Development ofRhagoletis pomonellaandRhagoletis indifferens(Diptera: Tephritidae) in Mango and Other Tropical and Temperate Fruit in the Laboratory

Abstract

Abstract Temperate fruit flies in the genus Rhagoletis (Diptera: Tephritidae) have narrow host ranges relative to those of tropical fruit flies, suggesting they will not attack or are incapable of developing in most novel fruit. We tested the hypothesis that apple maggot fly, Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh), and western cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis indifferens Curran, whose normal hosts belong to the Rosaceae, will not attack or develop in mango (Mangifera indica L.; Anacardiaceae) and other non-rosaceous tropical fruit. Of fruits hung in infested apple trees, at least 49% of apples (n = 77) produced R. pomonella puparia, whereas only 1% of mangoes (n = 291) and 0% of papayas (Carica papaya L.; Caricaceae) and 8 other tropical fruit produced puparia. In laboratory tests in 1.9 L containers, 33% of apples (n = 131), 7% of mangoes (n = 118), and 7% of papayas (n = 14) produced R. pomonella puparia; adult flies also eclosed from puparia from mango and papaya. Females of R. pomonella landed approximately 4 to 9 ...