Fruit firmness, superficial damage, and location modulate infestation by Drosophila suzukii and Zaprionus indianus: the case of guava in Veracruz, Mexico

Abstract

The exotic pestiferous flies Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) and Zaprionus indianus Gupta (Diptera: Drosophilidae) were recently identified in traps used for monitoring tephritid pests of guava, Psidium guajava L. (Myrtaceae), in Veracruz, Mexico. To determine whether both drosophilids were infesting guava, a previously unreported host, samples were taken from fruits on trees and fallen fruits on the ground. Overall, 74 and 36% of visually intact fruits attached to the tree were infested by D. suzukii and Z. indianus, respectively. Under laboratory conditions, small artificial punctures on the surface of ripe guavas did not result in increased oviposition by D. suzukii compared to undamaged fruit, whereas Z. indianus almost completely avoided oviposition, or were not capable of developing in fruit. Females of D. suzukii were capable of ovipositing in early ripe guavas in laboratory tests (23% of fruits were used for oviposition), although a high penetration force is required to pierce fruit (mean AE SEM = 89.0 AE 3.0 cN). Fully ripe and overripe guavas were softer (52.2-53.5 cN penetration force) and were more frequently infested (ca. 60% infestation). Numbers of females that developed in guavas were not influenced by ripeness/firmness, whereas male development was reduced in early ripe fruit compared to ripe and overripe fruit. In laboratory choice experiments with crushed fruits, D. suzukii adults were equally attracted to guava and blueberry, independent of gender and age. However, raspberry was more attractive than guava. This study demonstrates that D. suzukii is attracted to guava, is capable of ovipositing in fruit and, under field conditions, is more abundant in fruits still attached to the tree compared to fallen fruit that remain intact. In contrast, Z. indianus was not capable of developing in intact guavas and, although present in fruits attached to the tree, was most abundant in fallen damaged fruits.

Improved capture of Drosophila suzukii by a trap baited with two attractants in the same device

“…No modifications to the visual stimuli on the cup were necessary in field tests, because laboratory tests using different circles and bands stimulus of colors did not result in a significant improvement in fly captures when compared with the red-black stripe trap used as the reference model ( Fig 1D ) [ 19 ]. Although this pest infests guava, a yellow-colored fruit, in the central Veracruz region of Mexico [ 29 ], our previous observations were consistent with other findings in which yellow visual stimuli did not improve captures of D . suzukii when compared with red in several crops [ 14 , 15 , 22 ].…”

“…suzukii observed in successive trials in guava was related to the presence of fallen damaged fruit beneath guava trees that were rapidly exploited by drosophilid species other than D . suzukii [ 29 ]. However, in blackberry crops over 60% of drosophilids captured were D .…”

Feeding on ripening and over-ripening fruit: interactions between sugar, ethanol and polyphenol contents in a tropical butterfly

“…They typically consume ripe fruit but may also feed on unripe or over-ripe fruit depending on abundance and detectability (Foster, 1977;Lasa et al, 2017). Consuming fruit of different ripeness is likely to affect the fitness of frugivores, as fruit chemical composition differs between ripening stages, particularly regarding sugar and ethanol concentrations (Dudley, 2004).…”

Níveis de infestação de Zaprionus indianus (Diptera: Drosophilidae) em diferentes frutos hospedeiros

“…), em que se observou a emergência de Z. indianus e de Anastrepha spp. (PERIPOLLI 2015) e, ainda, em frutos de goiaba coletados do chão e/ou das plantas (LASA et al 2017). A mosca-do-figo também foi registrada em armadilhas de captura para monitoramento de D. suzukii no período de pré e pós colheita em cultivos de pêssego [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch], mirtilo, framboesa (Rubus idaeus L.), morango, cereja (Prunus avium L.) e ameixa (Prunus sp.…”