The fruit fly Ceratitis capitata is a successful generalist due to the trade-off between different variables in its life history traits. The present study aimed to assess some life history traits of C. capitata recovered from peach, plum and fig, three key host species, under the climatic conditions of an irrigation oasis in the arid province of San Juan, Argentina. Pupal abundance, sex ratio and morphometric parameters such as pupal and adult weight, pupal volume, wingspan and head-caudal length were influenced by the host in which the larvae were reared. Sexual maturity, measured as the peak of calling (pheromone emission), was homogeneous on the sixth and seventh days after emergence, but males recovered from fig showed early calling activity on the third day after emergence. The plasticity of C. capitata to adapt its life history traits to specific nutrient variations within the larval environment allows it to colonise and establish populations where key hosts, as those studied here, are available. The knowledge of the interactions between host fruit trees and C. capitata populations provides helpful information for planning the management of local orchards and urban fruit plantations within irrigation oases, taking into consideration the concept of key hosts as peach and fig.

Fruit fly infestation is one of the main obstacles to the exportation of fresh agricultural produce. Films of mineral particles and biomaterials have the potential to protect fruits against tephritid fruit fly infestation. The present study evaluated the effects of particle films on the tritrophic interactions of grape (Vitis vinifera L.), the fruit fly Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) and the parasitoid Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) under semi-field conditions. Grapes were biometrically characterised (i.e. colour, firmness, mass, length and diameter), treated with mineral particles, biomaterials or distilled water (control), and then used in oviposition and parasitism bioassays. In the oviposition bioassay, the treated grapes were exposed to 50 C. capitata pairs in field cages, and after 48 h, the punctures and eggs on each fruit were counted. In the parasitism bioassay, treated grapes were artificially infested with third-instar C. capitata larvae (two per fruit), exposed (2 h) to 50 D. longicaudata pairs in field cages to determine parasitism index, larval and pupal viabilities and number of flies and parasitoids emerged. Treatment with the mineral film affected fruit colour and reduced C. capitata oviposition but failed to significantly affect the parasitism capacity of D. longicaudata. The ability of the parasitoid to locate and parasitise C. capitata larvae in kaolin-coated fruits suggests that kaolin films could be used in conjunction with biological agents to control fruit flies.

Invasive Tephritid fruit flies are a global threat to both agriculture and horticulture industries. Biosecurity has played a critical role in reducing their damage but becomes more and more challenging after several key chemical pesticides were banned or withdrawn for health or environmental reasons. This has led to non-chemical approaches including heat and cold treatments being broadly utilized to get rid of fruit fly infestation. However, the molecular mechanisms to kill the flies underlying these stressors are not clear yet. This knowledge will certainly help refine current post-harvest treatment strategies and develop more efficient, cost-effective and environmentally friendly approaches for fruit fly management. Previously, the molecular response of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) to heat was examined thoroughly, in which 31 key genes were identified with significant changes in expression levels and their high-resolution expression timeline was constructed across 11 timepoints. However, whether these candidate genes respond to cold in the same way was unknown. Here, a temperature bioassay was conducted and the expression profiles of these genes were investigated across the same 11 timepoints using cold treatment. The results showed that most of candidate genes exhibited divergent expression profiles compared to heat treatment, suggesting that the fly molecular response to cold may be different from those to heat. This study provides new knowledge of Tephritid fruit fly response to cold at a molecular level, which could aid in improving current fruit fly management and facilitate the development of new strategies to control this serious horticultural insect pest.

