Evaluation of different strategies for the control of the European cherry fruit flyin Emilia-Romagna (Northern Italy)

Abstract: Different strategies for the control of the European cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis cerasi(L.) (Diptera: Tephritidae), were evaluated in field trials conducted in Northern Italy (Pavullo,Modena) in 2008-2009. Two organophosphate insecticides (dimethoate and phosmet), theBeauveria bassiana, strain ATCC 74040-based bioinsecticide (Naturalis®) applied alone andafter dimethoate in IPM, and spinosad were compared. Organophosphate insecticides gave thehighest efficacy in reducing fruit infestation. Though the efficacy showed by Naturalis was lowerthan that of the organophosphates, the bioinsecticide controlled cherry fruit fly up to acceptableinfestation levels when the pest pressure was not high. Spinosad spray did not reduce fruitdamage compared to the untreated control.