Academic literature on the topic 'Fruit fly pests'

The insect pests recorded during 1993-96 on chayote in Chitwan, Lalitpur and Parbat districts were as follows: white grubs (Phyllophaga spp.), mole cricket (Gryllotalpa fussor Fab.), field cricket (Brachytrypes portentosus Licht.), red pumpkin beetle (Aulacophora foveicollis Lucas), blue pumpkin beetle (Aulacophora lewisii Baly), flea beetle (Monolepta signata Oliv.), tobacco caterpillar (Spodoptera litura Fab.), stink bug (Coridius janus Fab.), spotted beetle (Epilachna pusilanima Mulsant), banded blister beetle (Mylabris phalerata Pallas), brown bug (Agonoscelis nubila Fab.), cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii Glov.), pumpkin fruit fly (Bacterocera cucurbitae Coq.), and three unidentified insect pests- brown weevil, hairy caterpillars and stem boring beetle. Of them, the fruit fly and cotton aphid were the serious ones. Nepalese and Mexican accessions of chayotes varied for their susceptibility to both the above insects. The chayote fruits with tough fruit skin and dense and long spines were less susceptible to fruit fly, while the spineless and smooth fruits were the most susceptible. 
 
 Key words: Chayote germplasm, insect pests, aphid and fruit fly 
 
 J. Inst. Agric. Anim. Sci. 27:161-164 (2006)

Farmer-level knowledge is an important component of the action plan of the fruit fly committee of Ghana. A survey was conducted among 188 fruit growers in 20 districts in northern Ghana between February and May, 2012, to assess their knowledge, perceptions and practices (KPP) regarding fruit fly pests. Semi-structured questions designed in an open- and closed-ended fashion were used to assess farmers’ KPP about the pests. Majority (90 %) of the farmers were already aware of the fruit fly problem in the country with 55.3% perceiving it to be very serious. Majority (80.9%) of farmers however, demonstrated poor knowledge in identifying the fruit fly species of economic importance, especially the new African invader fruit fly, Bactrocera invadens. Farmers were more conversant with the economic impact of fruit flies than their direct damage symptoms on host fruits. A total of 39% growers took no action to control fruit flies in their farms. Recommended fruit fly control strategies such as pheromone trapping, bait application, soil inoculation and biological control were either unknown or inaccessible to growers. A total of (72%) applied chemicals that were not recommended for the control of fruit flies without considering their environmental and health risks. It is important to train fruit growers to improve their capabilities for fruit fly management through farmers’ field schools appropriate for helping them acquire basic knowledge of fruit fly pests and their control, and enable the most receptive farmers to reach a level of independent decision-makers.

Abstrack
 Cayenne pepper is a horticulture plant (vegetable) where the fruit is used for various food purposes. The decrease of the chilly yields productivity caused by several factors including the use of varieties with low yields and the attack of Plant Pests (OPT). Pests that often attack chili plants are fruit flies. Petrogenol could be used to control this pest.The method used was a randomized block design with 7 treatments and 3 replications by comparing the dose of petrogenol.
 The results showed that the D3 treatment showed the best parameters in the use of petrogenol doses in controlling fruit fly pests, in the parameters of healthy fruits, damaged fruit, insect catches, and damage intensity. The use of high doses of petrogenol can influence the trapping of fruit flies and as the control of fruit fly attacks
 Keywords : Fruit flies, cayenne pepper and petrogenol

Description of the subject. Fruit flies are a large group of pests belonging to the order Diptera. The family Tephritidae is one of two fly families referred to as “fruit flies”. Tephritidae (true fruit flies) represent one of the largest families of flies and are part of a group of the most destructive agricultural pests in the world, attacking a wide range of fruits and fleshy vegetables. The other fruit fly family is the Drosophilidae, often called “vinegar flies”. There are also fly species from other Diptera families that attack the fruits of agricultural crops. Objectives. Due to its favorable geographic position and Mediterranean climate, the Montenegro seacoast is suited to fruit and vegetable production. The aim of this study was to make an inventory of the fruit fly species affecting fruit crops on the Montenegro seacoast. Method. The study area was 300 km along the Montenegro coast. Different types of traps (lure attractants, pheromone, and yellow sticky traps) were used for the monitoring, detection and recording of the spread of fruit flies in the area. Results. From an economic point of view, the most important species of fruit flies recorded were the Bactrocera oleae Gmel. and Ceratitis capitata Wiedem. Rhagoletis cerasi L. and Carpomya vesuviana Costa were also found to be present. Although several specimens of Rhagoletis cingulata Loew were detected in 2013-2014, this species has not, to date, been considered as established in the area of study. After the first detection of Drosophila suzukii Matsumura in 2013, this fruit fly was found to spread rapidly, and its presence is now observed along the whole Montenegro seacoast. One of the fruit fly species recorded, Silba adipata McAlpine, is considered to be one of the most destructive pests for fig production in Montenegro. Conclusions. Of seven species recorded in the study, five belonged to the family Tephritidae, and one each to Drosophilidae and Lonchaeidae.

