Visual Responses of South American Fruit Flies, Anastrepha fraterculus , 1 and Mediterranean Fruit Flies, Ceratitis capitata , 1 to Colored Rectangles and Spheres

Abstract

Visual responses of South American fruit flies, Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae), and Mediterranean fruit flies, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae), to sticky-coated colored rectangles and spheres were evaluated in field (both species) and laboratory experiments ( A. fraterculus ). Yellow rectangles were more attractive than orange, green, or red ones to both species. Yellow spheres always captued more A. fraterculus females than spheres of other colors, whereas greatest captures of C. capitata females were on red and black spheres. Spheres seem to be much more attractive to females than to males of both species, but not so rectangles. A fraterculus and C. capitata females may utilize different visual cues when seeking fruit for oviposition.