The first fruit fly Real Time Insect Counting Traps (ReTIC) were deployed in melon tunnels in the Arava, Israel (March 12, 2015). The yellow-sticky ReTIC trap was developed by the FruitFlyNet Israeli team (ARO-Volcani Center), and its aim is to provide wire-less automatic monitoring of fruit fly pests that have no specific attractants. Fruit fly monitoring data is fed into a Decision Support System (DSS) which will help farmers take decisions on the timing and location of pest management. ReTIC systems can provide 'Real Time" information on the pests status at any time without the need of human scouting.
The 2nd Consortium Meeting of FruitFlyNet came to a successful end. With the completion of the project's first year, Project Coordinators, along with specialists from their teams, gathered in Palma of Mallorca in the premises of UIB to discuss their progress and define work to be done. The meeting evolved around technical aspects of the projects such as e-trap-based system, Decision Support System, network design, GIS data and more, as well as report, management and visibility issues.
Scientists from 5 Med countries (Greece (AUA & UTH), Italy (CRA-FRU), Israel (ARO), Jordan (NCARE), and Spain (UIB)) are collaborating to create a control system that will harmonize management strategies for specific key-pests (Olive, Med, Cherry & some invasive species). After 6 months of intense work, Project Coordinators, along with specialists from their teams, gathered in Rome in the premises of CRA- FRU to discuss their progress and define work to be done.
