Integrated Control of Fruit Flies (Bactrocera spp.) in Mango and Cucumber Cultivations Utilizing Para-pheromone Traps and Innovative Insecticide Compounds

Fruit flies (Bactrocera spp.) are a significant nuisance for fruit and vegetable cultivation, leading to considerable economic damage in tropical and subtropical areas. The insect is difficult to manage irrespective of the crop type and almost all the regions. Sometime farmers use the combination of ME and Cue lure to manage the fruit fly assuming that it will be more effective as compared to single lure. Therefore, this research examined the comparativeeffectiveness of para-pheromone traps usingmethyl eugenol (ME), cue-lure (CL), and their mixture, together with new insecticides, for the comprehensive management of fruit flies in mango and cucumber fields. Field experiments were performed across two seasons in Himachal Pradesh, India. ME traps effectively lured B. dorsalis and B. zonata in mango orchards, whereas CL traps were more efficient against B. cucurbitae and B. tau in cucumber fields. Mixed-lure traps showed variable effectiveness, probably because of lure interference along with the insecticides evaluated.Insecticides, Lambda-cyhalothrin (0.004%) and Spinosad (0.004%) significantly decreased fruit infestation and enhanced yield, surpassing traditional treatments using Malathion. Economic analysis demonstrated greater benefit-cost ratios for Lambda-cyhalothrin and Spinosad, indicating their effectiveness for integrated pest management (IPM). The results highlight the results of combining species-specific lures with modern insecticides to replace the traditional insecticides for the sustainable and economical management of fruit flies. Subsequent studies ought to investigate mass trapping methods, improved lure durability, and the incorporation of biocontrol agents for comprehensive management.