Changes in the spatial and temporal population density of the Mediterranean fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) in a citrus orchard

Abstract

This paper compares the results obtained when analysing the population density of the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata [Wiedemann]) by standard methods and kriging interpolation. The data used were collected during a pest control experiment involving mass trapping of the females of this species in a citrus orchard. These captures provided a series of diagrams showing the heterogeneous spatial distribution of the flies. Since trapping began at the end of June, the insects were first caught preferentially in trees at the western and southern borders of the orchard. As the number of flies grew the rest of the crop was invaded. Kriging provided information that would allow more efficient pest management by focusing control efforts on areas where target populations are at their largest.Additional key words: Ceratitis capitata, kriging, mass trapping, pest management, spatial distribution. ResumenDistribución espacio-temporal de las capturas de la mosca mediterránea de la fruta (Diptera: Tephritidae) en una parcela de cítricos en MallorcaEn este trabajo se comparan los resultados obtenidos al evaluar la densidad poblacional de una plaga mediante el método de muestreo convencional y el procesado de los mismos mediante kriging. Para ello se utilizaron los datos obtenidos durante un experimento de control de la mosca mediterránea de la fruta Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) a base del trampeo masivo de hembras en una plantación de cítricos, obteniéndose una serie de diagramas que muestran la distribución espacial heterogénea de las capturas en la parcela. Se observa como al iniciarse éstas a final de junio, se localizan preferentemente en los árboles situados en los bordes occidental y sur de la plantación, para luego ir invadiendo todo el cultivo a medida que aumenta el nivel del insecto. El uso del kriging se muestra en este estudio como una eficaz herramienta para el manejo de plagas, aportando información que permite aplicar de forma más precisa los métodos adecuados para su control, concentrándolos en las zonas en las que hay mayor densidad poblacional.Palabras clave adicionales: Ceratitis capitata, control de plagas, distribución espacial, kriging.

Validation of a geographic weighted regression analysis as a tool for area-wide integrated pest management programs for Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann (Diptera: Tephritidae) on Terceira Island, Azores

“…According to Alemany et al (2006) the OK interpolation method provided the revelation of spatial heterogeneity and provided the information that would allow them to proceed to more efficient a pest management program by focusing control efforts on areas where target populations are at their greatest.…”

“…There are several geostatistical methods usable for area-wide integrated pest management programs, but entomologists frequently use spatial interpolation methods to characterize the spatial distribution of pests. Two of the most commonly used methods in insect studies are Inverse Distance Weighted Pimentel et al 2006;Bonsignore et al 2008;Lopes et al 2008;Pimentel 2010;Sciarretta & Trematerra 2011;Rhodes et al 2011) and Kriging (Alemany et al 2006;Sciarretta et al 2008;Castrignanò et al 2012;Tabilio et al 2014).…”

Evaluation of candidate systems for mass trapping against Ceratitis spp. on La Réunion island

“…The traps were hung in the canopy of citrus trees at a height of 1.5 m, and two clockwise rotations were made each week, giving five complete rotations or cycles during a trial. The criterion chosen to proceed with rotation was to avoid the influence of the position of the trap on fly captures, as it is known that C. capitata has an aggregated distribution in the orchard (Escudero‐Colomar LA, Vilajeliu M and Batllori L, unpublished data), and captures tend to be higher at the border of the orchards . The dates of each rotation for the ‘T’ trial were as follows: first rotation, 10.3.09–20.3.09; second rotation, 20.3.09–31.3.09; third rotation, 31.3.09–10.4.09; fourth rotation, 10.4.09–24.4.09; fifth rotation, 24.4.09–5.5.09.…”

Effect of physic-chemical parameters on the infestation of fruits by Ceratitis capitata WIEDDEMANN, 1824 (Diptera: Tephritidae)

“…The fig Thâamrount variety comes just after, with a rate of fruit attacked of 45.07% and an average of 0.98 punctures / fruit. Hendrich and Hendrich (1990) and Alemany et al (2006), consider fig fruit as the most preferred of the fruit fly compared to oranges because of its rich food especially sugar.…”