2005 Annual Report 1.What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it (summarize project aims and objectives)? How serious is the problem? What does it matter? Fruit flies are among the most serious agricultural pests, having a severe economic impact on tropical and subtropical agriculture in many parts of the world and posing an increased threat of establishment into new areas. In Hawaii, fruit flies jeopardize development of a diversified fruit and vegetable industry, cause export fruits to undergo expensive quarantine treatments, and provide a reservoir for introduction into the mainland United States. When pests (e.g. Hawaiian fruit flies) are introduced into the U.S. mainland, they often require large-scale eradication programs, sometimes at great public expense. In California where the total value of the fruit and vegetable industry has been estimated to be more than $14 billion annually, the California Department of Food and Agriculture has estimated that an established infestation of Mediterranean fruit fly would cost from $855 million to $1.4 billion during the first year of establishment. In Hawaii, production of fruits and vegetables is limited due to insect pests. Furthermore, the presence of regulated pests in shipments of produce from Hawaii to other states or countries causes rejection of the shipment and loss of income to Hawaii's growers. One major goal of our laboratory is to facilitate the export of Hawaii's fruits to encourage expansion of the industry and create jobs. Our unit researches and develops environmentally acceptable technologies for detection and control of fruit flies. We are resolving the problem of fruit flies by developing a comprehensive research program aimed at developing new or improved semiochemical lures for detection and control, evaluating replacements for organophosphate insecticides and improvements for biologically-based control methods such as the use of parasitoids and sterile insects and continuing fundamental studies on the biology, ecology and physiology of these pests in the Hawaii environment. Area-wide suppression of fruit flies will allow for expansion of diversified agriculture in Hawaii. Relevance to ARS National Program Action Plan: National Program 304, Crop & Commodity Pest Biology, Control, & Quarantine (75%): Research will provide new information on pest biology, spatial distributions, control and quarantine of fruit flies and associated pest insects. This information will be useful for (1) development of ecologically based area-wide control & eradication methods and (2) export of tropical fruits. National Program 308, Methyl Bromide Alternatives (25%): Research will provide alternative methods to methyl bromide for control of fruit flies (& associated insect pests) and treatment of infested crops. 2.List the milestones (indicators of progress) from your Project Plan. Objective 1 B. latifrons population ecology Objective 2 2a Female attractants 2b Improved male lures Objective 3 3a Classical biological control - regional 3b Classical biological control - assessment of new species in Hawaii 3c Multiple parasitoid releases in Hawaii Objective 4 4a Spinosad bait spray optimization 4b Alternative toxicants 4c B. latifrons suppression trial Objective 5 5a Area-Wide Pest Management 5b Melon fly SIT + P. fletcheri releases Oriental fruit fly SIT + F. arisanus releases 5c F. arisanus releases in wild host areas 5d F. arisanus releases in cucurbits 4a.What was the single most significant accomplishment this past year? Continued registration of many organophosphate insecticides used in the U. S. is in doubt and alternatives are needed. As part of efforts to register new insecticides for fruit fly control in the U. S., Dr Vargas tested fipronil in male annihilation treatments for melon fly and oriental fruit fly and several other non-organophosphate insecticides in soil treatments for melon fly, oriental fruit fly and Mediterranean fruit fly. AmuletTM C-L (cue-lure) and AmuletTM ME (methyl eugenol) molded paper fiber “attract and kill” dispensers containing fipronil, were tested under Hawaiian weather conditions against Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett), melon fly, and B. dorsalis (Hendel), oriental fruit fly, respectively. Cue lure dispensers were effective for at least 77 d, while ME dispensers were effective for at least 21 d. Thus, C-L dispensers exceeded, while ME dispensers did not meet the label interval replacement recommendation of 60 d. Nonetheless, Amulet C-L and ME dispensers are a novel prepackaged formulation containing C-L or ME and fipronil, that are more convenient and safer to handle than current liquid insecticide formulations used for area-wide suppression of B. dorsalis and B. cucurbitae in Hawaii. 4b.List other significant accomplishments, if any. None. 4c.List any significant activities that support special target populations. None 5.Describe the major accomplishments over the life of the project, including their predicted or actual impact. This is a new project. The U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center has provided clients with environmentally acceptable technologies for fruit fly control, such as protein bait sprays and male annihilation. Substitution of spinosad for malathion bait sprays and for naled male annihilation treatments provides clients with user-friendly, economical and environmentally acceptable technology. These fruit fly control approaches will be major components of IPM programs for fruit flies not only in Hawaii, but also throughout the Pacific. Each of these factors is important to developing effective IPM control methodologies for fruit flies. Related behavioral studies have resulted in valuable information on the response of female fruit flies to various baits, lures and traps in climates similar to those found in major agricultural production areas in the U.S. mainland. This information may help predict how newly introduced pests behave in the field. In addition we have improved our formulations of new attractants to augment existing male and female attractants. 6.What science and/or technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the science and/or technology likely to become available to the end-user (industry, farmer, other scientists)? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption and durability of the technology products? The general technology for areawide fruit fly control in Hawaii has been transferred to growers in the original demonstration zone and is now spreading island-wide. Major technologies transferred to growers in Hawaii and to fruit fly researchers worldwide include the importance of sanitation, GF-120 spinosad bait sprays, male annihilation treatments, sterile flies, and parasitoids. In cooperation with the University of Hawaii, State Department of Agriculture, growers and other organizations, we have secured special local needs registrations for agricultural chemicals, implemented a fruit fly IPM extension educational program, developed site specific implementation plans and have initiated trapping, sanitation and control measures within a defined grid area for sites on Hawaii, Oahu and Maui Islands. The possible constraints to full adoption of the technology are the lack of EPA registered chemicals, grower resistance to change and the costs of producing and releasing sterile fruit flies and parasitoids. Sterile flies and parasites may not be sustainable by the farmer and may require continued government assistance. Work on chemical registrations and grower education is continuing. 7.List your most important publications in the popular press and presentations to organizations and articles written about your work. (NOTE: List your peer reviewed publications below). This project replaces the old CRIS project 5320-22430-020-00D which has terminated; therefore, there are no publications at this time. Review Publications Stark, J.D., Vargas, R.I. 2005. Population toxicity of the insecticide fipronil to daphnia pulex. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. 62 (1): 11-16. Available:www.sciencedirect.com