Fruit flies are the main pests that attack various types of fruit vegetables and fruits that can caused a damage in the quality and quantity of production. Fruit flies controlling by chemical insecticides is common to use nowadays, but excessive use of chemical insecticides has a negative impact on the health and environment. One alternative to control the fruit flies is using oleoresins of Chromolaena odorata leaf. This study aims to determine the effect of C. Odorata leaf oleoresin on increasing the mortality of fruit fly pests (Bactrocera cucurbitae). This research used an experimental method with Completely Randomized Design (CRD) which had 6 treatment levels, namely: N0 (Aquadest), N1 (Oleoresins 2%), N2 (Oleoresins 4%), N3 (Oleoresins 6%), N4 (Oleoresins 8%), N5 (Oleoresins 10%), was replicated 4 times so there were 24 experimental units. The results showed that the application of C. Odorata leaf oleoresin had no sigificant effect on mortality percentage and mortality rates, but oleoresin had the potential to increasing fruit fly mortality as concentrations increased. It is necessary to test the increasing concentration of oleoresin > 10% to control fruit fly pests.

Indian jujube known as ber (Ziziphus mauritiana Lam.) is an extremely drought hardy and native fruit of India. However, the quality of fruits and productivity is not obtainable up to the standard. One of the reasons for it is infestation of insect pests on the vegetative as well as developing fruits, which ultimately leads to significant yield loss and quality attributes of the fruits. Though as  many  as  130  species  of  insect  pests  have  been  recorded  in  India,  only  few  species  have attained the pest status and cause substantial economic damage to ber. A total of 12 insect-pests infesting on ber have been recorded from hot arid region of Rajasthan. Out of these, three insects viz.,  Ber  fruit  fly  (Carpomyia  vesuviana  Costa),  fruit  borer  (Meridarchis  scyrodes)  and  stone weevil  (Aubeus  himalayanus  Voss)  were  recorded  as  major  pests  with  high  infestation  rate, whereas  two  insects  (Ber  butter  fly,  Tarucus  theophrastus  (Fabricius)  and  thrips,  Scirtothrips dorsalis  (Hood))  were  recorded  as  moderate  pests.  As  many  as  seven  insect  pests  viz.,  grey weevil, Myllocerus dentifer (Fabricius), M. blandus Faust, Amblyrrhinus poricollis Schoenherr;  leaf  webber,  Synclera  univocolis;  ber  mite,  Larvacarus  transitans,  bark  eating  caterpillars, Indarbela sp and termite, Odontotermes sp were recorded as minor pests. The incidence of fruit fly (C. vesuviana), fruit borer (M. scyrodes) and stone weevil (A. himalayanus) were recorded on ber from October to  February. The fruit fly infests most of the Ziziphus species grown in the  world and cause severe yield loss up to 80% or even more. The average percent incidence of stone weevil, A. himalayanus was observed between 13.00 to 64.00 in fallen fruits and 12.00 to 59.33 on attached fruits of ber. The seasonal incidence of fruit borer, M. scyrodes attained its peak  in  the  second  fortnight  of  December  (58.33%)  in  ber  crop.  The  leaf  feeder"s  viz.,  ber butterfly, leaf webber, mite, thrips and grey weevils were more active during June to September.

Dacus cucurbitae ( Diptera: Trypetidae) attacks on cucumber and peria fruits wrapped at cherelle stage. The fruit flies were important pests of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L) and peria (Memordica charantia L.). The flies attacked fruits by laying egg on the fruit surface and their developing immatures caused serious damages from the inside. The objective of this experiment was to determine the effect of the fruit wrapping at cherelle stage on fruit fly infestation on cucumber or peria fruits. The experiment was conducted in villages of Terbanggi Besar (Central Lampung) and Jati Agung (South Lampung) during October—November 2001. A set of cherelle stage fruits, i.e. those just shed off their florescence, were wrapped using plastic bags while another set of adjacent fruits were left unwrapped. Fruits (treated or untreated) were taken soon after they fell off or at their normal harvest time, whichever came first, then were weighed and incubated in the laboratory to observe the fruit fly emergence. The results showed that fruit wrapping significantly reduced the fruit fly infestation and suppressed the fruit fly population on cucumber or peria fruits. The wrapped fruits weighed more than unwrapped fruits

This Crystal Guava was introduced in Indonesia in 1991 by the Taiwan Technical Mission. Various attempts have been made to achieve maximum productivity results, but these efforts have not been fully successful due to constraints such as pest attacks. Pests that attack crystal guava fruit are fruit fly pests. Fruit fly pests are pests that damage plants, especially types of horticultural crops, especially fruit and vegetable plants. Fruit fly attacks in Indonesia reach 50% and when the fruit fly population is high, the attack intensity can reach 100%. The purpose of this study was to find out the types of plant extracts that are effective and effective in attracting fruit flies in pest control, to find out the optimal concentrations to attract fruit flies in pest control in guava crystals and to find out the best time to apply extracts to attract flies. fruit in pest control on crystal guava plants. The data obtained from this study were presented in a factorial randomized block design (RBD) with 3 factors. This study consisted of 27 treatment combinations and 1 control with 3 repetitions and each treatment in one repetition there were 5 samples. Observational data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and interpretation of the data was carried out by further testing using the Honest Significant Difference (HSD) test at 5% level and orthogonal contrast test.

