Comparative Survival and Demographic Statistics for Wild Oriental Fruit Fly, Mediterranean Fruit Fly, and Melon Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) on Papaya

Abstract

Oriental fruit fly, Dacus dorsalis Hendel; melon fly, Dacus cucurmtae Coquillett; and Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) were reared from hosts collected within 40km of papaya, Carica papaya L., orchards. Survivorship and demographic statistics were compared for experimental F1 populations established on papaya fruit under controlled laboratory conditions. C. capitata, D. dorsalis , and D. cucurmtae females survived a maximum of 109, 123, and 222 d, respectively. C. capitata , with the shortest mean generation time ( T = 39.9 d) and the highest net reproductive rate ( Ro = 173.3), had the highest intrinsic rate of increase ( rm = 0.13). D. dorsalis , with the second longest mean generation time ( T = 62.2 d) and the second highest net reproductive rate ( Ro = 167.2), had the second highest intrinsic rate of increase ( rm = 0.09). D. cucurmtae , with the longest mean generation time ( T = 71.7 d) and the lowest net reproductive rate ( Ro = 80.8), had the lowest intrinsic rate of increase ( Rm = 0.06). Results are discussed with respect to development of population management strategies in papaya orchards in Hawaii and eradication of fruit flies accidentally introduced into the U.S. mainland.