Potential for Attractive Semiochemical Lures in Rhagoletis cerasi (L.) Management: A Field Study

Abstract

In the view of sustainable management of Rhagoletis cerasi (L.) (Diptera, Tephritidae), a key pest of cherry orchards in Europe, we tested the efficacy of five blends containing male produced volatiles that were used as lures on yellow sticky traps, during a two year field study. Results show a superior efficacy of one of the blends (RC1 = 2-hexanone: 3-heptanone: nonanal), which captured three times more individuals than control in both years. Good results were also obtained by RC2 (beta-phellandrene: geranyl acetate: (+)-limonene) with an average number of catches which was half that of RC1 in both years. Our findings showed that one of the tested blends, which possibly represents the male sexual pheromone, has a promising potential for practical applications of synthetic lures in monitoring, mass-trapping or attract and kill strategies.