AbstractThe host range of major fruit fly pests in Central Tanzania was evaluated from October 2004 to October 2006. Samples of 48 potential hosts were collected and incubated for fruit fly emergence. Bactrocera invadens was the dominant species in incidence expressed as the ratio of infested to total number samples collected, as well as infestation rate, expressed as number of flies emerging per unit weight. Eight new host fruits are reported. Infestation by native pests, such as Ceratitis capitata and C. cosyra, was minor compared to B. invadens. Ceratitis rosa was the dominant species in temperate fruits, and Cucurbitaceae were mainly infested by Bactrocera cucurbitae, a specialized cucurbit feeder. Among commercial fruits, high infestation incidences were observed in mango and guava, but they decreased throughout the fruiting season. Low infestation rates were observed in all Citrus species and in avocado, indicating these fruits as poor hosts for the studied fruit fly pests in this region. Widespread availability and abundance of fruit species studied here ensures year-round breeding of B. invadens. Seasonal infestation differs, with mango being the most important host in October to January, while guava being important from February to August. Tropical almond showed very high incidence and infestation rate for B. invadens and might act as an important reservoir host, bridging the fruiting seasons of mango and guava. Soursop acts as an important host for C. cosyra after the mango season. Ceratitis capitata is a pest of minor importance of the commercial fruits studied in this region.

AbstractThe family Tephritidae (order: Diptera), commonly known as fruit flies, comprises a widely distributed group of agricultural pests. The tephritid pests infest multiple species of fruits and vegetables, resulting in huge crop losses. Here, we summarize the composition and diversity of tephritid gut-associated bacteria communities and host intrinsic and environmental factors that influence the microbiome structures. Diverse members of Enterobacteriaceae, most commonly Klebsiella and Enterobacter bacteria, are prevalent in fruit flies guts. Roles played by gut bacteria in host nutrition, development, physiology and resistance to insecticides and pathogens are also addressed. This review provides an overview of fruit fly microbiome structure and points to diverse roles that it can play in fly physiology and survival. It also considers potential use of this knowledge for the control of economically important fruit flies, including the sterile insect technique and cue-lure baiting.

Doctor of Philosophy(PhD),<br>Until recently, Northwestern Australia was thought to be relatively free of serious fruit fly pests. Although a noxious strain, present in Darwin since 1985, was widely believed to be an infestation of the Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni, from the East coast, the fruit flies present outside this area were believed to be the benign endemic species, B. aquilonis. However, during the year 2000, infestations of fruit flies were discovered on major commercial crops in both Western Australia and the Northern Territory. It was not known whether these outbreaks were due to an invasion of the major pest species, Bactrocera tryoni, a change in the behaviour of B. aquilonis, or a hybridisation event between the two species. Finding the source of these outbreaks has been complicated by the fact that, since B. tryoni and B. aquilonis are virtually indistinguishable morphologically, it was not known which species are present in the region. Traditionally any tryoni complex fly caught in the Northwest was called B. aquilonis based solely on location. In order to get a good population profile of the region, an extensive trapping program was set up to include flies from urban areas, commercial crops and natural areas where the benign strain is thought to remain. Tests of genetic differentiation and clustering analyses revealed a high degree of homogeneity in the Northwest samples, suggesting that just one species is present in the region. The Northwest samples were genetically differentiated from the Queensland samples but only to a small degree (FST =0.0153). MtDNA sequencing results also showed a small degree of differentiation between these regions. A morphological study of wing shape indicated that there are some minor identifiable morphological differences between East coast and Northwest laboratory reared flies. This difference was greater than that seen between B. jarvisi populations across the same geographic range. The results suggest that the flies caught in the Northwest are a separate population of B. tryoni. Soon after pest flies were discovered in Darwin, a population became established in Alice Springs. This population had a low genetic diversity compared with Queensland and Darwin populations, and showed evidence of being heavily founded. In 2000, an outbreak was discovered in the nearby town of Ti Tree. Due to the geographic and genetic similarity of these populations, Alice Springs was determined to be the source of the Ti Tree outbreak. To investigate the founding of these populations, a program was developed to estimate the propagule size. Using a simulation method seven different statistics were tested for estimating the propagule size of an outbreak population. For outbreaks originating from populations with high genetic diversity, the number of alleles was a good estimator of propagule size. When, however, the genetic diversity of the source population was already reduced, allele frequency measures, particularly the likelihood of obtaining the outbreak population from the source population, gave more accurate estimates. Applying this information to the Alice Springs samples, it was estimated that just five flies were needed to found the major population in and around Alice Springs. For Ti Tree, the propagule size was estimated to be 27 flies (minimum 10). In 2000, a much larger outbreak occurred in the developing horticultural region of Kununurra in northern Western Australia. An important question for the management of the problem is whether there is an established fly population or the flies are reinvading each year. This population was found to have a large amount of gene flow from the Northern Territory. Within the Kununurra samples, one group of flies was genetically differentiated from all the other samples. This group came from a small geographic area on the periphery of Kununurra and appeared to be the result of an invasion into this area at the time when the population was building up following the dry season. A further threat to the Northwest horticultural regions comes from B. jarvisi. A recent increase in the host range of this species has lead to speculation that it may become a greater pest in Northwestern Australia. At the present time, protocols for the population monitoring and disinfestation of this species are not in place. Here it is shown that B. jarvisi eggs are more heat tolerant than B. tryoni eggs and that monitoring of B. jarvisi populations is possible using cue lure traps placed according to fruiting time and location of their favoured host, Planchonia careya.

