Mango farmers using jar traps to control whiteflies

A whitefly is a tiny transparent insect with white wings. Farmers in Kenya face low returns due to high infestation rate of the whiteflies on their fruits.

Peter Wambora, a pest control expert said most farmers try their best to eradicate the pest by spraying pesticides with no results.

“Most farmers spray the insecticides directly on the fruit tree which will not help to control the pests. It will cause a lot of chemical build up on the fruits. Farmers can use jar traps,” he said.

According to Farmbiz Africa, the pests cause about 90 per cent damage on mangoes. The site also suggests that the trap jar should be covered with a lid and punched holes on the sides. The holes should be laced with a pheromone chemical used to attract male fruit flies within a radius of one km of the farm.

How to make the trap jar

Get a plastic jar and 30 centimetres galvanized wire. Cut holes in the bottle approximately one to two centimetre in diameter. Make a hole through the lid and insert the wire through the hole and bend to keep it in place. The wire sticking out will be used to hang the trap on your fruit tree. Apply the pheromone chemical inside the trap.

Hang the traps at eye level in semi shades and near fruit trees. Replace the chemical with a new one in case the flies stop getting into the trap.

The chemical makes male flies think they are going towards female flies to mate but they die immediately they enter the jar.

The more males die the lower chances of fertilization. This will help reduce the rate of destruction on fruits and their reproduction rate.

This pest control method ensures minimal chemical contact on the fruits and improves the production of organic fruits.