Project Number: 5320-22430-020-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Oct 24, 2001
End Date: Aug 31, 2005

Objective:
Develop environmentally acceptable and economically feasible systems for detection, control, suppression, and eradication of the Mediterranean, oriental, melon, and Malaysian fruit flies and other insect pests associated with tropical fruits, vegetables, and ornamentals.

Approach:
Develop new or improved lures, attractants, parapheromones, & baits to be used in improved trap detection devices and/or control systems. Investigate semiochemicals of parasitoids to measure population levels of biocontrol agents. Investigate fruit fly and parasitoid olfactory, gustatory, and ovipostional sensilla and their electrophysiology. Investigate chemical structure and activity relationships of semiochemicals of pests and biocontrol agents. Evaluate augmentative parasite releases, mass-trapping, male annihilation, sterile fly releases, insecticide and food bait sprays as control, suppression, or eradication technologies. Measure dispersal and movement of released and wild populations of flies and their parasitoids. Test more environmentally acceptable pesticides and compounds for use in control or eradication programs. Investigate biology and behavior of fruit flies and other pests and their parasitoids. (Replacing 5320-22430-017-00D, 9/28/01).

Project Team

Vargas, Roger McQuate, Grant Gonsalves, Dennis Harris, Ernest Jang, Eric

Project Annual Reports

FY 2003   FY 2002

Related National Programs

Crop Protection & Quarantine (304)   Methyl Bromide Alternatives (308)

Related Projects

Molecular Improvement of Pineapple    Pests and Diseases of Papayas    Improvement of Attractants for Tephritid Fruit Flies    Integration of Fopius Arisanus with Bait Sprays & Male Annihilation Treatments for Control of Oriental Fruit Fly in Fr. Polynesia & Hawaii    Environmental Effects of Tephritid Fruit Fly Eradication and Control