Until recently, Northwestern Australia was thought to be relatively free of serious fruit fly pests. Although a noxious strain, present in Darwin since 1985, was widely believed to be an infestation of the Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni, from the East coast, the fruit flies present outside this area were believed to be the benign endemic species, B. aquilonis. However, during the year 2000, infestations of fruit flies were discovered on major commercial crops in both Western Australia and the Northern Territory. It was not known whether these outbreaks were due to an invasion of the major pest species, Bactrocera tryoni, a change in the behaviour of B. aquilonis, or a hybridisation event between the two species. Finding the source of these outbreaks has been complicated by the fact that, since B. tryoni and B. aquilonis are virtually indistinguishable morphologically, it was not known which species are present in the region. Traditionally any tryoni complex fly caught in the Northwest was called B. aquilonis based solely on location. In order to get a good population profile of the region, an extensive trapping program was set up to include flies from urban areas, commercial crops and natural areas where the benign strain is thought to remain. Tests of genetic differentiation and clustering analyses revealed a high degree of homogeneity in the Northwest samples, suggesting that just one species is present in the region. The Northwest samples were genetically differentiated from the Queensland samples but only to a small degree (FST =0.0153). MtDNA sequencing results also showed a small degree of differentiation between these regions. A morphological study of wing shape indicated that there are some minor identifiable morphological differences between East coast and Northwest laboratory reared flies. This difference was greater than that seen between B. jarvisi populations across the same geographic range. The results suggest that the flies caught in the Northwest are a separate population of B. tryoni. Soon after pest flies were discovered in Darwin, a population became established in Alice Springs. This population had a low genetic diversity compared with Queensland and Darwin populations, and showed evidence of being heavily founded. In 2000, an outbreak was discovered in the nearby town of Ti Tree. Due to the geographic and genetic similarity of these populations, Alice Springs was determined to be the source of the Ti Tree outbreak. To investigate the founding of these populations, a program was developed to estimate the propagule size. Using a simulation method seven different statistics were tested for estimating the propagule size of an outbreak population. For outbreaks originating from populations with high genetic diversity, the number of alleles was a good estimator of propagule size. When, however, the genetic diversity of the source population was already reduced, allele frequency measures, particularly the likelihood of obtaining the outbreak population from the source population, gave more accurate estimates. Applying this information to the Alice Springs samples, it was estimated that just five flies were needed to found the major population in and around Alice Springs. For Ti Tree, the propagule size was estimated to be 27 flies (minimum 10). In 2000, a much larger outbreak occurred in the developing horticultural region of Kununurra in northern Western Australia. An important question for the management of the problem is whether there is an established fly population or the flies are reinvading each year. This population was found to have a large amount of gene flow from the Northern Territory. Within the Kununurra samples, one group of flies was genetically differentiated from all the other samples. This group came from a small geographic area on the periphery of Kununurra and appeared to be the result of an invasion into this area at the time when the population was building up following the dry season. A further threat to the Northwest horticultural regions comes from B. jarvisi. A recent increase in the host range of this species has lead to speculation that it may become a greater pest in Northwestern Australia. At the present time, protocols for the population monitoring and disinfestation of this species are not in place. Here it is shown that B. jarvisi eggs are more heat tolerant than B. tryoni eggs and that monitoring of B. jarvisi populations is possible using cue lure traps placed according to fruiting time and location of their favoured host, Planchonia careya.

