STUDY ON INSECT PESTS AND DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR CONTROL MEASURES ON DRAGON FRUIT

The study was conducted during the period of 2003 to 2012: (1) identify the damage caused by insect pests; and (2) set up IPM model for control of ants and fruit flies in the dragon fruit fields in three provinces (Tien Giang, Long An and Binh Thuan) in Southern Vietnam. Results showed that dragon fruit fields were most infected by ants and fruit flies. Evenly distributed on all surveyed areas, 7 species of ant and 3 species of fruit fly infested dragon fruit were identified. SOFRI trukien® and SOFRI protein® applications, field sanitary practices, traps reduced fruit fly population but no single method was able to guarantee sustainable control of ants and fruit flies. SOFRI protein® (hydrolyzed protein yeast waste mixed with fipronil 5SC 3 ml) was effective to control fruit flies when spot-sprayed onto the tree. On IPM dragon fruit orchards, the number fruit flies trapped by methyl eugenol was very low (15 flies per day) plus spray SOFRI protein were effective to control fruit flies, and the fruit yields of these orchards were clearly higher compared to famer orchards.