ABSTRACT Crop damage-based control threshold of 12.5% has been used to reduce the excessive use of insecticides while controlling Spodoptera litura and Helicoverpa armigera in hot peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivation systems. However, it is necessary to develop an easy, practical, inexpensive control threshold to increase farmer eagerness in reducing pesticide use. The study aimed to evaluate a light trap captured based-control threshold for both hot pepper pests. The activity was conducted at Lembang (ca. 1250 m a.s.l.), West Java, Indonesia, from September 2022 to April 2023. Six treatments and four replicates were arranged in a randomized block design. The treatments included the use of four light trap captured based-control thresholds, i.e., ≥ 30, ≥ 25, ≥ 20, ≥ and 15 moth trap-1 wk-1; crop damage based-control threshold of 12.5%; and once per week insecticide application as a control treatment. The study found that the implementation of pests’ control threshold of ≥ 25 moth trap-1 wk-1 could reduce 75% insecticide use compared to the plant damage-based control threshold. The use of this approach could maintain high crop production and generate a return rate of 1.26. The findings will be beneficial for farmers in reducing insecticide use.

Resumo: A mosca-da-fruta é uma das principais pragas das culturas cítricas. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito repelente do óleo de citronela contra Bactrocera spp. em frutas cítricas. Dois experimentos foram realizados em um pomar de citros de um agricultor, em Junrejo, East Java, Indonésia, de agosto a dezembro de 2022. No primeiro experimento, um delineamento em blocos casualizados, com cinco tratamentos e quatro repetições, foi empregado em campo para avaliar a potencial repelência de citronela contra Bactrocera spp. Os tratamentos consistiram em diversas misturas de citronela e metileugenol. No segundo experimento, os efeitos de uma e duas aplicações de 2 mL/L de citronela por semana e pesticida sintético, na população de Bactrocera spp., foram avaliados. Os resultados mostraram que acitronela apresentou capacidade repelente contra Bactroceraspp. O número de indivíduoscapturados em armadilhas de citronela foi menor do que aqueles capturados em armadilhas de metileugenol. A eficácia da citronela como repelente é de dez dias. Uma única pulverização semanal de citronela foi mais eficiente no controle de Bactrocera spp. do queoutros tratamentos.O uso da citronela como repelente poderia ser integrado às tecnologiasexistentes para formar um pacote ecologicamente correto no controle da mosca-da-fruta. Resumo moscadafruta mosca fruta cítricas spp agricultor Junrejo Java Indonésia 2022 experimento casualizados repetições metileugenol mLL mL L sintético avaliados Bactroceraspp dias tratamentosO moscadafruta. fruta. 202 20

Abstract: The fruit fly is one of the major citrus pests. The study aimed to evaluate the repellency of citronella oil against Bactrocera spp. in citrus. The two experiments were carried out in a farmer’s citrus orchard in Junrejo, East Java, Indonesia from August to December 2022. In the first experiment, a randomized block design with five treatments and four replications was employed in the field to evaluate the potential repellency of citronella against Bactrocera spp. The treatments consisted of various mixtures of citronella and methyl eugenol. In the second experiment, the effect of one and two applications of 2 mL /L of citronella per week and synthetic pesticide on the population of Bactrocera spp. were compared. The results showed that citronella had a repellent capacity against Bactrocera spp. The number of pests trapped in citronella traps was lower than those captured in Methyl Eugenol traps only. The effectiveness of citronella as repellent for ten days. The one spraying per week of citronella was more efficient and effective in controlling Bactrocera spp. than other treatments. The use of citronella as a repellent could be integrated with the existing technologies to form an environmentally friendly package of fruit fly control approach. Abstract spp farmers farmer s Junrejo Java 2022 experiment eugenol L compared only days approach 202 20