Plant-derived compounds can be an environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic pesticide use for pest management. Essential oils (EOs) in several plant families have been found to be toxic to various pest species of insects through topical application, ingestion, and as fumigants. Previous studies revealed that, among various environmentally friendly insecticides, the EOs of Baccharis dracunculifolia and Pinus elliottii and an ethanol extract of Solanum granulosoleprosum plus Ricinus communis, were toxic to Ceratitis capitata and Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae) when applied topically to pupae or when ingested by adults. Here, we aimed to examine the potentially toxic effects of these plant-derived compounds when these two pestiferous fruit fly species were exposed to their vapors. We also examined their fumigant effect on female fecundity and fertility and compared it with water and ethanol controls. Exposure of C. capitata and A. fraterculus sexually mature adults to volatiles and vapors of both B. dracunculifolia and P. elliottii EOs resulted in lower longevity (half-life), survivorship, and female fecundity than the water vapor control. Toxicity of C. capitata was greater for P. elliottii than for B. dracunculifolia while the reverse was true for A. fraterculus. Exposure to vapors of S. granulosoleprosum + R. communis (S + R) had no effect on longevity but reduced survivorship of adults of both species. Interestingly, exposure to vapors of S + R, 50% (v/v) and pure ethanol resulted in greater fecundity of females of both frugivorous fly species than the water control. By contrast, fertility (% egg hatch) was in all cases high (>85%) and not different than the water control. Exposure to ethanol vapors appears to have similar effects on frugivorous tephritids as those reported on saprophagous and frugivorous species of Drosophila, a novel finding that may have important practical implications.

The Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly), Ceratitis capitata, is considered the most important fruit pest worldwide. Its management is mainly based on the use of chemical insecticides. Although these conventional pesticides are effective at high doses, they cause considerable human health and environment problems. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess insecticidal activity of Moroccan actinobacteria against C. capitata. A total of 12 preselected actinobacteria isolated from various Moroccan habitats were screened for their insecticidal activity against larvae, pupae and adults of C. capitata. Four actinobacteria isolates were significantly active against the first-instar larvae, and nine were active against the medfly adult, while no significant mortality was obtained against the third-instar larval and pupal stages. Among the selected isolates, the biological screening revealed that strain Streptomyces LD-37, which showed 99.4% similarity with Streptomyces phaeochromogenes, exhibited the maximal corrected larval mortality of 98%. Moreover, the isolates AS1 and LD-37 showed the maximum significant corrected mortality against adults of 32.5 and 28.2%, respectively. The crude extract obtained from a fermented culture of strain S. phaeochromogenes LD-37 was separated into six fractions by thin layer chromatography. Fractions F3 and F4 caused a significant corrected larval mortality of 66.7 and 53.3%, respectively; whereas the maximum reduction in adult emergence was obtained with fraction F4. This finding could be useful for utilizing S. phaeochromogenes LD-37 as an alternative to chemical insecticides in pest management of C. capitata.

Introduction. Traditionally the control of fruit flies is based on the use of pesticides, which increase production costs and have led to many environmental concerns. Our study aimed to evaluate the effect of neem cake on the larval and pupal stages of Ceratitis capitata. Materials and methods. Third instar larvae were transferred to plastic vials with neem cake in different proportions. The treatments consisted of vermiculite with neem cake in the concentrations: control (vermiculite only), then (10, 25, 50, 75 and 100)% of neem seed cake. The bioassay was completely randomized, with six treatments, ten replicates and ten third instar larvae per replicate. The results were statistically analyzed. Results. At concentrations of 75% or more of neem cake in vermiculite, practically no adult flies emerged. At 50%, more than 80% of the adults did not emerge and the pupal period was prolonged. The sex ratio of the adults was not affected after the contact of the pupae with the neem cake. The estimated lethal concentrations to kill 50% and 90% of the population were 30.6% and 51.6%, respectively. Conclusion. The neem seed cake has contact actions against the larval-pupal stage of C. capitata. Neem seed cake in the pupation substrate can cause high mortality when its concentration is 50% or more, and it prolongs the delay of the pupal period of C. capitata.

The abundance and distribution of Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) in Late Valencia citrus orchards and other alternative host crops was investigated using trimedlure-baited traps at the University of Ghana's Agricultural Research Centre in the Eastern region of Ghana. The effect of some climatic factors on the population dynamics of the pest was also studied. The population of C. capitata increased from September to October 2006 and from February to March 2007, when Late Valencia citrus fruits were ripening or ripened. The fruit fly population was the lowest from November 2006 to January 2007 when citrus fruits were in the immature green stage. Ceratitis capitata was not trapped in mango, pawpaw and pepper fields and did not emerge from fruits of these crops. Multiple regression analyses also revealed that rainfall and temperature significantly influenced the pest population. The results of this study have important implications on the decision-making process for the safe, effective monitoring and management of C. capitata in Late Valencia citrus orchards in the study area in Ghana and probably in other areas as well.

