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

Abstract

We examined the competitive interactions between a native fruit fly species (Anastrepha obliqua Macquart) and the invasive medfly (Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann) when these co-occur on a shared mango fruit host (Mangifera indica L.). 2 Using mango fruits of distinct levels of ripeness, we investigated both competition among larvae and among adult females for oviposition. We quantified competition by the numbers of eggs laid and the intensity of agonistic interactions between adult females. 3 Interactions between immature fruit flies led to reduced size and number of emerged adults of both species. These impacts were felt more acutely in the native species. 4 Interspecific competition between females led to fewer eggs laid on semi-ripe fruit by both species, which may be the result of niche overlap associated with oviposition. 5 Intraspecific interactions between A. obliqua individuals led to intense agonistic behaviour, with a concurrent decrease in number of landings on these host fruits. 6 These results suggest that the native species undergoes a partial niche displacement when facing the invasive species. A portion of the fundamental niche of A. obliqua remained unoccupied by the invading C. capitata, which may allow their coexistence under natural conditions.

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

“…Among the evaluated ages, the peak of oviposition of A. obliqua occurred at ages of 15-16 and 17-18 days. Our data agree with the findings of Joachim-Bravo et al (2003) and Silva et al (2020) for A. obliqua. Both studies recorded peak oviposition for A. obliqua at 18 days.…”

“…Oviposition peaks at similar ages have also been observed in other tephritid species, such as Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann, 1830), Anastrepha zenildae Zucchi, 1979, and Anastrepha sororcula Zucchi, 1979(Diptera: Tephritidae) (Joachim-Bravo et al 2003. For the Mediterranean fruit fly C. capitata, the oviposition peak occurs at 15 days (Silva et al 2020).…”

Yeast mediates the interspecific interaction between introduced Bactrocera dorsalis and indigenous Bactrocera minax

“…1,2 Therefore, their invasion biology and population dynamics have been a long-standing focus of ecological studies. 3 Local ecosystems are disturbed when exotic invasive tephritid species establish in novel habitats, 4 and two possible scenarios can arise through competition for resources between the introduced and indigenous tephritids: stable coexistence and competitive displacement. 5,6 Presumably, the outcome of interspecific interaction is mainly determined by frugivorous larvae, because the interactions amongst adult flies (e.g.…”

“…Many species of tephritid fruit flies are important economic pests, which threaten fruit and vegetable crop production throughout the world 1,2 . Therefore, their invasion biology and population dynamics have been a long‐standing focus of ecological studies 3 . Local ecosystems are disturbed when exotic invasive tephritid species establish in novel habitats, 4 and two possible scenarios can arise through competition for resources between the introduced and indigenous tephritids: stable coexistence and competitive displacement 5,6 .…”