Upload
kendra-mcneil
View
209
Download
1
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
MEET DORY… The Mediterranean fruit fly or medfly is one of the most destructive
agricultural insects in the world.
The medfly can affect over 250 species of fruits, vegetables, and other crops. The medfly prefers fleshy fruits, but may infest virtually any fruit, particularly citrus, as well as most vegetables raised in California.
The United States is eager to see medfly populations reduced because the potential costs per year due to export sanctions, lost markets, treatment costs and crop losses are in the billions.
MEET DORY… The medfly has been a plague to California for over 70 years. Eradication
efforts have never been totally successful, so continued control is essential.
Current control procedures involve placing traps in trees to identify medfly infestations.
In the past, aerial and ground bait spaying of Malathion was the standard control.
The continued use of Malathion has taken its toll. People who have been exposed to Malathion experienced problems in their nervous and respiratory systems.
The chemical spraying also caused considerable environmental pollution and the medfly was developing resistance.
Due to these problems the California State Assembly has banned the use of Malathion.
MEET DORY… McNeil Enterprises has developed an economic and
environmentally friendly alternative to chemical spraying in residential areas.
Meet Dory (Doryctobraon) a natural predator of the medfly.
Dory is being bred commercially by McNeil Enterprises and has been approved by the USDA as an acceptable alternative to chemical spraying in residential areas.
Dory is sterile so it will not become another pest to be dealt with.
MEDFLY… Once I had my idea I started to research
the medfly. http://
ag.arizona.edu/crops/insects/fruitfly.pdf I learned that it originated in Africa, how
it spread, and that its hosts were over 250 different fruits, flowers, vegetables and nuts.
The medfly causes major damage to its hosts, and has a major impact on growers both through damaged and quarantined crops.
Control of the medfly included: Traps to identify infestation. Aerial and ground bait spraying with
Malathion. Introducing sterile medflies to reduce
insect population.
PROBLEMS WITH MALATHION… There were problems with Malathion spraying
http://www1.american.edu/ted/MEDFLY.HTM
Some people who were exposed experienced problems in their nervous and respiratory systems.
Repeated spraying also caused considerable environmental pollution.
In 1990, under considerable public pressure, the California State Assembly banned the use of Malathion.
NATURAL PREDATORS… Natural predators of the medfly seemed like a good way to
control them. http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/domestic/downloads/nat
ural_enemies_fruit_fly.pdf
Research showed the medfly has many natural predators: Microorganisms like bacteria Parasites Natural predators
I picked Doryctobracon because it was native to both North and South America and had already been introduced to the United States.
DORYCTOBRACON (aka: DORY)…
I researched Doryctobracon http://hymenoptera.tamu.edu/paroffit/?taxcpl=tax&taxcpl_id=7613
It had been successfully introduced in Florida and Texas.
I realized that it should be sterilized before being introduced so it wouldn’t just create a new problem.
BUILDING DORY… Step #1
Made the body out of styrofoam balls.
Used pipe cleaners for the legs and mouth pinchers.
Step #2 (major challenge) Made the wing out of
Elmer's Glue Wire Plastic