Monitoring is an action that is used to understand insect activity to make pest management decisions. Surveillance to determine fluctuations in fruit fly populations is accomplished using traps baited with attractants (lures). Trap catches are used to monitor the relative numbers of fruit flies in an area and changes in insect abundance over time. Monitoring results can be useful in gauging the impact of fruit fly control actions. With highly mobile insects like fruit flies, monitoring is more efficient with traps and male lures. A minimum of 3 traps per area is recommended.

Why is monitoring important to FF Suppression?

Monitoring forewarns growers of on-going changes in fruit fly population within or outside of one's immediate cropping area. Comprehensive monitoring records are useful to understand seasonal abundance patterns to employ effective control tactics.

What are some ways I can monitor FF abundance?

Trapping with protein baits or male lures is the least labor-intensive method for monitoring fruit fly populations in local as well as area-wide geographic areas. Changes in fruit infestation levels is another way that fruit fly abundance can be monitored, but it is highly labor intensive.

Which male lure do I use?

Enroll in Attractants 202

What other supplies do I need besides a fruit fly trap and a male lure?

Insert a sticky card OR use soapy water (or propylene glycol antifreeze) on the bottom of trap to catch flies.

? Flies that are attracted into the bottle by the male lure will stick onto the sticky card and die.

? Place soapy water on the bottle of plastic bottle. Flies will drown in the solution.

Where do I hang traps?

tttttttttttttMelon Fly Monitoring: Hang traps in crop boarders, near roosting host

tttttttttttttOriental/Med Fly Monitoring: Hang traps in or around fruit trees

How often should I monitor the traps?

Fruit fly monitoring traps should be checked approximately every two weeks. Fruit flies caught in traps should be counted, recorded and removed. To collect fruit flies in traps, consider utilizing non pesticidal alternatives such as yellow sticky cards, or soapy water reservoirs. Yellow sticky cards and/ or soapy water should be replaced every 2 weeks, more frequently if necessary.