Performance of Anastrepha obliqua (Diptera, Tephritidae) larvae fed on artificial diets

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Fruit flies of the genus Anastrepha Schiner, 1868 are well-known for having economical importance since they damage commercially cultivated fruits. Nutritional demands during the immature and adult stages are different, so the larvae do not develop well using the same diet as the adults. Although the insect basic nutritional needs are well-known, there is also the challenge to elaborate rearing diets adequate to species with specific needs. The aim of this study was to determine the effect on the Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart, 1835) larvae performance of different kinds and amounts of carbohydrates in the diet. Larvae were individually reared until pupation in test tubes containing one of the artificial diets to be tested. The basic composition of the diets to be tested included 2.5 g agar, 3.25 g brewer's yeast and several different amounts of flour and sucrose. The suitability of the artificial diet for A. obliqua was tested evaluating the larvae and pupae survival (%) and the larvae, pupae and larvae-adults periods of development. The diet containing flour (2 g) and sucrose (2 g) and the diet containing only sucrose (5.5 g) have shown the best results regarding larval performance. All tested diets presented similar or superior results as compared to diets used in other studies. The importance of flour and its nutritional value for the larvae was discussed.KEYWORDS. Fruit-flies, larvae, nutrition, artificial diets. RESUMO. Desempenho das larvas deAnastrepha obliqua (Diptera, Tephritidae) alimentadas com dietas artificiais. Moscas das frutas do gênero Anastrepha Schiner, 1868 são conhecidas por sua importância econômica devido aos danos que elas causam nos frutos comerciais. As exigências nutricionais dos estágios imaturo e adulto são diferentes e as larvas não se desenvolvem bem utilizando a mesma dieta do adulto. Embora as necessidades nutricionais básicas dos insetos sejam bem conhecidas, existe ainda o problema de elaborar dietas de criação adequadas para espécies com necessidades específicas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar o efeito de diferentes tipos e quantidades de carboidratos na dieta sobre a performance larval de Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart, 1835). Larvas foram criadas individualmente em tubos de ensaio contendo uma das dietas artificiais a serem testadas onde elas foram mantidas até a pupação. A composição básica das dietas testadas incluia 2,5 g de agar, 3,25 g de levedo de cerveja e quantidades variadas de sacarose e farinha de trigo. A adequação do meio artificial para A. obliqua foi testada pela avaliação da sobrevivência larval e pupal (%) e o tempo de desenvolvimento larval, pupal e de larva-adulto. A dieta contendo farinha de trigo (2 g) e sacarose (2 g) e a dieta somente com sacarose (5,5 g) foram as que apresentaram melhor performance larval. Todas as dietas testadas apresentaram resultados similares ou superiores às dietas utilizadas em outros trabalhos. A importância da presença da farinha de trigo e seu valor nutricional para as larvas são discutidos. PALAVRAS-CHAVE.Mo...

Competitive interactions and partial displacement of Anastrepha obliqua by Ceratitis capitata in the occupation of host mangoes (Mangifera indica)

“…In fact, coexistence between competing species can be favoured by the asynchronous development of larvae, which occurred as a result of differential oviposition preferences (Liendo et al ., 2018). As unripe fruits have large quantities of starch (an important food resource for the development of immature life stages of A. obliqua) , the continued use of unripe fruits may promote the development of A. obliqua populations, at least partly (Rocha et al ., 2001; Fontellas‐Brandalha et al ., 2010).…”