Role of Semiochemicals in Trapping and Mating Disruption of Fruit Flies (Bactrocera spp.) in Mango Orchards: Evaluation of Lures, Dispensers and Field Efficacy

Abstract

Fruit flies of the genus Bactrocera are among the most destructive pests of mango (Mangifera indica L.), causing direct fruit losses and restricting market access through quarantine regulations. Semiochemical-based tactics, particularly parapheromone trapping and the male annihilation technique (MAT), offer species-specific, environmentally benign alternatives to broad-spectrum insecticides, yet comparative data on lure–dispenser combinations and their impact on mating success under mango agroecosystem conditions remain fragmentary. A two-season field study was conducted in commercial mango orchards to (i) compare the attractiveness of methyl eugenol (ME) and cue-lure (C-L) formulations across solid and liquid dispensers, (ii) quantify the field longevity of candidate dispensers under tropical weathering, and (iii) evaluate MAT and SPLAT-based mating disruption for population suppression and reduction of fruit infestation. Jackson traps baited with SPLAT-MAT-ME captured significantly more B. dorsalis males (72.3 ± 4.1 flies/trap/week) than ME on cotton wicks (58.4 ± 3.2) or polymer plugs (65.7 ± 3.8) (F₅,₁₈ = 64.3, P < 0.001). Solid dispensers retained attractiveness for 12 weeks, whereas cotton wicks declined below 50% of initial catchwithin seven weeks. MAT suppressed trap catches by 84%, and the combined MAT + SPLAT treatment by 94%, relative to untreated controls 49 days after treatment; the proportion of mated females fell from 81.3% in controls to 28.7% under the combined treatment (χ² = 58.4, df = 3, P < 0.001). Harvest infestation was reduced from 37.9% (control) to 10.7% (MAT), 6.6% (MAT + protein bait) and 4.4% (MAT + SPLAT) (F₃,₁₂ = 96.2, P < 0.001). Results confirm that semiochemical-based MAT, reinforced with mating-disruption formulations and protein baiting, can suppress Bactrocera populations and fruit damage in mango orchards and should be embedded in area-wide integrated pest management programmes.