FRUGIVOROUS FLIES (Diptera: Tephritidae and Lonchaeidae) INTERACTIONS WITH PARASITOIDS AND NEW HOSTS

Abstract

Fruits of two cultivars of guava, Psidium guajava L., (‘Tailandesa’ and ‘Kumagai’) and garlic passion fruit, Passiflora tenuifila Killip were collected to evaluate the infestation and co-infestation of frugivorous flies and the associated parasitoids and new hosts. Five species of Tephritoidea were recovered in Tailandesa guavas, three species in Kumagai guavas and three species in garlic passion fruit. This is the first report of a frugivorous fly infesting P. tenuifila. Individualization of the fruit samples was used to determine the co-infestation between Anastrepha spp., Ceratitis capitata and Neosilba spp. in each fruit. There was a fly/parasitoid association for Doryctobracon areolatus and Lopheucoila anastrephae with Anastrepha fraterculus in guavas. Infestation indices and emergence rate demonstrated that Tailandesa and Kumagai guavas are hosts capable of withstanding an infestation index ≥ 50 pupae/fruit and have an emergence rate ≥ 75%. The ability of some hosts to maintain and sustain the population of frugivorous flies at high levels may interfere with pest management.

Infestation of Pink-Flesh Guava by Frugivorous Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae and Lonchaeidae) in an Orchard of Mixed Mandarin and Guava Trees at Morelos, Mexico

“…Guavas are preferred for oviposition by several lonchaeid species (do Nascimiento et al 2015, Adaime et al 2017), and co-infestations between A. fraterculus and Neosilba spp. are commonly reported from field studies in Brazil and Central America (Nicácio and Uchôa 2011, Louzeiro et al 2021). Co-infestations also are recorded among tephritid species.…”