Continuous Winter Reproduction and Growth of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Heraklion, Crete, Southern Greece

Abstract

Abstract The objective of this work was to study the effect of winter low temperatures on survival, reproduction, and growth of immature stages, and the host fruit infestation ability of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis Capitata (Wiedemann), wild population in the southernmost part of Greece. Adult flies were monitored using Jackson and McPhail traps from November to May over a period of 3 yr. In January–March, absolute minimum and maximum air temperatures were 1–4.5 and 19–26°C, respectively, whereas the average monthly minima and maxima were 6.2–9.7°C and 15.4–18.5°C, respectively. Adults were found at every inspection period (every second week) in at least one of the trapping systems used or the years of the study. Until the beginning of April developed eggs and sperm were found in >70% of females trapped. From mid-April until mid-May, 20–70% of females were fecund and fertile. This increased at the end of May– beginning of June to high percentages, >80%. Females survived in cages in the field an...