Impact of a long-lasting adult liquid diet on female reproductive performance in the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Abstract

Researchers in many countries have devoted great effort to the development and validation of the sterile insect technique (SIT) against a number of tephritid species. To improve SIT cost-effectiveness and applicability against these serious economic pests, it would be useful to improve current mass-rearing procedures. While the benefits of using liquid larval diets have been widely tested, liquid diets for adult feeding have received far less attention. Here, we report on the impact of low-cost adult liquid diets with a range of sugar:protein ratios on female reproductive performance (i.e. pre-oviposition period, female egg load, larval–pupal developmental rate, adult emergence, sex ratio and longevity of offspring) in the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata. Protein-deprived females required longer pre-oviposition time and had reduced egg load. No differences were found in the reproductive performance of females fed with liquid vs. solid diet. The proposed liquid diet is readily available to the feeding behaviour of tephritid flies and lasts three times longer than the solid diet composed of the same ingredients.