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

Abstract

Guavas (Psidium guajava L.) are a main host of several Lonchaeidae and Tephritidae fruit flies. In Mexico, guavas are infested mostly by Anastrepha striata Schiner, A. fraterculus (Wiedemann), and occasionally by A. obliqua Macquart. We sampled 240 pink-flesh guavas from an orchard of mixed mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) and guava trees at San Rafael de Zaragoza, Morelos. Fruit was collected biweekly during two fruiting periods [August-September 2021 (wet season) and January-February 2022 (dry season)]. Infestation rate, Host Suitability Index (HSI), and co-infestations by frugivorous fruit flies were assessed. We found 728 pupae (76% Anastrepha spp.), and an unusually large number of Neosilba spp. (24%). More infestation was detected during the dry season (432 pupae in the dry season versus 296 pupae in the wet season) probably caused by scarce availability of fruit. We reported for the first time, infestation of pink-flesh guavas by A. ludens from field-collected guavas picked from trees in mature-green stage. Using the HS Index, pink-flesh guavas were an inadequate host for A. ludens but were a good host for A. striata. We reported Neosilba spp. as a primary invader of guavas and discussed findings in the context of quarantine risk assessment.