Biosens Melon Fly Lure - 1 Unit

Biosens Melon Fly Lure attracts male melon flies into the Fly Trap. With fewer males in the field, fewer eggs are laid and fewer maggots damage the fruits of gourds, melons, cucumber and pumpkin. One lure works for up to 60 days.

Melon fly (Bactrocera cucurbitae, now named Zeugodacus cucurbitae). The lure attracts adult male flies.

Fly Trap

Up to 60 days, depending on weather. The lure starts attracting flies within 2 days of placement. For best results, replace it after 60 days.

Watermelon, muskmelon, cucumber, pumpkin, snake gourd, ridge gourd, bitter gourd, bottle gourd and other cucurbit crops

Place one lure in the holder basket of the Fly Trap, with a little water and a few drops of edible oil at the bottom. Hang the traps 3-5 ft above the ground in partial shade, spread evenly across the field.

Melon fly is the main fruit fly pest of gourds, melons, cucumber and pumpkin. The female fly pierces young fruits and lays eggs under the skin. The maggots feed inside the fruit, which turns yellow, rots and often drops early. Damaged fruits cannot be sold. The maggots then drop to the soil to turn into pupae, and a single female can lay hundreds of eggs, so the pest builds up fast in warm, humid weather. Sprays give limited control because the maggots stay protected inside the fruit. Biosens Melon Fly Lure acts on the adult flies, before the next round of eggs is laid. It draws male flies into the Fly Trap, where they drown in the water at the bottom. Use it in two ways: • Monitoring: the traps show when melon flies arrive and how fast their numbers are rising, so control measures can be planned at the right time. • Mass trapping: a larger number of traps removes many males from the field. Fewer females get mated, fewer eggs are laid and fewer maggots reach the fruits. Used from flowering, together with removal of damaged fruits, it reduces melon fly build-up and fruit damage, lowers the need for insecticide sprays and gives more healthy, marketable fruits.

• 1 lure per trap • Monitoring: 8-10 traps per acre • Mass trapping: 15-30 traps per acre • Install the traps at the start of flowering, before the first fruits set, and keep them till the last picking.

Male melon flies are strongly drawn to certain plant-based scents. Biosens Melon Fly Lure releases such a scent, a male attractant called a para-pheromone, at a slow, steady rate. Male flies come to the trap from far away, enter it and drown in the water at the bottom. Female flies do not respond to the lure, so only males are caught. With fewer males left in the field, many females stay unmated and fewer eggs are laid in the fruits. This method is known as male annihilation. The lure is specific to fruit flies and does not harm bees or natural enemies.

1. Open the lure pouch only at the time of use. Place the lure in the holder basket inside the Fly Trap. 2. Pour about 100 ml of water with a few drops of edible oil into the bottom of the trap. Make sure the lure does not touch the water. 3. Fix the top cap onto the trap body until it locks in place. 4. Hang the trap 3 to 5 ft above the ground in partial shade, on a stake, pandal or plant support. 5. Spread the traps evenly across the field as per the dosage. 6. Check the traps regularly. When a trap fills with flies, open the top, empty it, add fresh water and oil, and lock it again. 7. Every week, collect damaged and fallen fruits and destroy them by burying them deep in a pit or sealing them in a plastic bag. This kills the maggots inside and works well with the traps. 8. For monitoring, count the flies caught at each check and write the number down. If catches keep rising, inspect the fruits for egg-laying marks and plan control measures. 9. Replace the lure after 60 days.

• Gives early warning of melon fly attack, so control measures can be timed right. • Removes male flies before they mate, which cuts egg laying in the fruits. • Acts on the adult flies, before the maggots get inside the fruits where sprays cannot reach them. • Reduces the need for chemical insecticide sprays and fits well into Integrated Pest Management (IPM). • Protects fruits from maggot damage and rot, giving more healthy, marketable produce. • Leaves no residue on the fruits, as the lure stays inside the trap and is never sprayed on the crop. • Specific to fruit flies. Safe for bees, natural enemies and the environment. • Easy to use: no mixing or spraying, and one lure lasts up to 60 days.

• Use the lure only in the Fly Trap. • Open the pouch just before placing the lure in the trap and use the lure immediately. • Avoid touching the lure with bare hands, and wash your hands after handling it. Do not handle lures of different pests together, as their scents can mix and reduce catches. • Keep the lure out of the water in the trap and away from chemicals. Do not mix it with pesticides or fertilizers, and do not spray anything on the trap or lure. • Store unused lures in their sealed pouches in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight. • Shelf life: 12 months from the date of manufacture. • Dispose of used lures and trapped flies away from the field, as used lures still give off some scent. • Lure performance and field life may vary with temperature, wind and rain. • Keep lures away from children, pets, food and animal feed.