Annual population dynamics of mango fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in West Africa: socio-economic aspects, host phenology and implications for management

Abstract

-Introduction. Losses in West African commercial mango orchards due to fruit fly infestations have exceeded 50% by the middle of the crop season since 2005, resulting in considerable income loss for the growers. Materials and methods. In 2009, weekly monitoring of adult fruit fly species of economic significance was carried out in eight West African countries at 12 sites across five agroecological zones: (i) Humid Forest, (ii) Guinean savanna, (iii) Southern Sudan, (iv) Northern Sudan, and (v) Sahelian. Trapping was performed using methyl eugenol and terpinyl acetate in 288 Tephritraps, targeting Bactrocera invadens and Ceratitis cosyra. Results. The data showed that B. invadens was present throughout the year in the Forest zone, abundant for 7 months, with a peak in May at the end of the mango season, C. cosyra being totally absent. In the Guinean savanna zone, B. invadens was abundant for 6-7 months, with a peak at the beginning of June coinciding with the season, with a few C. cosyra. In the Southern Sudan zone, B. invadens was abundant for 6 months, with a peak in mid-June during the season, C. cosyra peaking in April. In the Northern Sudan zone, B. invadens was abundant for 5 months, with a peak at the end of June at the end of the season, C. cosyra peaking in May. In the Sahelian zone, B. invadens was abundant for 4 months, peaking in August during the season, C. cosyra peaking just before. These preliminary results showed that the exotic species, B. invadens, was present at high levels [mean peak of 378 flies per trap per day (FTD)] in all agro-ecological zones, while the native species, C. cosyra, preferred the drier zones of West Africa, with lower population levels (mean peak of 77 FTD). Conclusion. Detection trapping of male flies with parapheromones is a useful indicator of field population levels and could be used to deploy control measures (IPM package) in a timely manner when the Economic Injury Level is reached. Control strategies for these quarantine mango fruit fly species are discussed with respect to agro-ecological zones and the phenological stages of the mango tree.West Africa / Mangifera indica / fruits / exports / Bactrocera invadens / Ceratitis cosyra / agroclimatic zones / plant developmental stages Dynamique annuelle des populations de mouches des fruits du manguier en Afrique de l'Ouest: aspects socio-économiques, phénologie de l'hôte et implications pour leur gestion.Résumé -Introduction. En Afrique de l'Ouest les pertes dues aux mouches des fruits dépassent 50 % pour les cultivars d'intérêt commercial à partir du milieu de la campagne mangue depuis 2005, impliquant des pertes considérables de revenus pour les planteurs. Matériel et méthodes. En 2009, le suivi hebdomadaire des adultes de mouches des fruits a été mené simultanément dans huit pays ouest-africains au niveau de 12 sites différents dans cinq zones agro-écologiques : (i) forêt humide, (ii) savane guinéenne, (iii) soudanienne méridionale, (iv) soudanienne septentrionale, (v) sahélienne. Le piégeage des adultes a ét...

Assessing the Potential of Sentinel-2 Derived Vegetation Indices to Retrieve Phenological Stages of Mango in Ghana

“…Five main crop phenological stages were differentiated from this study which is consistent with the phenology stages observed by Vayssières, et al [55]. These stages, namely F/FS, FRD, M/H, FLU and D occur yearly in the mango growing areas studied.…”

“…This includes the dates physiological changes e.g., flowering, fruitset and leaf flush were first observed and farm management activities such as flower induction dates and harvesting were undertaken. Additionally, published literature relating to mango phenology cycles in Ghana and West Africa were reviewed [55,56]. The information indicated the growth stages and timings (Figure 2) where the collection of monthly satellite data was most required.…”

Fruit fly surveillance in Togo (West Africa): state of diversity and prevalence of species

“…C. cosyra is the second most important species to which special attention must be paid in Togo and in West Africa (Ouédraogo et al 2011;Zida et al 2020). This species was considered as adapted to Sahelian and Sudanese zones and absent from agro-ecological zones of the humid forests of West Africa (Vayssières et al 2014). However, it was found in all ecological zones of the study area in Togo including zone IV dominated by dense semi-deciduous forests.…”

“…Of insect pests attacking fruits and vegetables fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) ranked as being one of the most important economically. The losses attributed to fruit flies in sub-Saharan Africa have been increasing in recent years because, in addition to the indigenous species like Ceratitis cosyra (Walker) (Diptera: Tephritidae) which attack fruits and reduce their nutritional and trade values, a new species, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae) originated from Southeast Asia was first detected in Kenya in 2003, was introduced from Southeast Asia (Pouillès-Duplaix 2008;Vayssières et al 2014). In a few years, this species has spread throughout West Africa (Drew et al 2005), as an invasive species.…”

Infestation rate of Mangifera indica fruit fly in Sudanese zone of Mali

“…For a century, Tephritidae has been one of the most studied pests (Passion Entomology, 2014). They cause considerable economic losses for farmers (Vayssières et al, 2014). The study has been carried out on the unspecified infestation rate of mango varieties in Benin (Vayssières et al, 2010) and Togo (Gomina, 2015).…”