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October 2015. An article in FreshFruitPortal was about the ban on Fenthion, and that many vegetable growers were saying that it was the only remaining effective fruit fly pesticide. The organophosphorus insecticide was previously registered for a range of crops in Australia, including apples, avocados, papayas, grapes, mangoes, stonefruit, tomatoes and peppers. It will be phased out over October, and a Fruit Fly Action Group spokesman reportedly said a lack of alternative chemicals or control methods was causing uncertainty in the ??industry and affecting business confidence.
Members had thfis to say:
- There are now some good, long lasting, cheap and effective female biased lure/ trap systems available for fruit flies (e.g., Biotrap-Gel) that could be incorporated into fruit fly management programmes.
- The “many” who say fenthion is the “only remaining effective fruit fly pesticide” need to think beyond spraying pesticides. Crop hygiene and protein baits are very effective and VERY IPM compatible. Pheromone trapping with male lures is also a useful monitoring tool. But the important point is that the protein bait targets the weakness of the new female flies (they need a protein feed to mature their eggs) and is an effective, environmentally friendly, low cost, control method.
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