Outbreaks of insect pests pose a serious threat to local economies and global food production, with as much as 15% of global crop production lost to herbivorous insects annually. Outbreaks of transboundary pests and diseases that affect food crops have increased in frequency in conjunction with globalization, international trade and the impacts of climate change. Indeed, increasing global temperatures are predicted to increase the distribution, rate of development, survival and population density of many pest insects. Such changes have important ramifications for host plant exploitation. The Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni) is Australia’s worst horticultural pest, and is feared by international buyers of Australian produce. Like other Tephritid fruit fly species, B. tryoni has the potential to breach quarantine barriers via human mediated transport, and can rapidly establish in ‘new’ environments. This pest species is responsible for an estimated AU$28.5 million in annual yield loss, management costs and loss to domestic and international markets. Increasing and ongoing outbreaks of B. tryoni in Australia’s major growing regions has put international trade in jeopardy.<br>Thesis (PhD Doctorate)<br>Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)<br>Griffith School of Environment<br>Science, Environment, Engineering and Technology<br>Full Text

The biology of key citrus pests Thaumatotibia leucotreta Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann (Diptera: Tephritidae) and Ceratitis rosa Karsch (Diptera: Tephritidae) includes their dropping from host plants to pupate in the soil below citrus trees. Since most EP fungi are soil-borne microorganisms, the development and formulation of alternative control strategies using these fungi as subterranean control agents, targeted at larvae and pupae in the soil, can potentially benefit existing IPM management of citrus in South Africa. Thus, a survey of occurrence of entomopathogenic fungi was undertaken on soils from citrus orchards and natural vegetation (refugia) on conventionally and organically managed farms in the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. A method for baiting soil samples with citrus pest T. leucotreta and C. capitata larvae, as well as with the standard bait insect, Galleria mellonella Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), was implemented. Sixty-two potentially useful entomopathogenic fungal isolates belonging to four genera were collected from 288 soil samples, an occurrence frequency of 21.53%. The most frequently isolated entomopathogenic fungal species was Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin (15.63%), followed by Metarhizium anisopliae var. anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin (3.82%). Galleria mellonella was the most effective insect used to isolate fungal species (χ2=40.13, df=2, P≤ 0.005), with a total of 45 isolates obtained, followed by C. capitata with 11 isolates, and T. leucotreta with six isolates recovered. There was a significantly (χ2=11.65, df=1, P≤ 0.005) higher occurrence of entomopathogenic fungi in soil samples taken from refugia compared to cultivated orchards of both organically and conventionally managed farms. No significant differences were observed in the recovery of fungal isolates when soil samples from both farming systems were compared. The physiological effects and host range of 21 indigenous fungal isolates obtained in the Eastern Cape were investigated in the laboratory to establish whether these isolates could be effectively used as biological control agents against the subterranean life stages of C. rosa, C. capitata and T. leucotreta. When these pests were treated with a fungal concentration of 1 x 10⁷ conidia ml⁻¹, the percentage of T. leucotreta adults which emerged in fungal treated sand ranged from 5 to 60% (F=33.295; df=21; P=0.0001) depending on fungal isolate and the percentage of pupae with visible signs of mycosis ranged from 21 to 93% (F= 96.436; df=21; P=0.0001). Based on fungal isolates, the percentage adult survival in C. rosa and C. capitata ranged from 30 to 90% and 55 to 86% respectively. The percentage of C. rosa and C. capitata puparia with visible signs of mycosis ranged from 1 to 14% and 1 to 11% respectively. Deferred mortality due to mycosis in C. rosa and C. capitata adult flies ranged from 1 to 58% and 1 to 33% respectively, depending on fungal isolate. Entomopathogenic fungal isolates had a significantly greater effect on the adults of C. rosa and C. capitata than they did on the puparia of these two fruit fly species. Further, C. rosa and C. capitata did not differ significantly in their response to entomopathogenic fungi when adult survival or adult and pupal mycosis were considered. The relative potency of the four most virulent Beauveria isolates as well as the commercially available Beauveria bassiana product, Bb Plus® (Biological Control Products, South Africa), were compared against one another as log-probit regressions of mortality against C. rosa, C. capitata and T. leucotreta which all exhibited a dose-dependent response. Against fruit flies the estimated LC50 values of all five Beauveria isolates ranged from 5.5 x 10¹¹ to 2.8 x 10¹² conidia/ml⁻¹. There were no significant differences between the relative potencies of these five fungal isolates. When T. leucotreta was considered, isolates: G Moss R10 and G 14 2 B5 and Bb Plus® were significantly more pathogenic than G B Ar 23 B3 and FCM 10 13 L1. The estimated LC₅₀ values of the three most pathogenic isolates ranged from 6.8 x 10⁵ to 2.1 x 10⁶ conidia/ml⁻¹, while those of the least pathogenic ranged from 1.6 x 10⁷ to 3.7 x 10⁷ conidia/ml⁻¹. Thaumatotibia leucotreta final instar larvae were exposed to two conidial concentrations, at four different exposure times (12, 48, 72 and 96 hrs) and showed an exposure time-dependant relationship (F=5.43; df=3; P=0.001). At 1 x 10⁷conidia/ml⁻¹ two Beauveria isolates: G Moss R10 and G 14 2 B5 were able to elicit a response in 50% of test insects at 72 hrs (3 days) exposure. Although a limited amount of mycosis was observed in the puparia of both fruit fly species, deferred adult mortality due to mycosis was high. The increased incidence of adult mortality suggests that post emergence mycosis in adult fruit flies may play a more significant role in field suppression than the control of fruit flies at the pupal stage. The increased incidence of pupal mortality, as well as the relatively low concentrations of conidia required to elicit meaningful responses in T. leucotreta pupae may suggest that pre-emergent control of false codling moth will play a more significant role in field suppression than the control of adult life stages using indigenous isolates of entomopathogenic fungi. Various entomopathogenic fungal application techniques targeted at key insect pests within integrated pest management (IPM) systems of citrus are discussed.