A novel protein-based fruit fly trap in melon flies Bactrocera cucurbitae for effective pest control management

Agriculture remains a major source of subsistence for local communities in India. However, agricultural yield can be strongly affected by agricultural pest outbreaks. This can result in economic losses for small-scale farmers who already experience socio-economic challenges, such as lack of appropriate infrastructure and subsides. Sophisticated pest management techniques (e.g. sterile insect technique) are less accessible to small farmers in developing countries, and therefore, alternative cost-effective approaches for pest management are needed. Here, we report our findings of a 3-year field trial (2018-2020) in India, which was designed to test for the potential effectiveness of a novel, slow-release formulation protein-based trap, compared to standard Cuelure traps against melon flies Bactrocera cucurbitae (Diptera: Tephritidae). Protein-bait traps can attract flies from both sexes (as opposed to male-only, chemical traps), bearing the potential to have a greater long-term impact on pest populations by decreasing future reproductive potential of trapped individuals. We found that, despite uneven sampling efforts, Cuelure had overall higher trapping performance, while protein-bait traps, despite trapping at lower efficiency, were equally effective for trapping males and females. Simulations with our field data revealed that protein-bait traps can have an 'inclusive' advantage by trapping females and thereby preventing future individuals. Overall, our study highlights the potential benefits of using this alternative trapping technique to supplement pest management in developing countries.