Over the last three weeks, the Phytosanitary Alert and Information System (RAIF) of the Government of Andalusia has detected a considerable increase in the fruit fly population in citrus plantations in the Coast and Andévalo Sur, so they advise mass trapping to reduce it.
The Government's technicians noted in their report that as soon as the extra-early citrus varieties started ripening, and with the early varieties about to arrive, as well, a period has started in which the bite of the fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) may adversely affect both the production and the marketing of citrus.
The current weather conditions, especially in coastal provinces, with temperatures of between 16 and 32 °C and average relative humidity values of around 75%, are optimal for the insect's development; in fact, the provinces of Cadiz, Huelva and Seville have all recorded increases in the number of insects trapped.
The pest causes direct damage to the crop, since the larvae feed off the pulp, as well as indirectly, once the fruit starts rotting. These fruits will end up falling to the ground, which will result in their loss.
For decision-making related to the pest's population control, the RAIF recommends installing traps for the monitoring of adult insects and conducting weekly surveys of the fruit. Aspects to be taken into account include phenology, number of insects caught, presence/absence of damaged fruits and the safe use period of the active materials employed.
They also advise the pest's control in fruit orchards located in the vicinity of the plots, as well as the use of mass trapping techniques when the ripening starts and during the whole process afterwards. These measures, they stress, should contribute to reducing the insect's population.
Lastly, it is also essential to remove the fruit from the ground and not leave any ripe fruit on the tree, as this will help prevent new outbreaks in the future.
Source: agrodiariohuelva.es
