DEVELOPING A MASS-PRODUCIBLE BAIT STATION CONTAINING ENTOMOPATHOGENIC FUNGI FOR THE CONTROL OF INVASIVE TEPHRITIDAE FRUIT FLIES

Goal:To enhance current mitigation strategies for invasive Tephritidae fruit flies by developing a pest control device that will kill reproductively mature females.Objective 1: Modify the bait station design and formulation application method to make them suitable for mass-production.Objective 2: Evaluate the effectiveness of the mass-produced bait stations on commercial farms to manage Zeugodacus cucurbitae (melon fly), Bactrocera dorsalis (Oriental fruit fly) and Ceratitis capitata (Mediterranean fruit fly).Objective 3: Evaluate the effectiveness of the mass-produced bait stations in attracting and killing Anastrepha suspensa (Caribbean fruit fly) and A. ludens (Mexican fruit fly) in laboratory cages.