Comparative efficacy of some low-cost techniques for monitoring fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in guava orchards in Pakistan

Fruit flies cause guava losses. We evaluated low-cost attractants and trap colors in a guava orchard at Kohat, Pakistan, in 2017. In Experiment 1, 15 attractant formulations were tested in five replications. Methyl eugenol/sugar/dimethoate (one month old) captured the most flies (27.34/trap); mango essence/protein hydrolysate/sugar/dimethoate (two months old) captured the least (2.03/trap). Fresh formulations captured more flies, but differences were non-significant. In Experiment 2, Bactrocera zonata preferred red traps (21.00/trap) and Bactrocera dorsalis preferred yellow traps (14.00/trap); yellow traps captured the highest total (30.00/trap). Methyl eugenol-based attractants and red/yellow traps are effective low-cost tools for monitoring fruit flies.