Male-Male Interactions in Caribbean Fruit Flies, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew) (Diptera: Tephritidae): Territorial Fights and Signalling Stimulation

Abstract

Laboratory experiments were made on 2 aspects of male-male interactions in Caribbean fruit flies, Anastrepha suspensav (Loew). Observations of males involved in territorial contests on a lab-caged grapefruit tree revealed that large size and residence gave males advantages in fights; large intruders usually were able to oust small residents. In a second experiment, groups of individually-caged males began to emit sex pheromone and produce acoustic signals earlier in the daily sexual display period when in contact with other males than when isolated from them.