Artificial Intelligence Performs Key Step in Fruit Fly Management
Determining the precise age of mass-reared fruit flies is a critical step in managing them in the wild via the sterile insect technique. Researchers in Mexico have applied machine-learning algorithms that can accurately measure the age of fruit fly pupae to properly time irradiation.
Organic Coating Gives Cherries a Chance to Fend Off Fruit Flies
With an organic, food-grade coating sprayed on cherries in the orchard, western cherry fruit flies have difficulty gripping the fruit surface to lay eggs. Ongoing research is fine-tuning the coating formulation in hopes of creating a new tool for integrated pest management in cherries.
New Guide Outlines Management for Mediterranean Fruit Fly in Egypt
In Egypt, the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) is a major pest of a wide variety of fruit crops. A new guide in the open-access Journal of Integrated Pest Management details the fly's life cycle and biology and available management methods for growers.
To Control Lekking Fruit Flies, Male Size Matters (Except When it Doesn’t)
A study of two significant pest fruit fly species finds that the size of males influences female mating choice in one of the species, but not in the other—important knowledge for fine-tuning management efforts for both species via the sterile insect technique.