Abstract
BackgroundThe Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is a highly invasive species now with an almost cosmopolitan distribution. Two other damaging, polyphagous and closely-related species, the marula fruit fly, Ceratitis cosyra (Walker), and the Natal fly, Ceratitis rosa Karsch, are not established outside of sub-Saharan Africa. In this study, adult water balance traits and nutritional body composition were measured in all three species at different temperatures and levels of relative humidity to determine whether tolerance of water stress may partially explain their distribution.ResultsAdult C. capitata exhibited higher desiccation resistance than C. rosa but not C. cosyra. Desiccation resistance of C. capitata was associated with lower rates of water loss under hot and dry conditions, higher dehydration tolerance, and higher lipid reserves that were catabolised during water stress. In comparison with C. capitata, C. cosyra and C. rosa lost water at significantly higher rates under hot, dry conditions, and did not catabolise lipids or other sources of metabolic water during water stress.ConclusionsThese results suggest that adult physiological traits permitting higher tolerance of water stress play a role in the success of C. capitata, particularly relative to C. rosa. The distribution of C. cosyra is likely determined by the interaction of temperature with water stress, as well as the availability of suitable hosts for larval development.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12983-016-0147-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is a highly invasive species with an almost cosmopolitan distribution
Environmental adaptations have particular importance for invasion biology because the ability of invasive species to survive variable environmental conditions has been suggested as a key trait that contributes to their dispersal and potential to invade
In C. capitata and C. cosyra, females had a higher water content than males, but the water content of females and males was similar in C. rosa (Fig. 1b)
Summary
The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is a highly invasive species with an almost cosmopolitan distribution. The current, almost cosmopolitan distribution in suitable climates (excluding only central and eastern Asia; [12]) and highly polyphagous use of fruit hosts [reared from over 150 plant species in Africa alone; [13] has led to this species being considered the most economically damaging pest of horticulture in the world because of direct crop losses, pre- and postharvest control costs, and limited access or loss of access to fly-free export markets (e.g., see [14]). Two other damaging, polyphagous fruit flies from the same genus, the marula fruit fly, Ceratitis cosyra (Walker), and the Natal fly, Ceratitis rosa Karsch, have not become established outside of sub-Saharan Africa. Ceratitis rosa has a similar host range (in terms of species used and breadth of species) to C. capitata, but it is found only on the eastern side of Africa from Kenya, south in to South Africa, as well as some Indian Ocean islands where it has been introduced [15]
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