Effect of adult age, food, and time of day on sexual calling incidence of wild and mass‐reared Ceratitis capitata males

Abstract

The sexual calling incidence of wild and mass‐reared Mediterranean fruit fly males, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae), was studied at 25 °C and a photophase of 14 h starting at 0600 h. Wild males fed on yeast hydrolysate and sugar attained sexual maturity earlier and exhibited higher calling activity than males fed on sugar alone. In both sugar and yeast hydrolysate‐fed wild males, calling levels were high during the first hours of the photophase, declined at 0900–1000 h, then increased again reaching high levels between 1200 and 1500 h, and finally declined and ceased after 1600 h. Food deprivation for 8 h or more caused a significantly lower frequency of calling. Irradiated (sterile) and unirradiated mass‐reared males fed on either sugar and yeast or sugar alone did not differ in the age of attaining sexual maturity (maximum levels of calling occurred about 8 days earlier than in the wild males). However, irradiated males fed on sugar called less frequently than males in the other treatments of mass‐reared males. The daily rhythm of calling in protein and sugar‐fed irradiated males differed somewhat from that of wild males. Calling was recorded at high levels from the beginning of the photophase until 1300 h without any decrease at 0900–1000 h. It then decreased to very low levels from 1500–1800 h and increased slightly at 1900 h. These findings are discussed in relation to the mating behavior of the fly and to the effectiveness of released sterile males in Sterile Insect Technique programs.

Improving sterile male performance in support of programmes integrating the sterile insect technique against fruit flies

“…Studies on species from three tephritid genera indicate that providing yeast hydrolysate to males in the days following emergence can enhance male reproductive success, although the optimal dosage and form of presentation in an operational context still need to be established (Papadopoulos et al 1998;Kaspi and Yuval 2000;Aluja et al 2001;Pé rez-Staples et al 2007). The implementation of such a strategy depends on the specific understanding of the nutritional needs of males, trade-offs between sexual performance and survival, and operational costs and benefits.…”

Potential for pre‐release diet supplements to increase the sexual performance and longevity of male Queensland fruit flies

“…For example, Ceratitis fasciventris and Ceratitis capitata fed a protein-rich diet display higher rates of calling, mating and oviposition than adults fed a protein-poor diet Manrakhan & Lux, 2006 ). Protein supplements have been shown to enhance overall male sexual performance in massreared C. capitata ( Blay & Yuval, 1997;Papadopoulos et al , 1998;Taylor & Yuval, 1999 ; but see also Shelly & McInnis, 2003 ). Likewise, in Anastrepha striata, Anastrepha serpentina and Anastrepha obliqua, (but not Anastrepha ludens ), males fed protein-rich diets exhibit higher calling frequency and mating success than males fed protein-poor diets ( Aluja et al , 2001 ).…”

Importância da ingestão de proteína na fase adulta para o sucesso de acasalamento dos machos de Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann (Diptera: Tephritidae)

“…Os dados do presente trabalho corroboram dados obtidos em outros estudos (Papadopoulos et al 1998, em que a ingestão de fonte de alimento protéico infl uencia o desempenho reprodutivo de machos. Com base nesses dados da literatura é interessante notar que, aparentemente, quando existe uma alimentação rica em proteína na fase larval, como em uma criação com dieta artifi cial em laboratório, o efeito da alimentação nos primeiros dias da fase adulta pode não ser tão relevante.…”