Quality Testing of Three Species of Tephritid Fruit Flies After Embryo Cryopreservation

Abstract

Abstract This study evaluates characteristics commonly used to define insect quality or fitness by using a complement of three species of tephritid fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) obtained from cryopreserved embryos. Anastrepha ludens (Loew), Anastrepha suspensa (Loew), and Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) were used to assess embryo to adult emergence and adult longevity, flight ability, mating ability, fecundity, and genetic variability after cryopreservation. With the three species tested, embryo survival was reduced by 50–70% whereas adult eclosion seemed unaffected by cryogenic treatment. Laboratory cage survival of cryopreserved A. ludens paralleled that of controls when tested with or without food and water posttreatment. With C. capitata, field cage survival was also similar when the adult progeny of cryopreserved parents was compared with that of untreated flies of the same age. Assessment of flight ability of cryopreserved A. ludens over a 19-d period by using a flight mill showed no statistical difference when compared with the untreated groups over the same time period. Flight ability within field cages for newly emerged progeny of cryopreserved C. capitata also mirrored that of the controls. Observed matings occurring within laboratory cages containing equal numbers of A. ludens males and females did not differ from comparable control groups. Furthermore, male progeny obtained from cryopreserved C. capitata parents competed equally with untreated males for mates while housed in field cages. A laboratory analysis of fertility and fecundity of A. suspensa revealed that males mated with control females were unaffected by cryopreservation as embryos, whereas cryopreserved females exhibited a significantly reduced fecundity when mated with control males. The fecundity of C. capitata progeny of cryopreserved parents also did not differ from control levels while caged under laboratory conditions. A random amplified polymorphic DNA assay of the genetic diversity of A. ludens comparing cryopreserved males with control males showed that the coefficient of similarity was ≥85%. This study indicates that embryo cryopreservation had little or no effect on the reproduction, longevity and flight of the species tested and can be used to support maintenance of insect stocks and control programs supported by the mass-rearing process.