Cold Responses of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Blueberry.

Farhan Al-Behadili,Yonglin Ren,Wei Xu,Manjree Agarwal

doi:10.3390/insects11050276

Farhan Al-Behadili, Yonglin Ren + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/insects11050276

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Journal: Insects	Publication Date: May 1, 2020
Citations: 3	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Murdoch University, University of Misan

Abstract

In this study, the effects of cold treatment at 1.0 ± 0.2 °C were investigated on the eggs of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd instar larvae of Ceratitis capitata in two Australian blueberry cultivars C99-42 and C00-09. Pupariation, emerged adults, and sex ratios were examined on C. capitata after the treatment. The results showed that exposure time at low temperatures was a key factor to affect pupariation and adult emergence. Eleven days of exposure to cold treatment at 1.0 ± 0.2 °C were enough to eradicate all four immature stages in both cultivars. Cold tolerance of the four C. capitata stages was not affected when reared on two different blueberry cultivars. The third instar larva is the most tolerant stage for cold treatment in two blueberry cultivars. There were no significant differences in sex ratios from surviving C. capitata among different stages after treatment. This study improves understanding of C. capitata responses to cold treatment in blueberries, which may contribute to phytosanitary required quarantine treatment of this destructive horticulture pest species.

Highlights

The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann 1824), is one of the major pests of fruits and vegetables
The results of biochemical tests of two blueberry cultivars (Table 1) indicated that there were no significant differences in percentages of acid, Brix, and the ratio of sugar to acid between the two cultivars (p > 0.05), while there was a significant difference in water content between the cultivars (F = 13.600, p < 0.0005) (Table 1)
The life history study results were consistent with a previous study, in which 30 hosts were used to analyse the life history of C. capitata at 30.0 ◦ C, relative humidity (RH) 65% ± 10%, and 12:12 the blueberry) were used to analyse the life history of C. capitata at 30.0 °C, RH 65% ± 10%, and 12:12

Summary

Introduction

The Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly), Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann 1824), is one of the major pests of fruits and vegetables. C. capitata originated from sub-Saharan Africa and was identified in southern parts of Europe in the early 19th century. It is present in Mediterranean Europe, the Middle. The economic losses in these regions are predicted to be more than 2 billion dollars yearly [1]. It is a major fruit fly species of quarantine importance and capable of causing extensive damage to a broad range of cultivated and wild fruit and vegetable products [2]. C. capitata has a significant economic impact, affecting production, control costs, and market access

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