Australian Stonefruit Grower Magazine Issue 4 April 2017 | Page 20

Research
To investigate this further, a series of
trials were conducted using large potted
plants inside a net house. Trees at either
end were treated with insecticide, with
netting suspended underneath to catch
dead flies. The trees were illuminated
with UV light or left unlit, with
treatments reversed for each replication
only occurred when the plants
So, it is clear that
Qfly is attracted to UV
light. Unfortunately, that
attraction is not very
strong. One option would be
to combine UV light with
other attractants.
were placed in a shaded area.
When a plant in an open area was
illuminated with UV light, the light
had little effect, or even repelled the
flies.
The next step was to construct
a prototype UV light trap. This
of the trial.
included UV light strips, a solar
Significantly more Qflies landed
panel, timer and hood to shade
on plants that were illuminated with UV
light than those that remained unlit. However, this
the light source. The trap was placed in
a field of chillies and programmed to turn on for two
hours at dusk. This site was chosen because it was being
used for another trial and large numbers of fruit flies were
being released. Yellow sticky traps were used to compare
the number of flies coming to the UV light with those in the
general cropping area.
Females outnumbered males 4:1 on the yellow sticky
traps, regardless of UV exposure. In total 828 female and
134 male flies were caught next to the UV light, compared
to 343 female and 82 male flies in the field area.
So, it is clear that Qfly is attracted to UV light.
Unfortunately, that attraction is not very strong. One
option would be to combine UV light with other attractants
Total Qflies killed on insecticide treated trees that were
illuminated with UV lights or not, and placed in either an
open or shaded area. (6 replications)
– such as colour, or food-based lures. A trap based on such
a combination could provide an alternative way to monitor
Qfly populations.
Clear pieces of sticky film that were hung in front of a UV light or elsewhere inside a field cage. There are clearly more flies
on the film that was suspended in front of the UV light.
20
Australian Stonefruit Grower | April 2017
summerfruit.com.au