Oviposition performance of tephritid polyphagous Anastrepha fraterculus and Ceratitis capitata during three periods of exposure to fruit

Abstract

Our study evaluated the oviposition behaviour of Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann, 1830) and Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann, 1824) in five fruit species. Apples, guavas, mangoes, peaches and tangerines were exposed to infestation for 6, 12 and 24 hours. Anastrepha fraterculus and C. capitata showed different oviposition behaviour in apples and tangerines and similar oviposition behaviour in guavas, mangoes and peaches. There was a positive correlation between infestation time and pupae/kg, as well as between pupae/fruit and the survival rate of the immature (pupal viability). In this study, we present discussions about the oviposition behaviour of flies and the host infestation index. This index can reflect the reproductive capacity that each fruit species offers for each fly species. Here, we see an adult recovery rate greater than 89% in the highest infestation index observed in guava (185 A. fraterculus per unit fruit) and peach (220 C. capitata per unit fruit). Understanding the reproductive capacity of each host can help with risk analysis and the management of fruit flies.

Oviposition behavior of Anastrepha obliqua (Maquart, 1835) (Diptera: Tephritidae) and preference between two mango (Mangifera indica L.) varieties

“…The distribution of fruit flies -as well as their host selection and the success of larval development -is directly related to host availability and intrinsic characteristics (Joachim-Bravo et al 2001;Copeland et al 2006), such as the fruit fly species, fruit species, type of cultivar, maturation stage, volatile compounds, and chemical defenses (Cunningham et al 2016;López-Ley et al 2016;Hernández et al 2019;Guillén et al 2022;Louzeiro et al 2022). Therefore, evaluating the oviposition behavior of polyphagous pests like fruit flies contributes to a better understanding of their patterns of fruit choice and infestation and provides the basis for developing pest management techniques (Roitberg 2007).…”