Seasonal Abundance and Diversity of Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Three Types of Plant Formations in Western Burkina Faso, West Africa

Abstract

Fruit flies are significant insect pests, worldwide. Tephritid species diversity and their seasonal abundance were investigated over 2 yr (May 2017 to May 2019) in Western Burkina Faso. A mass trapping experiment consisting of 288 Tephri Trap types, operating with four types of parapheromones comprising methyl eugenol, terpinyl acetate, trimedlure, and cue lure and an insecticide (Dichlorvos), was used for attracting and killing insects. Plant formations including natural fallows, mango orchards, and agroforestry parks in each of the six study sites were selected for data collection. Twenty-nine tephritid species belonging to 10 genera were identified. Fourteen fruit fly species were identified for the first time in Burkina Faso. The genera Ceratitis MacLeay (Diptera : Tephritidae) and Dacus Fabricius (Diptera: Tephritidae) with, respectively, 14 and 7 species recorded were the most represented. The dominant species caught was the invasive Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel (Diptera: Tephritidae) followed by Ceratitis cosyra Walker (Diptera: Tephritidae) and Ceratitis silvestrii Bezzi (Diptera: Tephritidae). The fruit fly population density was very high during the rainy season, with peaks occurring in June or July. The fruit fly species were generally more abundant during the hot and rainy seasons than during the cold and dry seasons. The highest diversity was recorded in natural fallows, as compared with the mango orchards and agroforestry parks. Tephritid species found refuge in the mango orchards during the dry and cold periods. The results of that investigation may be used for developing a sustainable pest management strategy for commercial orchards.

Fruit fly surveillance in Togo (West Africa): state of diversity and prevalence of species

“…The very high proportions and prevalence of B. dorsalis in all the mango orchards in Togo is an evidence that this invasive species has settled in Togo and has undoubtedly constituted a threat to mango and other fruits production. (Bota et al 2018(Bota et al , 2020N'Da 2018;Zida et al 2020). The high proportion and prevalence of B. dorsalis in mango orchards do not seem to be explained solely by the effectiveness of the attractant used for this species but mainly by its very good adaptation to the agro-ecological conditions of the study area.…”

“…Those identified represent 77% Meyer 2005;De Meyer et al 2013). The flies identified up to species level were those of the Dacinae subfamily reported in Togo and other countries of the afrotropical region (Amevoin 2009;Ouédraogo et al 2011;Gomina et al 2012;De Meyer et al 2013;N'Da 2018;Zida et al 2020). The relatively high species richness obtained with a single study method applied over a month is an evidence that the species found in the mango orchards (which were at fruit ripening stage) and their surrounding vegetation, a favorable abiotic (temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, etc.)…”

“…Among the species of Tephritidae identified in mango orchards in Togo, B. dorsalis, C. cosyra, C. capitata, C. fasciventris, C. silvestrii, C. anonae, C. quinaria, C. ditissima are known to be associated with various fruit plant species in Africa (Vayssières et al 2004;White and Elson-Harris 1992;Vayssières et al 2009a, b;Nboyine et al 2013;Vayssières et al 2015;Zida et al 2020). According to Vayssières et al (2015) the presence of several fruit fly species on mango has considerably reduced the potential economic benefits of growing this fruit tree in West Africa.…”

Altura de voo e composição de espécies de >i<Anastrepha>/i< Schiner, 1868 (Diptera: Tephritidae) em ambiente antropizado

“…Assim, as espécies generalistas diferentemente das especialistas, apresentam maior distribuição por explorarem maior número de plantas hospedeiras (SELIVON, 2000;MINHIBO et al, 2019). A atração e ocupação de uma planta hospedeira por determinada espécie de mosca-das-frutas, não é um fator dependente apenas de um tipo de comportamento, mas sim de um conjunto hierárquico e dinâmico, ocasionado pela junção de múltiplos componentes distintos (ZIDA et al, 2020). As variações que remetem a utilização de plantas hospedeiras pelas espécies de Anastrepha, podem diferir dependendo do tipo de resposta às mudanças no seu estado fisiológico interno, por vezes relacionados à falta de hospedeiros preferenciais e aqueles vinculados a experiências anteriores (ALUJA; MANGAN, 2008).…”

“…No Brasil são conhecidas 121 espécies de Anastrepha, com registros em praticamente todos os estados, sendo A. fraterculus e A. obliqua as espécies de maior importância e amplitude de distribuição (ZUCCHI;MORAES, 2008). As moscas-das-frutas constituem um dos grupos de maior importância econômica (ALUJA, 1999;ZIDA et al, 2020), fazendo-se necessário mais pesquisas com o intuito de entender os padrões de distribuição, abundância, biologia e comportamento, que servem de base para medidas de manejo de espécies-praga em ambientes cultivados.…”