Monitoring Mango Fruit Fly Dynamics, Assessing Species and Damage in central Zone of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

Fruit fly is newly introduced to Mereb-lekhe district which constraining the production and market quality of mango the major cash crop of the district. The current study was conducted to monitor fruit fly dynamics, identify the species and extent of fruit damage for effective management strategy. Semi-structured questionnaires were used to assess the status of mango fruit fly and the existing farmers management practices. Methyl eugenol pheromone trap were installed on randomly selected fruiting mango trees at a height of 1.5 meter above ground for two successive years 2019-2020 to monitor fruit fly dynamic. Fruit fly were reared in laboratory for identification and fruit loss were analyzed for each variety. The result indicated that according to 90%of the respondents fruit fly is the most challenging pest caused above 50% fruit loss. Eighty eight of the respondents proved fruit fly prefer the most familiar variety; apple mango than the local mango. Based on the trap catch's the highest fruit fly population was recorded during May, June, July 1693, 2977, 5128 fruit fly/trap/week respectively with the peak population in July (5128) fruit fly/trap/week. The number of fruit fly were increasing steadily from April to July and then begins to reduce from August. This coincides with the rainy season and fruit ripening stage of the fruit tree. In the rearing cages a total of 117 adult fruit fly were emerged from maggots in the collected samples of infested fruits. Adult fruit flies were differentiated into two species. Eighty five of them Bactrocera dorsalis and the rest 32 were Ceratites species. Bactrocera. dorsalis were the dominant species in the study area devastating both mango and guava fruits. The result indicated that fruit fly infestation was significantly higher on apple mango than kent and local variety of mango (56,26&18) % respectively. Apple mango were highly susceptible to Bactrocera dorsalis and the local fibrous mango were comparatively tolerant. The highest fruit yield loss was recorded on apple mango (36qt/ha) than the local variety (12qt/ha) This indicated that the producer loosed 108660ETB (Ethiopian birr) from a hectare of apple mango due to fruit fly. Fruit quality were highly affected by the pest a single pin hole on the peel of the fruit caused total market faller. The male annihilation (methyl eugenol) technology should registered in the country and made available in local markets to integrate with cultural practices for fruit fly management.