WitaTrap® Complete Walnut Husk Fly Trap Set

Biological attractant trap (pheromone trap) for the management of pest infestation of your cultivars.

One trap set consisting of:
- 2 trap bodies (WitaTrap® Balloon Trap),
- 2 pheromone sachets (attractant) (separately packaged!),
- suspension cord for mounting
- detailed instructions for use.

Biology of the pest:
Pest: walnut husk fly
Scientific name: Rhagoletis completa
Infests: walnuts (Juglans spp.), black walnuts (Juglans nigra)

The walnut husk fly (Rhagoletis completa) is an introduced species and, as a beneficiary of climate change, is increasingly becoming a serious pest that damages mainly cultivated walnuts but also the wild-growing black walnut.

Main symptoms of infestation:  As a result of the feeding behaviour of the larvae, not only nutshells can become blackened and unattractive, but nuts can also be damaged. There is no damage to trees or leaves. There can be differences in the susceptibility of varieties to infestation by the pest. Early ripening varieties are more attractive to the pest than late ripening varieties.

Biology: 
Similar to the European cherry fruit fly, the walnut husk fly only produces one generation per year, whereby insects overwinter (diapause phase) in pupa form in the soil.

Egg deposition: in late July, 12 - 15 eggs are laid under the skin of the fruit husks
Development phase: 5 days
Main flight phase: early July to late September
Optimal conditions: long, warm summers

Use:
Assemble the trap and hang it from a branch or post.

In order to avoid attracting the pest insects directly to the nut tree to be protected, hang the trap from another tree (that is not a nut tree) in the vicinity. If this is not possible, the trap can also be hung from a suitably high post driven into the ground.
Hang the trap at eye level between the main wind direction and the tree. Make sure the trap entrances are not blocked by twigs and leaves.
Each trap should be checked at regular intervals of 2 - 3 days. Each time a trap is checked, the insects sticking to the adhesive surfaces should be removed using a suitable tool (e.g. twig or wooden scraper) to ensure that the full glue surface is revealed. 
If surfaces become very soiled, replace the trap or spray with a liquid glue, such as Soveurode special glue.
Replace the attractant and the trap if necessary roughly every 4 - 8 weeks.

*Traps should be put in place before the flight phase of the adults.

Use of the Completawit attractant bag: The foil over the visible holes of the attractant bag must be removed to activate the attractant bag. The emaining bag must not be damaged and is hung into the attractant trap via the round punched hole on the top.

For more information on the insect pest and application, see the enclosed product description.