Thanks to Know Your Farmers’ Alliance there are now 168 HAW-FLYPM cooperators in Puna. Only N. Kohala has more with 213.  There are 815 cooperators over the whole island. We have conducted a final economic survey to analyze the impact of the Fruit Fly Suppression Program in Hawaii. We had a 27% response to the questionnaire and the results indicate that the cooperators report an average 42% reduction in fruit fly damage to their crops.
   
The program will go to half-funding in October 2007 and 2008 will be the last year of funding for the HAW-FLYPM program. When the program ends, you will need to contact the CTAHR Cooperative Extension staff for information.

Current Emphasis in the HAW-FLYPM Program
The USDA- Agricultural Research Service has directed that the HAW-FLYPM to concentrate their efforts on a demonstration in the PHKP Cooperative papaya plantation. The objective is to see if fly populations can be reduced in papaya orchards through the cooperative efforts of the growers. The hope is that the infestation will be reduced to a low enough level that the growers can pick a riper product.

Big Island HAW_FLYPM Service Centers
In order to meet the needs of this greater number of cooperators, when the USDA staff emphasis is toward the papaya growers, we are going to need YOU to take the initiative to contact us when you need supplies or information. Herein are provided the physical addresses and contact information for our staff around the island.  Of course, the CTAHR fruit fly website is a first source of information (http://www.fruitfly.hawaii.edu/ ). But if you need to contact the USDA staff:
    N & S Hilo District: The new Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center is at 64 Nowelo St., above Komohana Blvd. across from  the Univ. Research Park and Imiloa Planetarium. The general contact number is 932-2100, but if you cannot get through, try Donna Ota in the Ecology lab at 959-4333 or Lester ‘Mike’ Klungness at 959-4325 or Gina Franchini at 959-4322. A message recording service responds to any unanswered phone calls. Staff are usually present from 8 AM to 4:30 PM Mon. through Friday. Come visit us, see your new research facility. Ask anyone to direct you to the office to sign the guest register, then, they will direct you to the HAW-FLYPM staff.
    N & S Kona Districts: The crew from Kamuela is no longer going to Kona every week. If you just joined the program or need to join, contact either base location in Kamuela (Hori Bldg. see map and photo) or call the PBARC number and we can try to arrange to deliver supplies either directly to you or to some intemediate location like Kainaliu Agriculture Reseach Station (CTAHR).
    N & S Kohala & Hamakua Districts: The USDA staff are stationed in Kamuela at a facility on Mamalahoa Hwy (19) west of the Hawaiian Homelands Office, and east of Akala Kuahini (see Hori Bldg. on map). It is a warehouse owned by Roy Hori (see photo) visible from the highway. Although staff are not always there in the daytime, you can call ahead to make an appointment: 887-6378 or call Albert Kawabata’s cell phone at 987-7789.
    In Puna District, Nicholle Konanui (daughter of Jerry Konanui who spoke at the KYFA potluck) is the Cooperative Extension employee responsible for fruit fly pest management. She can be reached at the PBARC facility in Hilo (959-4330  cell 721-3645).

Lures, Baits and Augmentoria
    The new supply of GF120 Naturalyte has arrived at United Agri Products and UAP has ordered  the plastic matrix lures from Sentry Biologicals Inc. So now you will be able purchase methyl eugenol, and cuelure plastic plugs from UAP (808-935-7191). It is also possible to order directly from the manufacturer of the lures in sufficient quantity. The lures are made by Scentry Biologicals (www.scentry.com ) The availability of lures is why USDA will stop re-supplying the cooperators with lures gratis. Our job is to introduce you to the techniques of fruit fly management. Now it is your job to keep up the good work controlling you fruit flies.
    New cooperators will still receive an initial allocation of lures and GF120. The plastic micro-centrifuge tubes used for the entrance holes of dry lure traps can be obtained at Farm Supply Cooperative, 366 E. Kawili St. in Hilo 808-969-7474, or you can order direct from most scientific supply houses (e.g. Fisher Scientific, https://new.fishersci.com/wps/portal/HOME; Daigger, www.daigger.com). Remember, if you are going to use water in the traps, you don’t need the micro-centrifuge tubes. These tubes can also be replaced with soda straws (larger diameter), if you prefer using the dry traps. You can leave dry traps out longer without having to change the water, and they are not as stinky.
    Water traps are still the most efficient at catching flies, but the one-way dry traps are easier to use. We have protein pellets at the PBARC lab, or you can purchase Nuelure liquid bait from Garden Exchange in Hilo (808-961-2875 FAX 961-9234), which you can use in the water in your lure traps. It will help you catch some females (the six legged kind) along with the males. Garden Exchange also supplies methyl eugenol in the liquid form.
      Four used augmentoria (large 5’ W x 10’ L x 4’ H) are available (require some repairs). If you are interested call Mike at 808-959-4325. Augmentoria are tents that are designed for loading with your infested fruit (Geoffrey has one at his farm). The fruit flies cannot escape it, but the natural enemies that emerge from the fruit fly puparia can escape back into the garden or farm. Sanitation (proper disposal of infested fruit) is still your first line of defense against fruit flies.  Compost can also be made from the augmentorium, as Bonnie and Bochi Perata in Kona have done with their augmentorium (lower left). The compost pile to the left was originally in the augmentorium.
    The smaller version of the augmentorium ( 4 ft by 5 ft., lower right) can be purchase from Rudy’s Shade , Inc. (808-966-7028 FAX 808-966-7053).