Evaluate the capability of non-destructive electronic sensing technology to identify the presence of cherry fruit fly larva in cherries. Educate the grower community of the results and feasibility of this approach through workshops and other grower meetings. This is a new safer class of insecticide produced as a natural fermentation product. Spinosad is not persistent in the environment, with photolysis as the major route of degradation in soil and water. Spinosad is considered safe to birds, mammals, fish, aquatic invertebrates and plants, earthworms and many beneficial insects.
Indications are that it is effective against cherry fruit fly.
Spinosad with bait and feeding stimulant. This treatment would include the addition of a bait and feeding stimulant to increase the efficacy of Spinosad. They may serve well as transitional materials from the organophosphates to safer more species specific alternatives. The use of synthetic pyrethroids has been associated with increased mite populations, so this impact will be closely monitored. This treatment is needed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the three alternatives.