studies were carried out to study its biology and control. It was found that all commercial cucurbits grown in Israel, as well as the wild Citrullus colocynthis, could host D. ciliatus. It was observed that females were able to lay eggs in tomato and Capsicum fruits, but the larval development could not be completed. In the laboratory, the life span of flies reared on honey, yeast extract and water was usually of 2-4 months (with a maximum of 6 months). At 28°C and 70 % RH, the development from egg to adult stage takes 12 to 17 days. The efficacy of several plant protection products was tested by exposing adult flies to treated cucumbers, and/or by direct contact. The most effective compounds were pyrethroids (cypermethrin, fenpropathrin and bifenfhrin). Organophosphates (monocrotophos, dimethoate, acephate), carbamate (methomyl) and insect growth regulator (azadirachtin) were found less effective.
Sources
Yarom, I.; Svechkov, A.; Freidberg, A.; Horowitz, A.R.; Ishaaya, I. (1997) Biology and chemical control of Dacus ciliatus. Abstracts of papers presented at the 10th Conference of the Entomological Society of Israel.
Phytoparasitica, 25(2), p 165