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2011.<br>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly), Ceratitis capitata, is a highly invasive species throughout the world and considered as one of the most successful agricultural and economical pests. The increase of global trade in fruit and human travel combined with the biology of the medfly has allowed the species to spread from its proposed Afrotropical origin, to a number of locations throughout the world. In the Western Cape various control strategies have been implemented to control medfly populations, including insecticides and more environmentally-friendly techniques such as the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT). In order to be effective, however, an SIT program requires some knowledge of the population structure and the movement of individuals between pest-occupied sites. The identification of sites from which re-invasion is most likely to occur and knowledge regarding the primary routes through which pests are likely to re-establish are critical to ensure successful SIT programmes. To provide this important information to SIT and area-wide pest control programs in South Africa, sampling at two different spatial scales (regional- and fine-scale) in South Africa was undertaken. Regional scale sampling was done at 13 locations in the Western Cape and fine scale sampling was done at 13 locations within the Ceres-valley. All individuals were genotyped at 11 polymorphic microsatellite markers and selected individuals from the regional scale were sequenced for the mitochondrial gene COI. Our results show that populations at regional- and fine-scale in the Western Cape are characterized by high levels of genetic diversity (HEregional = 0.805; HEfine = 0.803). Little or weak population differentiation was detected at the regional- and fine-scales, suggesting overall high levels of gene flow among sampling locations. These findings were supported by coalescent based methods indicating sufficient levels of gene flow to prevent population differentiation between neighbouring (200m) and distant (350km) populations. However, natural dispersal in C. capitata has been shown to rarely exceed 10 km. As such, high levels of gene flow between distant populations are more likely the result of humanmediated dispersal, linked to the movement of fresh produce within South Africa. This high level of gene flow has important implications for pest management practices, as my results suggests that area-wide pest management should be undertaken at a regional scale, rather than on a farm or valley scale. My results are placed within a management framework, and I argue for more stringent control when fruit are transported within South Africa. Of particular interest for future studies is the investigation of gene flow at broader spatial scales (i.e. the whole of South Africa) and a comparison of the genetic diversity, population differentiation and gene flow patterns of C. capitata with that of Ceratitis rosa will be important to establish a successful pest management strategy in South Africa.<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Mediterreense vrugtevlieg (medvlieg), Ceratitis capitata, is ‘n indringerspesie wêreldwyd en word beskou as een van die mees suksesvolle ekonomiese en landbou peste. Die medvlieg het ‘n Afrotropiese oorsprong, maar die toename in wêreldwye handel en reis, gekombineer met die biologie van die medvlieg het gelei tot die verspreiding van die spesie na ‘n groot aantal bestemmings regoor die wêreld. Die Wes-Kaap provinsie van Suid-Afrika implementeer tans verskeie strategieë om medvlieg bevolkings te beheer. Hierdie strategieë sluit in die gebruik van plaagdoders sowel as meer omgewingsvriendelike tegnieke soos die Steriele Insektegniek (SIT). Om ‘n effektiewe SIT program te implementeer vereis basiese kennis ten opsigte van die genetiese struktuur van die bevolking sowel as van die beweging van individue tussen verskillende pesvoorkomsgebiede. Die identifisering van areas van waar herkolonisering mees waarskynlik kan plaasvind en kennis in verband met die primêre roetes waardeur pes spesies hervestig, is van kritiese belang om ‘n suksesvolle SIT program te verseker. Medvlieg individue is op twee verskillende ruimtelike skale (streeks- en plaaslike-skaal) versamel om die nodige inligting aan SIT en area-wye pes beheer programme in Suid-Afrika te verskaf. Streeks-skaal individue is by 13 lokaliteite regoor die Wes-Kaap versamel en plaaslike-skaal individue by 13 lokaliteite in die Ceres-vallei. Alle versamelde individue is vir 11 polimorfiese mikrosatelliet merkers gegenotipeer en DNS volgordebepaling van geselekteerde individue vanuit die streek-skaal is gedoen vir die mitochondriale geen COI. My resultate toon dat bevolkings op beide skale gekarakteriseer word deur hoë vlakke van genetiese diversiteit (HEstreeks = 0.805; HEplaaslik = 0.803) en geen of swak bevolkings differensiasie. Hierdie resultate dui daarop dat daar hoë vlakke van geenvloei tussen bevolkings is. Hierdie bevindinge word verder ondersteun deur metodes gebaseer op die statistiese eienskappe van die genealogiese verhouding tussen allele onder sekere mutasie en demografiese modelle, wat voldoende vlakke van geenvloei aandui tussen nabye (200m) sowel as verafgeleë (350km) bevolkings om bevolkings differensiasie te verhoed. Natuurlike beweging in C. capitata is egter selde meer as 10 km, sodanig kan die hoë vlakke van geenvloei toegeskryf word aan die verspreiding van individue met menslike hulp, spesifiek in die vervoer van varsprodukte in Suid-Afrika. Hierdie hoë vlak van geenvloei het verreikende implikasies vir pes beheer praktyke, omdat my resultate voorstel dat area-wye pes beheer onderneem moet word op ‘n streeks-skaal eerder as op ‘n plaas-tot-plaas of vallei wye area. Ek plaas my resultate in ‘n bestuursraamwerk, waarin ek streng beheer van vrugtevervoer in Suid-Afrika beklemtoon. Verdere navorsing moet fokus op die ondersoek van geenvloei op ‘n landswye skaal (hele Suid-Afrika) in C. capitata, sowel as die vergelyking van die genetiese diversiteit, bevolkings differensiasie en geenvloei patrone van C. capitata met die van Ceratitis rosa om ‘n suksesvolle pes beheer strategie vir Suid-Afrika te formuleer.

