Bait attractants based on artificial fruit-essence for trapping and monitoring Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) females in Peshawar-Pakistan.

Abstract

The spotted-wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae), native to Asia was reported for the first time in Pakistan in 2005 from Islamabad. Following the recent detection of D. suzukii in cherry orchards at Kalam (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) a trapping system was developed to monitor it on fruits. The efficacy of three baited trap attractants using apple cider vinegar, yeast sugar solution and synthetic fruits-essence solution (using banana, guava or strawberry as fruit) were tested. Traps were installed at fruit markets at three different locations in Peshawar. The bait based on synthetic fruit-essence solution yielded the highest captures. Among the baits based on synthetic fruit-essence solution, the highest captures were obtained with strawberry essence.