Evaluation of different strategies for the control of the European cherry fruit fly in Emilia-Romagna (Northern Italy).

Different strategies for the control of the European cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis cerasi L., (Diptera Tephritidae) were evaluated in field trials conducted in Northern Italy (Pavullo, Modena) in 2008-2009. Two organophosphate insecticides (dimethoate and phosmet), the Beauveria bassiana strain ATCC 74040-based bioinsecticide (Naturalis®) applied alone and after dimethoate in IPM and spinosad were compared. Organophosphate insecticides gave the highest efficacy in reducing fruit infestation. Though the efficacy showed by Naturalis was lower than that of the organophosphates, the bioinsecticide controlled cherry fruit fly up to acceptable infestation levels when the pest pressure was not high. Spinosad spray did not reduce fruit damage compared to the untreated control.