A New Bactrocera Species in Benin Among Mango Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) Species

Abstract

A new Bactrocera species in Benin among mango fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) species. Abstract-Introduction. Tephritidae have a major economic importance in the tropical areas. In Benin, we had only very little information available on the mango fruit fly species, except the demonstration of their damage. We therefore carried out the first investigations in Northern Benin during the mango season in 2005. Our objectives were to study fluctuations of tephritid populations in orchards and to assess mango fruit fly infestations and mango losses due to tephritid species. Materials and methods. Experiments were carried out in the Parakou area (Borgou department, Northern Benin). Fruit fly males were captured on mango trees, in two different orchards, with parapheromone traps. To sample and characterize fruit fly species involved in mango infestations, fruits of 17 cultivars were collected in mango orchards from February to June 2005; then, they were brought to the laboratory for emerging species identification. To assess the loss of fruits, sampling of different mango cultivars was achieved in the same orchards. Infested fruits were counted and eliminated; potentially infested fruits were dissected. Results and discussion. Among eight mango fruit fly species found in Benin, four can be considered as species of economic significance: Ceratitis cosyra, C. quinaria, C. silvestrii and Bactrocera invadens. During the dry season, C. cosyra was the most abundant, whereas B. invadens was the most numerous during the rainy season (abiotic factor), in phenological accordance with the ripening of the different mango varieties (biotic factor). From and after mid-May, B. invadens was found more frequently than C. cosyra in the traps and from emergence of infested mangos. Loss averages varied globally from 12% at the beginning of April to 50% in June. Conclusions. Most of the tephritid species found on mangos during our experiments had already been observed previously in other West African countries except B. invadens, an invasive species lately described. Ecological and behavioral studies will be necessary in order to plan and to apply optimal methods for controlling this new pest of major economic importance in West Africa.

Preliminary inventory of fruit fly species (Diptera, Tephritidae) in mango orchards in the Niayes region, Senegal, in 2004

“…From the general overview obtained, it seems that this new invasive species was still acclimatising in Senegal in 2004, although it is widely distributed in other parts of sub-Saharan Africa. This invasive species was found for the first time in Africa, in Kenya, in 2003 [24], then in Tanzania [25], and it was reported in 2004 in Sudan [26], Senegal [27] and Benin [28], as well as in other West African countries in 2005 [29]. However, both the timing and precise pathway of the invasion by B. invadens into Africa, especially West Africa, are not really known.…”

“…Among the 18 species, only B. invadens, C. cosyra, C. silvestrii and C. quinaria are economically significant for mango production in Borgou [28] (Benin), with B. invadens as the number one pest [34] and C. cosyra as the number two.…”

“…It attacks over 40 different species of fleshy fruits in Benin. As in Benin, it is commonly found in Senegal [38] in the main cultivated fruits such as mango (Mangifera indica), guava (Psidium guajava), sweet orange (Citrus sinensis), mandarin (Citrus reticulata), tangelo (Citrus reticulata × Citrus paradisi), pomelo (Citrus paradisi), kumquat (Fortunella margarita), soursop (Annona muricata), papaya (Carica papaya), and wild species such as tropical almond (Terminalia catappa), Sclerocarya birrea and Vitellaria paradoxa in Benin [28,29,34,39]. This fly is also found less frequently in Benin in cashew (Anacardium occidentale) [40], avocado (Persea americana), banana (Musa acuminata), malay apple (Sizygium malaccense), bully tree (Manilkara zapota), star apple (Chrysophyllum albidum), star fruit (Averrhoa carambola), chilli pepper (Capsicum frutescens), tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum) and wild custard apple (Annona senegalensis) [39].…”

“…These two Asian Batrocera invaders remain major horticultural pest species, widespread not just in Senegal, where B. invadens predominates on fruit crops [28] and B. cucurbitae on vegetable crops [31], but also in 14 other West African countries.…”

The mango tree in central and northern Benin: damage caused by fruit flies (Diptera Tephritidae) and computation of economic injury level

“…The species which cause significant economic damage are Bactrocera invadens Drew Tsuruta & White and Ceratitis cosyra (Walker), which are the two most damaging fruit flies, followed by C. quinaria (Bezzi) and C. silvestrii Bezzi [5]. A recent survey that we conducted in the Borgou department [6] identified (i) twenty-nine mango cultivars, (ii) three main mango production systems, (iii) yield predictions for the seven main cultivars, (iv) the main market prices of these seven cultivars, (v) estimates of yield losses due to fruit flies, and (vi) estimates of equivalent income losses resulting from damage.…”