Evaluation of Oviposition Stimulants for Mass Production of Melon Fly, Oriental Fruit Fly, and Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Abstract

Responses of Melon fly, Dacus cucurbitae Coquillett, oriental fruit fly, Dacus dorsalis Hendel, and Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), to artificial oviposition bottles treated with various liquids derived from host juices or extracts and water was tested in a choice test device. Harvest of D. cucurbitae eggs was 89.4% higher from oviposition bottles that contained the juice of pumpkin, Cucurbita maxima Duchesne, than from bottles with the juice of tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum Miller, the standard oviposition stimulant. Harvest of D. dorsalis eggs was 55.2% higher from oviposition bottles that contained juice of orange, Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck, than from bottles with juice of guava, Psidium guajava L., the standard oviposition stimulant. Harvest of C. capitata eggs from oviposition bottles that contained an extract of coffee, Coffea arabica L., was equal to those with the standard oviposition stimulant (water). Results indicate that host fruit juices with minimal commercial processing and without additives were the best oviposition stimulants. Findings are discussed in the context of oviposition stimulant evaluation procedures and mass production of tephritid fruit flies.