This work aimed to evaluate the efficacy of alternative traps and food lures in capturing fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae). This research was carried out in a guava orchard in Crato, state of Ceará, Brazil, from 6 November to 18 December 2009 (traps) and from 13 January to 24 February 2010 (food lures). To compare them with McPhail traps containing hydrolyzed corn protein as food lure, we utilized margarine containers, vinegar bottles, PET bottles, alcohol bottles, vegetable oil bottles, saline-solution bottles and detergent bottles. For purposes of food lure comparison, sugarcane juice, industrialized baker's yeast, red grape vinegar, guava juice, brown sugar, human urine and crystal sugar were used as alternatives to hydrolyzed corn protein, using the McPhail traps. The experiments were set up using a completely randomized design; evaluations occurred once a week. PET bottles may replace McPhail traps, with higher captures of fruit flies observed at the first and second evaluation after installation of traps. Guava juice may replace hydrolyzed corn protein to capture these pests, while industrialized baker's yeast and red grape vinegar were inefficient in fruit fly capture.
Monitoring; fruit flies; Psidium guajava