Early and off-season biological control of medfly with entomopathogenic nematodes: From laboratory experiments to successful field trials

The Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is an important pest of citrus and other deciduous trees. There a need for sustainable management tools the use entomopathogenic nematodes have been explored controlling stages medfly that occur in soil. We investigated further this approach by assessing efficacy commercially available applied early season or off-season when populations are passing through their annual bottleneck period, aiming at reducing population before growing season. In laboratory experiments, commercial strains Steinernema carpοcapsae, feltiae, Heterοrhabditis bacteriοphοra H. downesi doses 1.5 × 106 IJs/m2 2.5 IJs/m2, 15C° 25C° was assessed. feltiae found to result up 70 % reduction adult emergence dose lower temperatures, confirming its superiority over species. Field trials groves Corinthos, Greece Spring 2021 (early season) Autumn (off-season) showed single application S. moderate regimes can provide about 62–65 suppression medlfies. Therefore, single, off-season, which more economically feasible significant overwintering medflies be safely integrated with management.