Comparative effectiveness of Bactrocera spp. trap spacing in chili and tomato fields

Abstract

Bactrocera spp. are major insect pests causing economic losses in chili (Capsicum annuum) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) crops. This study evaluated the population dynamics of Bactrocera spp. and the effectiveness of fruit fly traps at different installation distances.  The study was conducted from August 2024 to July 2025 at six cultivation fields in Batu City, East Java, Indonesia, consisting of three C. annuum and three S. lycopersicum fields approximately 1.500 m² each. Trap-placement treatments included distances of 5, 10, and 20 m, and weekly catches of B. dorsalis and B. carambolae were analyzed using the Kruskal–Wallis test. The highest B. dorsalis population was recorded in C. annuum fields at C2 in September 2024 approximately 50 individuals per trap per month, whereas populations in S. lycopersicum fields were lower, with the highest abundance observed at T3 in October 2024 approximately 20 individuals per trap per month. The results of this study suggest that attractant traps are recommended primarily as a monitoring tool for detecting population fluctuations of Bactrocera spp., although they also show potential for reducing fruit fly populations in C. annuum and S. lycopersicum agroecosystems.