Resistance of West Indian Fruit Fly Anastrepha obliqua Macquart to Quarantine Treatments of Thermal-Controlled High-Pressure Processing

Abstract

Anastrepha obliqua Macquart (Diptera: Tephritidae) is an important insect infesting fruit in Mexico and other Latin American countries along with Anastrepha ludens. Recently, high-pressure processing (HPP) has been reported as a quarantine method for different fruit flies. However, more studies are needed to determine the resistance of the most infesting insects to this treatment. The present study was carried out to determine the effect of HPP on the survivorship of eggs and larvae of A. obliqua. Eggs and larvae were pressurized at 50–90 MPa for 0–9 min at 0 or 45°C. Hatching was recorded for 1-, 2-, and 3-day-old pressurized eggs. The percentage of survival was also registered for pressurized larvae (first, second, and third instars). Furthermore, third instars were studied for their ability to pupate. The effect of time and pressure level at near-freezing temperatures or warm temperatures on the egg hatching and survival of larvae were discussed. These results showed that HPP at 90 MPa for 9 min at 0 or 45°C destroys all eggs and larvae of A. obliqua, indicating that this process could be useful as a quarantine method for infested fruits.