Efficacy of kaolin, spinosad and malathion against Ceratitis capitata in Citrus orchards

none3Field experiments were conducted in 2005 on orange, Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck, var. Thomson in two different sites, Sbikha and Sidi Bouali, in Tunisia to assess the effectiveness of kaolin, spinosad and malathion against the Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly), Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera Tephritidae). In both study sites, the materials were applied 3 times (kaolin at a concentration of 5 kg formulated product /100 l, spinosad at a concentration of 1 l formulated product /ha and malathion at a concentration of 200 ml formulated product /100 l). The efficacy of the different treatments was evaluated by assessing male captures in modified Steiner traps and fruit damage (punctured and dropped fruits). The results indicated that (1) no significant differences among treatments in male captures were detected (2) fruit damage (no. punctured fruits and fallen fruits) was lower on kaolin-treated trees than on spinosad, malathion, and untreated trees. Kaolin successfully protected fruits from medfly infestations and provided long term control, from fruit development until harvest, whereas the insecticide, malathion, and the naturally derived insect control agent, spinosad, failed to protect fruits. Kaolin appears to be an important and helpful tool to reduce medfly fruit damage, and could be a valid alternative to intensive applications of insecticides, currently commonly used in Citrus orchards.noneBRAHAM M.; PASQUALINI E. ; NCIRA N.BRAHAM M.; PASQUALINI E. ; NCIRA N