Thesis (MScAgric)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002.<br>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Botrytis bunch rot of grape is caused by Botrytis cinerea Pers. :Fr. Conidia of the pathogen, which is dispersed by wind, water droplets and by insects, can penetrate the intact grape berry cuticle, but disease expression occurs only under predisposing conditions. Since relatively high infection rates often occur in vineyards, predisposing factors must play a fundamental role in primary infection and subsequent disease occurrence. Insects can play a very important role in this regard by depositing inocula at wound sites during feeding and by providing fresh wounds during their oviposition and feeding activities. The aim of this study was (i) to determine the potential of the Mediterranean fruit fly to transfer B. cinerea and other bunch and fruit rot fungi in natura, (ii) to investigate the transport, deposition and subsequent disease expression on grape berries in vitro, and (iii) to investigate fruit fly activities and the nature of deposited conidia and mycelia of B. cinerea by aid of digital photography and epifluorescence microscopy, respectively. Two Sensus fruit fly traps containing the para-pheromone, Capilure, were installed in orchards and five neighboring vineyards on four farms in the Stellenbosch region. Ceratitis fruit flies were collected weekly, identified and counted to determine the fluctuations in fruit fly population. Following field collection, the fruit flies were plated on Kerssies' B. cinerea selective medium and the number of flies yielding the pathogen was recorded. Two fruit fly species, C. capitata and C. rosa, were captured during the study period. Ceratitis rosa numbers comprised only 1% of the total number of fruit flies captured. Ceratitis capitata numbers, and the percentage B. cinerea contaminated flies generally increased after harvest in the different orchards and vineyards. Following harvest, the percentage flies yielding B. cinerea was higher in vineyards compared to orchards. Furthermore, in each vineyard an increase in percentage B. cinerea contaminated fruit flies was preceded by a corresponding increase in its neighboring orchard. The levels of both Penicillium and Alternaria contaminated fruit flies stayed high throughout the investigation period, especially after harvest of the orchard cultivars. Low incidence of Aspergillus, Mucor and Rhizopus spp. were recorded on C. capitata. These findings suggest that the Mediterranean fruit fly may play an important role in the dispersal of inocula of fungi associated with postharvest decay from early-maturing stone fruit orchards to mid- and late-maturing wine grape vineyards, and in disease induction under conditions unfavourable for natural infection. Three experiments were conducted to determine the potential of fruit flies in provoking B. cinerea decay. In the first experiment, transport of conidia and disease expression were investigated on rachis segments bearing unwounded berries only. In the second experiment, the effect of wounding on disease expression was investigated. In the third experiment, the effect of inoculum type (mycelia and conidia) on transportation and disease expression was investigated on rachis segments bearing unwounded berries, and on segments with wounded berries. The table grape cultivar, Dauphine, and the wine grape cultivar, Shiraz, were used at véraison, two weeks before harvest and harvest, and the transport studies were conducted in ethanol-disinfected perspex cages. Disease expression was studied in dry (~56% RH), ethanol-disinfected perspex chambers incubated at 22°C. The isolations from berries revealed that the flies deposited, without preference, high amounts of B. cinerea at various positions on the grape berry's surface. The freezing studies showed that the deposited conidia germinated and penetrated the berry skin at various positions. However, B. cinerea developed more often at the pedicel end than on the cheek or style end, which indicated a peculiar interaction between B. cinerea, the fruit fly and host tissue at this part of the berry. This phenomenon was substantiated by the finding that B. cinerea also developed more often at the pedicel end of berries that were not frozen. Further evidence for this interaction was found on intact berries exposed to