Prove di controllo di Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) in pescheti, aranceti e clementineti biologici

Tests to control Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) in organic peach, orange and clementine orchards. The Mediterranean Fruit Fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), is considered the key pest of several fruit species in organic farming. Experiments for the control of this pest have been carried out in organic peach orchards (in 2009 on a medium-late ripening cultivar, ‘Bella di Bivona’; in 2011 on a very early ripening one, ‘San Pedro’) testing nets, spinosad and pyrethrum (year 2009), in orange citrus groves (cv. Navelina, early ripening period), comparing spinosad, kaolin and bentonite (years 2009 and 2010) and in a clementine grove (cv. Monreal), using kaolin and bentonite. The very early ripening cultivars anticipate medfly presence in the field and avoid its attack; when adults of C. capitata are present the only effective method to protect peach production resulted the coverage with nets, as none of tested products obtained significant differences in infestation levels in comparison with untreated control. Spinosad resulted not effective also in the orange grove, while kaolin and bentonite limited the pest attack both on orange and clementine; results can be considered satisfactory for kaolin, while the two bentonite products used in the trials showed some differences probably due to their micronization degree.