The results presented in this paper refer to a host survey, lasting approximately three and a half years (February 2003–July 2006), undertaken in the Vale do Rio Doce Natural Reserve, a remnant area of the highly endangered Atlantic Rain Forest located in Linhares County, State of Espírito Santo, Brazil. A total of 330 fruit samples were collected from native plants, representing 248 species and 51 plant families. Myrtaceae was the most diverse family with 54 sampled species. Twenty-eight plant species, from ten families, are hosts of ten Anastrepha species and of Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann). Among 33 associations between host plants and fruit flies, 20 constitute new records, including the records of host plants for A. fumipennis Lima and A. nascimentoi Zucchi. The findings were discussed in the light of their implications for rain forest conservation efforts and the study of evolutionary relationships between fruit flies and their hosts.

Lufenuron is a chitin synthesis inhibitor, which is able to impede Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), reproduction. In laboratory trials, following ingestion of lufenuron, the eggs laid by female Ceratitis capitata were prevented from hatching. In field trials in Valencia, Spain, lufenuron showed its effectiveness by reducing C. capitata wild populations and its continuous application to several generations of fruit fly resulted in increased pest control. This field trial was conducted in an isolated valley some 80 ha in size, over a continuous four-year period. In order to maintain the sterilizing effect in the field throughout the whole year, a new lufenuron bait gel was developed. This bait gel was introduced in to delta traps suspended in trees at a density of 24 traps ha−1, and these traps were replaced once a year during the field trial. Monitoring of the adult C. capitata population was conducted to assess the effects of the chemosterilant treatment. In the first year of treatment with sterilizing traps, a reduction of the C. capitata population was observed, indicating that the traps reduce the population right from the first generation. In the second, third and fourth years, a continuous and progressive reduction of the adult Mediterranean fruit fly population was observed. Therefore, the successive application of chemosterilization treatment has a cumulative effect on reducing the fly population year after year. Aerial treatment using malathion does not produce this cumulative effect, and consequently every year it is necessary to start again with the same number of flies as the year before. The possibility of using the chemosterilant method alone or combined with the sterile insect technique is discussed.

The influence of food sources comprising the natural diet on the reproductive behaviour, fecundity and longevity of three African fruit flies Ceratitis cosyra (Walker), C. fasciventris (Bezzi) and C. capitata (Wiedemann) was investigated. Three natural food sources, varying in protein and sugar content, were evaluated. These included bird droppings (farm chicken), aphid honeydew and guava (Psidium guajava L.) juice. For C. fasciventris and C. capitata, flies fed on a protein-rich diet displayed higher frequency of calling, mating and oviposition than flies fed on a protein-poor diet, whilst for C. cosyra, quality of diet significantly influenced the mating behaviour of the flies, but not the calling and oviposition behaviour. Net fecundity rates were lowest for C. fasciventris and C. capitata when fed only on guava juice (0.1, 2.6 eggs per female, respectively), and higher for those on a diet of honeydew only (9.5, 33.8 eggs per female, respectively) and a combined diet of guava, honeydew and chicken faeces (11.8, 25.8 eggs per female, respectively). For C. cosyra, due to low numbers of eggs collected, no significant differences in fecundity between diets could be detected. All species fed only on a diet of chicken faeces since emergence died within the first three days of adult life without laying eggs, but when carbohydrates were provided by addition of guava juice and honeydew, the longevity of the flies was sustained for more than four weeks after adult emergence. The practical implications of these findings for control purposes are discussed.

