Comparative life history and respiratory activity of “wild” and colonized Caribbean fruit flies [Dipt.: Tephritidae]

Abstract

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 ...

Strategies for Colonization and Maintenance of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly

“…recovery cycle", although well known to the insect rearing practioner, rarely has been quantified. However, Leppla et al (1976) found that after 35 generations a caribbean fruit fly colony, transferred from routine to experimental rearing protocols, underwent nearly as much adaptation as newly introduced wild populations. Both lines had just 43% mated 9 9 after 5 generations of isolated rearing but only the wild had a prolonged preoviposition period.…”

“…Accordingly, Mitchell et al (I965) determined that the Oriental fruit fly, Dacus dorsails Hendel, becomes more lab-adapted with each passing generation until the tenth. The Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa Loew, was similar; its oviposition rate increasing from < 5 to 43% of the level of the established lab colony by the 5th generation (Leppla et al, 1976). With the Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly), Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), it required more than 5 generations to "get the culture going", so R6ssler (1975a) measured differences between wild and tab strains at 8 and ca.…”

Changes in reproductive performance of the Australian sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina (Wied.) (Dipt., Calliphoridae) following laboratory colonization

“…There are reports of delays in the commencement of oviposition in newly-established colonies relative to long-established colonies, but it is not clear to what extent this is due to reduced readiness to lay per se, rather than to a delay in the onset of oviposition resulting from delayed mating (e.g. HIGHTOWER et al 1972;LEPPLA et al 1976).…”

“…HIGHTOWER et al 1972;RAULSTON 1975;LEPPLA et al 1 976). Improvement in egg production in successive generations after colonization have also been documented (LEPPLA et al 1976(LEPPLA et al , 1983. In addition, a number of instances have been reported of relatively low rates of insemination in recently established colonies, again often with documentation of improvement with increasing number of laboratory genera-229 extent to which laboratory conditions favour reproduction and survival of some genotypes over others ( ).…”