Effect of Larval Density and Host Species on Preimaginal Development of Bactrocera tau (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Abstract

The fruit fly, Bactrocera tau (Walker) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is an important pest of fruit and vegetable crops. In this study, host preference of B. tau females and the effects of host species and larval density on larval survival, pupal weight, adult emergence, and developmental duration were investigated on cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrical L. (Roem)), bitter gourd [Momordica charantia (Cucurbitaceae) L.], guava [Psidium guajava (Myrtaceae) L.], and tangerine [Citrus reticulata (Rutaceae) (Blanco)]. The results showed that females preferred to cucumber over other host species. Larval feeding experience affected subsequent host oviposition preference of adult females. Host species and initial larval density affected certain aspects of the biology of B. tau. Larval density negatively affected insect performance. Survival rates at low densities were significantly higher than that at high densities. Total developmental duration reduced at high larval densities. Cucumber was more suitable to larval growth. Larvae on cucumber grew faster and the puparia were heavier than that on other host species. Larval survival, pupation rate and adult emergence were higher on cucumber compared with those in other host species. Oviposition preference of adult females was correlated with performance of their offspring.

Differences in learning and memory of host plant features between specialist and generalist phytophagous insects

“…Note, however, that although different rearing plant species may exert differential pre-imaginal effects (for examples in other phytophagous insects, see: Moreau, Rahme, Benrey, & Thiery, 2008;Wu, Shen, An, Huang, & Zhang, 2011), the rearing host species (sweet pepper and tobacco) were chosen to ensure that both aphids were in optimal physiological condition at the time of the experiments. In addition, given the high performance of M. p. nicotianae on sweet pepper under laboratory conditions, comparable to that on its natural optimal host tobacco, we also used sweet pepper as an alternative host for M. p. nicotianae, thus allowing us to explore its suitability as a host that affects learning in this aphid taxon.…”

Development and characterization of microsatellite markers for the fruit fly, Bactrocera tau (Diptera: Tephritidae)

“…The fruit fly, Bactrocera tau (Walker) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is a major invasive and highly polyphagous pest to fruits and vegetables (Wu et al 2011). This pest was first described in Fujian (China) in 1849 and has dispersed to tropical and subtropical Asia and the South Pacific region (Shi et al 2014).…”

Effect off host plant species on immature development and adult size of <em>Neoleucinodes elegantalis</em> (Guenée 1854) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

“…Correlation between pupal duration and larval development time is found in many insects (Shahout et al 2011;Ansari et al 2012) and is related with host plant quality (Roy & Barik 2013). Although evidences suggest that more suitable host is those on which larval development time is the shortest and pupal weight is the heaviest (Penz & Araújo 1990;Wu et al 2011), there is conflicting results concerning this relation. Larval duration is the same for Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus) reared in both hosts and non-hosts plants, although pupal duration is significantly longer on non-hosts ones (Sarfraz et al 2010).…”