A potential field suppression system for Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel

• A prototype system was developed for fruit fly suppression.
• This system includes basil oil (BO) and/or methyl eugenol (ME) and a plastic trapping container.
• This system can attract male fruit flies in the field and kill them in 2 h after being trapped.
• The efficacy of BO + ME lasted at least 3 months.
• To date, no report on human health risk to basil oil was found in the literature.

Development of an effective and safe detection or control system is important for pest management. Attractants for male fruit flies, e.g., methyl eugenol (ME), are currently being used in fruit fly control in combination with insecticides. A single formulation that possesses both attraction and killing properties would improve control methods and cost effectiveness. We previously observed the attraction of oriental fruit flies to a basil plant in a yard and confirmed the attraction of male fruit flies to basil oil (BO) in the laboratory. Subsequently, we identified insecticidal compounds from BO that killed three species of tephritid fruit flies in the laboratory, and we also discovered physiological interactions between BO constituents and male attractants. Based on these observations, we developed a single package of basil oil and methyl eugenol (BO + ME) formulation that possesses “attract and kill” properties in combination with a modified AWPM standard trap for field application. The effectiveness of this system is dependent on the type of trap and weather conditions (sunny or not sunny). Any attracted flies were killed within 2 h after entering the BO + ME trap. The combination of BO, ME, and a clear bucket trap may be a novel alternative for a cost effective and environmentally friendly fruit fly management system.

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