Effects of the soil texture and the burying depth of the larvae on some biological parameters of Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Trypetidae)

Abstract

We have studied the effect of the soil texture and the different depths on the emergence rate, the duration of pupation and the sex-ratio of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata. Three different texture of soil have been tested: clay loam, silty clay loam and sandy loam. As far as the depth of burying of the larva is concerned, we have tested six varied depths from 2 to 20 cm.The results have shown that the silty clay loam texture reduces the emergence rate of C. Capitata but the sandy loam soil favours the pupation. The tested depths of burying revealed a significant effect on the emergence rate. The lowest depths (from 2 to 10 cm) permit a high emergence rate. However, the sex-ratio seems to be not influenced by the nature of the soil and less by the depth of burying. Key words: Ceratitis capitata, depth of burying, emergence, pupation, sex-ratio, soil texture.