After oviposition, females of the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann deposit a host-marking pheromone on the fruit surface that deters oviposition by conspecifics. Methanolic extracts of fruit fly faeces elicit a similar deterrent effect. The results of laboratory and field experiments using raw methanolic extracts of C. capitata faeces as an oviposition deterrent are reported. Laboratory bioassays revealed a significant positive relationship between concentration of faeces and the inhibition of oviposition responses by C. capitata. Treatment of halves of coffee bushes with methanolic extracts containing 0.1, 1.0 and 10 mg faeces ml−1 resulted in a significant reduction of infestation only at the highest concentration (P = 0.03). Treatment of blocks of coffee bushes with an extract of 10 mg faeces ml−1 resulted in an 84%reduction in infestation by C. capitata in sprayed plants and a 56% reduction in adjacent untreated coffee bushes surrounding treated plots, probably due to the deterrent effect of host-marking pheromone on fly oviposition. We conclude that faeces contain oviposition deterrent substances that effectively reduce fruit infestations by C. capitata, suggesting a clear potential for the use of this infochemical in integrated management programmes targeted at this pest.

Introduction. Damage of citrus fruits by the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata Weid. results in economic losses in Nigeria. The majority of the citrus producers are small-holders who are yet to adopt standard citrus production practices. A trial was therefore established in a savannah zone of Nigeria with a Southern Guinea agroecology to evaluate simple fruit fly control practices. Materials and methods. The efficacy of combining cultural practices such as removal of dropped fruits, changes of harvest period, and three applications of dimethoate/cypermethrine mixture in controlling fruit fly damage was tested on sweet orange Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck var. Valencia Late in 2000 and 2001. Results. Fruits attacked by C. capitata increased with fruit maturity and were positively correlated with the number of dropped fruits. Insecticide applications and removal of dropped fruits significantly reduced the number of fruits attacked by the fruit flies. Similarly, early harvesting at 50% fruit ripening significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the number of fruits attacked by the fruit flies when compared with the late harvesting at 90% ripening. The interactive effects of insecticide applications and the period of harvest significantly (P < 0.05) reduced attacks on fruits. Discussions. Judicious use of insecticides, periods of harvest and removal of fallen fruits reduce fruit fly damage. Late harvest and non-removal of fallen fruits constitute fruit fly reservoirs for the re-infestation of other clean fruits. Since the tested control methods were simple, they can be adopted by small-holders for the control of fruit flies.

Introduction. The Tephritidae Ceratitis capitata is one of the most important agricultural pests in the world. Eradication programmes need as much genetic information as possible to be efficient. It is vital to know the genetic variation that exists in the areas thought to have been important in the expansion of the species, such as the Iberian Peninsula. The aim of this study was to determine the genetic structure of Spanish C. capitata populations and the relationships between them. Materials and methods. We studied the genetic variability of populations of C. capitata (eight wild samples and one laboratory strain) through the use of the horizontal starch gel electrophoresis technique and the assay of fifteen enzyme-coding loci chosen at random. Results. The quantity of variability detected in this polyphagous species was not high. Of the 15 loci studied, only four were clearly polymorphic. No significant differences were found in any comparison of populations collected from different hosts. Discussion. The distribution patterns of this variation seem to be the result of gene flow and selection in the form of agricultural practices.

Introduction. In Algeria, the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata Wiedmann constitutes the main obstacle to production and exportation of many fruits. In studies of the genetic structure differences of medfly populations, certain authors, using molecular markers, observed the existence of different patterns among the pest Mediterranean populations. A clear understanding of the source and migration of the Mediterranean fruit fly would be useful for undertaking a successful eradication or control program. For this reason, preliminary work sought to compare the genetic structure of Algerian populations of C. capitata with that of other populations situated either in the western Indian ocean or on the northwestern Mediterranean coast. Materials and methods. The study of enzyme polymorphism allowed the comparison of the genetic structure of four Algerian populations of Ceratitis capitata with one from Reunion Island and five other populations collected from the northwestern Mediterranean coast (France and Spain). Enzyme analyses were performed on ground pest adults electrophoresed on a starch gel. Fifteen loci were analyzed for each population. Results and discussion. In spite of a wide geographic distribution of the analyzed populations (from a latitude of 24° to 44° N), no gradient of allelic frequencies was observed for any of the polymorphic loci. A higher genetic variability was observed in the population of Reunion Island than in the populations of Algeria or the northwestern Mediterranean coast. No genetic differentiation was observed among the populations of southern Algeria (Djanet and Ghardaïa) and northern Algeria (Boufarik and Oran).

