Diversity and seasonal abundance of tephritid fruit flies in three agro‐ecosystems in Benin, West Africa

Abstract

The horticulture industry in Benin is under threat due to fruit fly infestation on important crops such as cucurbits and mango. Given the economic losses due to fruit fly infestations, population dynamics of fruit flies on these crops were monitored over 6 years (2004–2010) using three parapheromones—cuelure, methyl eugenol and terpinyl acetate. A total of 2,714,186 specimens belonging to 14 species in four genera (Bactrocera, Ceratitis, Dacus and Zeugodacus) were collected. Bactrocera dorsalis was the dominant species that accounted for 89%, 89.6% and 77.2% of captures in the Forest Savannah Mosaic (FSM), Southern Guinea Savannah (SGS) and Northern Guinea Savannah (NGS) agro‐ecosystems, respectively. Shannon index values of species diversity differed significantly among agro‐ecosystems, with highest diversity in FSM followed by SGS and NGS. Temperature, rainfall and relative humidity (RH) positively influenced the abundance of Dacus species and Zeugodacus cucurbitae across the three agro‐ecosystems. Monthly mean temperatures were in a range suitable for development and reproduction of fruit flies, although minimum temperatures could be below such range, which may explain the lower abundance of fruit fly populations during this period of the year. The abundance of B. dorsalis was negatively correlated with maximum temperature and positively correlated with RH and rainfall. Ceratitis species assemblages were significantly affected by minimum temperatures, rainfall and agro‐ecosystem. Populations of B. dorsalis and Ceratitis cosyra dropped drastically in August, while those of Z. cucurbitae and Dacus punctatifrons increased sharply from August. Results of this study provide a platform for developing a comprehensive and sustainable management strategy for B. dorsalis and other fruit flies in the three agro‐ecosystems to protect the horticulture industry in Benin.

Habitat factors associated with Fopius caudatus parasitism and population level of its host, Ceratitis cosyra

“…High temperatures are generally observed in the northernmost region of the country and previous studies have reported high C. cosyra populations in the Sudanian zone (north) and low infestation in the Guinean zone (south) showing how minimum temperature and rainfall are negatively correlated with Ceratitis species (Gnanvossou et al, 2017). High temperatures are generally observed in the northernmost region of the country and previous studies have reported high C. cosyra populations in the Sudanian zone (north) and low infestation in the Guinean zone (south) showing how minimum temperature and rainfall are negatively correlated with Ceratitis species (Gnanvossou et al, 2017).…”

“…High temperatures are generally observed in the northernmost region of the country and previous studies have reported high C. cosyra populations in the Sudanian zone (north) and low infestation in the Guinean zone (south) showing how minimum temperature and rainfall are negatively correlated with Ceratitis species (Gnanvossou et al, 2017). Hence, interspecific competition between B. dorsalis and C. cosyra is low in the warmer areas compared to areas more suitable for B. dorsalis (Geurts et al, 2014;Gnanvossou et al, 2017). Hence, interspecific competition between B. dorsalis and C. cosyra is low in the warmer areas compared to areas more suitable for B. dorsalis (Geurts et al, 2014;Gnanvossou et al, 2017).…”

“…The analysis showed that temperature was associated with C. cosyra infestation, where high temperature was related to high infestation and low temperature to low infestation. (Gnanvossou et al, 2017). Ceratitis cosyra optimum temperature is slightly different from that of the most detrimental Tephritidae fruit fly species in Benin, B. dorsalis, which is not commonly found in zones with high temperatures such as Northern Sudan and Sahelian zones De Villiers et al, 2013).…”

“…Ceratitis cosyra optimum temperature is slightly different from that of the most detrimental Tephritidae fruit fly species in Benin, B. dorsalis, which is not commonly found in zones with high temperatures such as Northern Sudan and Sahelian zones De Villiers et al, 2013). Hence, interspecific competition between B. dorsalis and C. cosyra is low in the warmer areas compared to areas more suitable for B. dorsalis (Geurts et al, 2014;Gnanvossou et al, 2017). Precipitation pattern but not precipitation amount interacted (Vayssi eres et al, 2010a,b;Billah & Afreh-Nuamah, 2015).…”

Host range and species diversity of Tephritidae of three plant formations in Western Burkina Faso

“…There is also a lack of information on relative occurrence of suitable hosts throughout the year and the plant formations in which they are found. The relative abundance and seasonal phenology of fruit flies are highly dependent on the availability of host plants, prevailing weather conditions, and the presence or absence of natural enemies that limit pest population growth (Rwomushana et al ., 2008; Mwatawala et al ., 2009; Mohamed et al ., 2010; Geurts et al ., 2012; Badii et al ., 2015; Vayssières et al ., 2015; Gnanvossou et al ., 2017).…”