Ceratitis

Abstract: Both sex pheromones and male lures appear to play an important role in the mating systems of many species of economically important tephritid species. Typically, stationary males emit pheromone attractive to searching females, and recent evidence indicates that naturally occurring male lures may function as precursors in pheromone synthesis. Here, we review (i) the basic biology of sex pheromones and the importance of naturally occurring male lures as pheromone components or precursors and (ii) the use of sex pheromones and male lures as trap baits, primarily in fruit fly detection programs, for the major genera of Anastrepha, Bactrocera, Ceratitis, Dacus, Rhagoletis, and Toxotrypana. Relatively few studies have examined the effectiveness of pheromone-based trapping, and most of these have involved only three species, the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), the Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens (Loew), and the Caribbean fruit fly, A. suspensa (Loew). In general, the results have been inconsistent, with traps baited with live males or male pheromone extracts or components attracting more females than blanks or food-baited traps in some studies but not in others. This inconsistency, along with the chemical complexity of pheromones and the multimodal nature of sexual communication (where olfaction is but one of several sensory channels used in male signaling and courtship), has limited research on the development of pheromone baits. Male lures, on the other hand, have proven incredibly useful and consistently effective trap baits. The major male lures – methyl eugenol, cue-lure/raspberry ketone, and trimedlure – are discussed as are possible replacements/modifications, such as fluorinated analogues of methyl eugenol, raspberry ketone formate, zingerone, ceralure, and enriched ginger root oil. In addition, we discuss various factors influencing the efficacy of male lures, including fly age, prior lure ingestion, selection for non-responsiveness, interspecific differences in responsiveness, and the use of liquid versus solid dispensers.

Abstract: Effectiveness of GF-120 (Dow Chemical) Fruit Fly Bait containing the insecticide spinosad in controlling mango-infesting fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) was assessed by comparing treated orchards with untreated orchards. Twelve mango, Mangifera indica L., plantations located in six villages (two similar orchards per village: one orchard treated and orchard untreated) scattered in the Borgou department (northern Benin) were monitored weekly with fly traps, and the fruit was sampled twice for larval infestation at the beginning and in the middle of May in both 2006 and 2007. The two main mango fruit fly pests are Ceratitis cosyra (Walker) and Bactrocera invadens Drew, Tsuruta & White, an invasive species that recently spread throughout West Africa. In both the 2006 and 2007 seasons, C. cosyra had the earliest peak of abundance, and the difference between treated and untreated orchards, in terms of mean number of flies trapped per week and per trap, was significant only in 2007. B. invadens populations quickly increased with the onset of the rains, from mid-May onward, with no significant difference between treated and untreated orchards. In 2006 and 2007, the larval infestation by B. invadens was significantly lower in plots treated with GF-120 than in untreated control plots. GF-120 provided an 81% reduction in the number of pupae per kilogram of fruit after weekly applications for 7 wk in 2006 and an 89% reduction after 10 wk of weekly applications in 2007. The possibility of integrating GF120 bait sprays in an integrated pest management package is discussed in relation to market requirements.

Abstract: The genetic structure of natural populations of the economically important dipteran species Ceratitis capitatawas analysed using both biochemical and molecular markers. This revealed considerable genetic variation in populations from different geographic regions. The nature of this variation suggests that the evolutionary history of the species involved the spread of individuals from the ancestral African populations through Europe and, more recently, to Latin America, Hawaii and Australia. The observed variation can be explained by various evolutionary forces acting differentially in the different geographic areas, including genetic drift, bottleneck effects, selection and gene flow. The analysis of the intrinsic variability of the medfly's genome and the genetic relationships among populations of this pest is a prerequisite for any control programme.

Abstract: Biological control has been the most commonly researched control tactic within fruit fly management programs. For the first time, a review is carried out covering parasitoids and predators of fruit flies (Tephritidae) from the Americas and Hawaii, presenting the main biological control programs in this region. In this work, 31 species of fruit flies of economic importance are considered in the genera Anastrepha (11), Rhagoletis (14), Bactrocera (4), Ceratitis (1), and Zeugodacus (1). In this study, a total of 79 parasitoid species of fruit flies of economic importance are listed and, from these, 50 are native and 29 are introduced. A total of 56 species of fruit fly predators occur in the Americas and Hawaii.