Oviposition preference and biological performance of Ceratitis capitata in Anacardiaceae, Cactaceae and Vitaceae fruit

Suzany Aguiar Leite,Raymundo José De Sá Neto,Maria Aparecida Castellani,Ana Elizabete Lopes Ribeiro,Aldenise Alves Moreira,Daniela Ribeiro Da Costa

doi:10.1590/1808-1657001282018

Suzany Aguiar Leite, Raymundo José De Sá Neto + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1808-1657001282018

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Abstract

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to compare the use of fruits of great economic and social importance for the northeast of Brazil by Ceratitis capitata Wied. (Diptera: Tephritidae) for oviposition, larval development, size and longevity of adults. Fruits of mango (Mangifera indica L.), quiabento (Pereskia bahiensis Gürke), forage palm [Opuntia fícus indica (L.) Mill] and grape (Vitis vinifera L.) were used, as well as flies from a hybrid laboratory population. Initially, four treatments (fruits) and six replications were used; the fruits were offered to 10 C. capitata couples, with later (96 hours) egg count. The second was conducted with six treatments and 10 replicates, offering two types of fruits simultaneously, combined two to two, to 10 C. capitata couples. The last bioassay comprised four treatments and six replicates, where 20 g of fruit were offered to 20 first-instar C. capitata larvae. After six days, the larvae were placed in plastic pots containing vermiculite until pupation, quantifying larval and pupal periods, viability and pupal mass, besides longevity and adult size. The data were submitted to ANOVA using the R Core Team software. Ceratitis capitata oviposits and completes its biological cycle in the four hosts studied, exhibiting no preference for oviposition and low biological performance in quiabento fruits. It yielded smaller adults and lower grape survival. Cactaceae palm and quiabento allow the survival of C. capitata in the laboratory, and this knowledge has been reported for the first time, proving that they can act as alternative hosts in the field.

Highlights

The bioecology of fruit flies is influenced by several biotic and abiotic factors
The fruit used in the experiments were collected at Fruticulture de Livramento de Nossa Senhora, Bahia, and C. capitata flies were from a hybrid population kept at the Fruit Flies Laboratory of the State University of Southwest Bahia for 10 years
Acceptance and oviposition preference of Ceratitis capitata in exotic and native fruit There were significant differences in the number of eggs found in the different fruit, from which the palm was highlighted with the highest mean number of eggs per exposure surface, differing from mango and quiabento (Fig. 1)

Summary

Introduction

The bioecology of fruit flies is influenced by several biotic and abiotic factors. Host availability and population density are important biotic factors influencing population dynamics, oviposition preference and biology of Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemman, 1824) (MONTES et al, 2011). The relationship between population increase of fruit flies and the presence of host fruit is reported by several authors (ZUCCHI; MORAES, 2012). Ceratitis capitata is the main species of fruit flies of quarantine importance and there is a need for strict population control of this pest when exporting to the United States and Japan. The introduction of C. capitata in new regions of Brazil is frequent, and it is widely distributed, with its presence recently registered in the states of Pará, Acre and Roraima, and no records of its occurrence only for the states of Sergipe, Amazonas and Amapá (ZUCCHI; MORAES, 2012)

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