Species Diversity and Population Dynamics of Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Guerrero, Mexico

Abstract

Horticulture crops are economically important in the state of Guerrero, Mexico. However, fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) are the most important limiting factor due to the direct damage they cause to fruit crops such as mango (Mangifera indica Lour. [Anacardiaceae]), sweet citrus, guava (Psidium guajava L. [Myrtaceae]), and some Sapotaceae species. The aim of this study was to define fruit fly species diversity and population dynamics in the municipalities of Tetipac and Atoyac de Alvarez, Guerrero. Fruit flies were obtained from the official trapping system of the National Campaign against Fruit Flies (NCFF) of the National Directorate for the Protection Plan, SENASICA, SAGARPA, in the state of Guerrero. Eleven fruit fly species were detected: Anastrepha ludens (Loew), A. striata Schiner, A. obliqua (Macquart), A. serpentina (Wiedemann), A. spatulata Stone, A. bicolor (Stone), A. dentata (Stone), A. chiclayae Greene, Toxotrypana curvicauda Gerstaecker, Rhagoletis ramosae Hernandez-Ortiz, and Zonosemata cocoyoc Bush (all Diptera: Tephritidae). In Tetipac, we recorded the greatest abundance of fruit flies (S = 10) and also the highest values for the Shannon-Wiener (H′) diversity index and Simpson (λ) index (H′ = 1.30; λ = 0.68). Total fruit fly abundance was 1,546 individuals (Tetipac 1,085; Atoyac de Alvarez 461). The main peak populations of fruit flies were recorded from Feb to Oct, coinciding with the phenological stages of fruiting, ripening, and harvesting of fruits of each area. The host range of the most predominant fruit fly species was confirmed by recording flies emerging from fruit. Anastrepha obliqua was detected in mango and jobo (Anacardiaceae) collected in Tetipac and mango from Atoyac de Alvarez. The fruit fly parasitoid Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was recorded only in Tetipac emerging from fruit flies infesting mango, guava and jobo.