Insects that are colonized for use in biological control programs must be behaviorally functional with respect to target field populations. To quantify adaptation during colonization and identify some of the behavioral changes that occur during the process, comparable colonies of field-collected and laboratoryadapted Caribbean fruit flies, Anastrepha suspensa (LoEw), were monitored through 5 generations for fertility of eggs, weights and yields of pupae, and viability, sex ratio, insemination frequency, fecundity, and CO ~ production of adults. After five generations, the wild strain still produced 57 ~ fewer eggs, required 6-7 extra days per cycle (16 ~ longer), and produced 16 ~ less CO 2 per generation.Historically, the objective of insect colonization has been the efficient production of a required quantity and stage of a particular species; quality has been assumed. More recent biological control strategies, however, have necessitated the rearing of behaviorally competitive strains. To achieve this goal, a compromise has been necessary between the physical contraints involved in rearing programs and the behavioral capabilities of resulting insects (CHAMBERS, 1975). Consequently, behavior of field-released insects has become a primary consideration that must be studied systematically and understood throughly to insure successful performance (BOLLER, 1972).Determination of minimum standards for insect quality depends on the specific objectives of the individual control program (MACKAUER, 1972). These standards may be achieved by identifying and managing the various selective forces that occur during colonization. Selection for characteristics amenable to laboratory environments is presumed to occur through rapid '" bottleneck " effects (BOLLER, 1972) and as a result of adaptation over many generations. Thus, undefined environmental conditioning (nongenetic) and genetic divergence of cultured strains from "wild" populations have become fundamental considerations in the concept of quality control in insect rearing.We selected the Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Lozw), (Dipt.: Tephritidae) for an experimental insect and studied some of the adaptive processes that occur during colonization of this species. Our objective was to record the development of (1) Mention of a commercial or proprietary product in this paper does not constitute an endorsement of that product by the U.S.D.A. each stage of the life cycle of a field-collected (wild) population that was being colonized and compare this wild colony with an established laboratory strain. Overall viability, fertility, fecundity, rate of development, and carbon dioxide produced by adults were used to monitor relative adaptedness.
MATERIALS AND METHODSThe laboratory strain was established with about 2000 pupae supplied by R.M. BA-RANOWSKI (University of Florida) from a colony maintained for more than 4 years (ca. 35 generations) at Homestead, Fla. (KAMASAKI et al., 1970). The wild population of 1882 pupae was obtained from infested common guava, Psidium ...
