Mass Rearing of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae): Continuous Light in the Adult Stage

Abstract

Less than a 10% increase in the number of viable eggs collected per mass rearing in high-insect-density cages occurred when adult Mediterranean fruit flies, Cermatitis cantata (Wireman), were maintained in continuous light compared with a discontinuous photo period of 14:10 (LED). We detected a highly significant decrease in survival, especially among females, in cages with high insect density when light was continuous, compared with the cages kept in discontinuous light. No mating rhythm was observed under continuous light conditions. Finally, the percentage of eggs that adhered to the oviposition net and did not drop into the egg collecting system was almost always significantly higher under continuous light than under discontinuous light. When the adults were held at low density, females consistently laid significantly more eggs (about 15-20%) under continuous compared with discontinuous light. In addition, adult survival did not decrease significantly under continuous light during the 2-wk period that the cages were maintained.