Efficacy of locally formulated baits in managing the melon fly, bactrocera cucurbitae (coquillett) (diptera: tephritidae)

Laboratory and field experiments were carried out in Morogoro Region from August 2008 \nto June 2009 to evaluate effectiveness of locally formulated baits in managing the melon \nfly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Cocquillett) (Diptera:Tephritidae). An assay was design to \ndetermine the quantity of D. elliptica that could kill more than 50% of B. cucurbitae \npopulations, where by roots of D. elliptica were sun dried and prepare a crude extracts then \nwere mixed with brewer’s yeast and the other one mixed with molasses at different \nconcentration and time of exposure then administered to the adult of B.cucurbitae. LD 50 \nvalue of the extracts of D. elliptica in Molasses and Brewer’s yeast against B. cucurbitae \nwas observed at 24 hours and 36 hours time of exposure at concentrations of 1.5 g/l to 2.5 \ng/l respectively, mortalities were increased with concentrations and the time of exposure to \nD. elliptica in either Molasses or Brewer’s yeast. Completely Randomized Block Design \n(CRBD) in three locations was used with four treatments each applied on an individual \nplot. Four weeks after sowing baits were sprayed on the roosting host plant while an \ninsecticide was sprayed on the crop following recommended doses. D. ellipica extracts \nmixed in molasses sprayed on border crop show significance difference compared with the \nDimethoate 40 EC sprayed on crop, and Spinosad (GF-120) sprayed on border crop. The \nefficiency of locally formulated baits in monitoring the B. cucurbitae population was tested \non plots of watermelon crop. McPhail traps were hung on a wooden pole 1.5 m above the \nground and prepared recommended bait solutions were added to each trap. Significant \ndifferent were observed in the efficacy of brewer’s waste, solulys, molasses and Protein \nbaits in monitoring B. cucurbitae population. Molasses was proved to be more effective in \nattracting large means number of B. cucurbitae followed by brewer’s waste.