The objectives of this study were to identify the preimaginal development of instars of Diachasmimorpha tryoni (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Opiinae), a larvo-pupal parasitoid of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), and to define its thermal requirements. Development was followed daily and parasitoid stage and size were noted. Larval samples were observed under a scanning electron microscope. Developmental rate as a function of temperature was studied with the Sharpe-DeMichele 6-parameter biophysical model and thermal requirements (lower developmental threshold and thermal constant) calculated using a linear regression. The duration of parasitoid development at seven temperatures ranged from 16.52 ± 0.96 days at 28 °C to 57.62 ± 1.85 days at 15 °C (males) and from 18.00 ± 0.79 days at 28 °C to 63.60 ± 1.52 days at 15 °C (females). Male development always took shorter than female development. No parasitoids emerged at 29 and 30 °C, which seems to be close to maximal temperature. The development required 322.6 ± 17.6 degree-days above a thermal threshold of 9.19 °C (both sexes cumulated). These data are compared with those of the host fruit fly, and the suitability of D. tryoni in controlling the Mediterranean fruit fly in Reunion Island is discussed.

Between 1984 and 1988, a survey of fruit-infesting ceratitid fruitflies was conducted in 11 agricultural districts in Kenya. Samples of up to 18 different fruit crops were examined for infestation. The four species of fruitfly found were Ceratitis capitata, C. rosa (Pterandrus rosa), C. nigra (Trirhithrum coffeae) and C. cosyra (Pardalaspis cosyra). The first three were sympatric infestants of coffee, while the latter was exclusively found in mangoes. In addition, C. rosaalso infested loquat, guava and custard apple. C. capitata infested commercial orange cultivars. This species was predominant in the main arabica coffee growing areas in the central highlands. C. rosa and C. nigra were more widespread, occurring in high proportions in most parts of the country. Generally, the proportions of the three species per coffee sample, and the mean number of each species per kg of coffee, tended to vary considerably over time and space.

The sensitivity of different larval stage duration pupae of Mediterranean fruit-fly, Ceratitis capitata to gamma irradiation, was tested by exposing pupae, 1 day before adult eclosion, to various gamma ray doses (60, 80 and 100 Gy). The treated pupae were biologically different in their larval span (5, 7 and 9 days). The pupae of med-fly having shorter larval period (5 days) were more resistant to sterilizing effects of gamma irradiation than those having longer larval period (9 days). The longevity of sterilized females developing from irradiated pupae, which had 5-and 7-day larval span, was increased considerably. Treatment of pupae which had 5-day larval span with a dose of 80 Gy, resulted in females which lived 84.3 days, but laid only 2.33 eggs as compared with their control females which lived 51.4 days and laid 976.71 eggs. In general, irradiation of pupae of different larval stage duration with a dose of 60 Gy or greater did not adversely affect the longevity of emerging adults. It is concluded that 60 Gy-irradiation of pupae having long larval span (9 days) should be used in the sterile insect release method for population suppression of Ceratitis capitata.

The relative activity of three concentrations of Spodoptera littoralis nuclear polyhedrosis virus (SLNPV) against Ceratitis capitata were determined by (a) submerging two egg age groups, freshly laid eggs (0–2.5 hr) and more older ones (0–24 hr) in viral concentrations, and (b) feeding newly hatched larvae on viral contaminated media. Pupations that resulted from all viral treatments were decreased with increase of virus dose. Hatchability showed the same relation, but hatchability of treated old eggs were not significantly influenced by increases in viral concentration. Adult emergence was significantly reduced due to viral treatments to eggs, however, it was increased in the case of feeding the larvae on contaminated diet. The most hypothetical probability of this deleterious effect may be attributed to an activation of an indigenous virus already present in C. capitata. More research is required to understand the basis for the deleterious effect of SLNPV on the fruit fly.