Cyantraniliprole can replace malathion in baits for Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Bait applications are frequently utilised to control the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), because they can be applied rapidly and have a limited impact on natural enemies. However, the preferred toxicant, malathion, sometimes results in unacceptable residues and resistance has been found to it and the most common alternative, spinosad. Cyantraniliprole 100 g/L SE was therefore evaluated as an alternative toxicant in protein hydrolysate bait in laboratory bioassays, field cages and commercial citrus orchards in South Africa. Field-cage studies showed that mean adult mortality with the registered dosage of malathion EC 875 ppm a. i. plus protein hydrolysate at 1% in water was not significantly different (P > 0.05) from mortality with cyantraniliprole at 50, 100, 150 or 200 ppm a. i. mixed with protein hydrolysate at 1%, or GF120 NF (containing spinosad) diluted to 3.3%. Five field trials conducted in citrus orchards with protein hydrolysate at 0.8% plus cyantraniliprole 100 ppm a. i. all showed equivalent efficacy to the registered protein hydrolysate plus malathion standard, and GF120 NF at 4 or 5%. Cyantraniliprole can therefore serve as an alternative toxicant to organo-phosphates such as malathion when used in combination with protein hydrolysate in baits for the control of C. capitata.