Monitoring bean seed flies
The bean seed fly (BSF) (Delia platura & Delia florilega) is a pest of over 40 crop species, causing the greatest problems in legumes and alliums. It usually causes the most crop damage early in the year. Crop yields are reduced when BSF larvae feed on developing seedlings, often killing them. Discussions with growers indicated that they would like to know when BSF are going to lay eggs in susceptible crops. BSF can be monitored using coloured water traps or sticky traps. The colours blue and white are particularly attractive to BSF and are also relatively less attractive than, for example, yellow traps, to cabbage root flies (Delia radicum). Cabbage root flies look similar but are slightly larger than BSF and it can be difficult to separate the two species without detailed examination (using a microscope). Sticky traps that are oriented vertically capture more BSF than horizontal traps. It is possible to buy trapping systems for BSF that include an attractive lure. Use of a lure generally increases the numbers of bean seed flies captured compared with a similar trap with no lure. It is possible to monitor BSF using some of the SMART trapping systems available on the market. However, identification of BSF from an image can be difficult; not every individual can be identified with certainty. However, SMART traps are useful to monitor for sudden changes in fly abundance.
SMART agriculture for innovative vegetable crop PROTECTion: harnessing advanced methodologies and technologies
Ongoing | 2020-2022
- Main funding source
- Horizon 2020 (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
- Geographical location
- Belgium