Does the surrounding vegetation influence the fruit fly assemblage in guava orchards?

Kátia Da Cruz Vargas,Marcos Henrique Frech Telles,José Nicácio Do Nascimento,Alfredo Raúl Abot,Victor Ribeiro Acosta,Flávio Roberto Mello Garcia

doi:10.14393/bj-v35n4a2019-42042

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate how the surrounding vegetation affects the assemblage of fruit flies. For this, flies were collected in guava orchards with distinct types of surrounding vegetation (exotic pasture, native forest and fruit tree intercropping). The experiment was conducted in Itaporã and Dourados, State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Weekly samples were collected from March to April 2015. McPhail traps were baited with 5% hydrolyzed corn protein. Species richness, diversity index and abundance were evaluated for each orchard, as well as the species composition of fruit fly between the environments surrounding the orchard and, finally, the sex ratio. A total of 579 individuals were collected of the species Anastrepha fraterculus, A. montei, A. obliqua, A. sororcula, A. striata, A. turpiniae and A. zenildae. The orchard surrounded by native forest had the highest species richness and Shannon diversity. The species composition differed between environments, with the formation of three distinct groups. The environment surrounding the guava orchard influences the richness, diversity, abundance and sex ratio of fruit flies, indicating that the native forest may provide more resources for the maintenance of these insects.

Highlights

Brazil is one of the world’s leading fruit producers, harvesting 44 million tons/year (ANUÁRIO DE FRUTICULTURA BRASILEIRA, 2018)
The richness observed in the orchard surrounded by pasture was equal to that estimated, and in the environment surrounded by native forest and fruit tree intercropping, it was over 60% of the estimated value, which allows to affirm that sampling effort and the method were adequate (Table 1)
The diversity index of Anastrepha was significantly influenced by the environment surrounding the orchard, with higher diversity for the environment surrounded by native forest followed by Biosci

Summary

Introduction

Brazil is one of the world’s leading fruit producers, harvesting 44 million tons/year (ANUÁRIO DE FRUTICULTURA BRASILEIRA, 2018). Anastrepha currently holds more than 270 species, with a wide geographical distribution worldwide (NICÁCIO et al, 2011) These insects cause numerous damages in areas of pomiculture, and are considered an important pest of the fruit crops due to the direct damages generated in the fruits and the capacity of adaptation to the environment (AZEVEDO et al, 2010). Those considered as pests cause high losses in several sectors of production and can reach about US$ 120 million per year, besides being an obstacle to exports of this product (ANUÁRIO DE FRUTICULTURA BRASILEIRA, 2018). These species are associated with 200 other hosts (ZUCCHI, 2008)

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