flies that carried mycelia after feeding on berries without sporulating colonies of the pathogen, but showing symptoms of slippery skin. Significantly more decay developed on wounded berries compared to the unwounded berries and more so at the wound site. In addition, female fruit flies were responsible for significantly more decay development than male fruit flies. The study thus proved that the Mediterranean fruit fly can promote B. cinerea disease development under conditions unfavorable to natural infection. The activities of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata, on grape berries were monitored by aid of digital photography. In addition, the deposition of conidia and mycelia of Botrytis cinerea at three sites (pedicel end, cheek and style end) on the grape berry, germination of the fungal structures after dry (±56% RH) and moist (±93% RH) incubation and wounds inflicted during ovipositioning were examined with an epifluorescence microscope. The observations revealed that the fruit fly's activities were generally restricted to the grape berry. They visited the grape berry cheek more often, but visitations to the pedicel end of berries increased substantially from véraison to harvest, indicating the possibility of nutrient leakages at this site. Microscopy revealed that the flies deposited conidia singular, in feeding packages and in faecal excrements on the berry surface. The conidia in feeding packages were ensheathed by salivical fluids and occurred in clusters of 10 to 50 conidia. An average of 60% of the conidia in feeding packages germinated under dry conditions (±56% RH). Conidia that passed through the intestinal tract of the fruit fly and that were deposited in faecal excrements were deformed and low in viability. These conidia did not occur in cluster format, but were proportionally spread with the faeces on the surface of the grape berry. Conidia that were deposited singular and in faecal excrements did not germinate unless incubated under moist conditions (± 93% RH). Wounds inflicted by female fruit flies during ovipositioning were most frequently observed on the cheek. This predisposition to B. cinerea infection of grape berries by the activities of fruit flies, suggested an important role for the flies in the initiation of Botrytis bunch rot epidemics in vineyards.<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: DIE ROL VAN DIE MEDITERREENSE VRUGTEVLIEG, CERATITIS CAPITATA, IN BOTRYTIS CINEREA TROSVERROTTING VAN DRUIWE Botrytis-trosverrotting van druiwe word deur Botrytis cinerea Pers. :Fr. veroorsaak. Konidia van die patogeen wat deur wind, waterdruppels en insekte versprei word, kan die intakte druiweskil binnedring, maar siekte-uitdrukking vind slegs onder spesiale omstandighede plaas. Aangesien relatief hoë infeksie vlakke algemeen in wingerde voorkom, moet predisponerende faktore 'n fundamentele rol in die primêre infeksie, en die daaruit voortspruitende siektetoestand speel. Insekte kan 'n baie belangrike bydrae lewer deur inokuia tydens voeding by wonde te deponeer. Nuwe wonde kan ook tydens oviposisionering en voeding ontstaan. Die doel van hierdie studie was om (i) die potensiaal van die Mediterreense vrugtevlieg om B. cinerea en ander tros- en vrugverrottingswamme in natura oor te dra, te bepaal; om (ii) die verspreiding, deponering en daaropvolgende siekteuitdrukking op druiwekorrels in vitro te ondersoek; en om (iii) die aktiwiteite en aard van die gedeponeerde konidia en miselia met behulp van digitale fotografie sowel as epifluoressensiemikroskopie waar te neem. Twee Sensus-vrugtelokvalle met die paraferomoon, Capilure, IS In vrugteboorde en aangrensende wingerde in die Stellenbosch-omgewing aangebring. Ceratitis-vrugtevlieë is weekliks versamel, geïdentifiseer en getel om fluktuasies in die vrugtevliegpopulasie te bepaal. Na die veldversameling is die vrugtevlieë op Kerssies se B. cinerea-selektiewe medium uitgeplaat. Gedurende die studie is twee spesies vrugtevlieë, C. capitata en C. rosa, gevang. Na oesstyd het die aantal Ceratitis-vrugtevlieë en die persentasie vrugtevlieë, besmet met B. cinerea, in die verskillende boorde en wingerde toegeneem. Na oestyd was die persentasie vrugtevlieë wat B. cinerea gedra het, hoër in die wingerde as in die boorde. Elke toename in die persentasie B. cinerea-besmette vrugtevlieë in 'n wingerd is voorafgegaan deur 'n ooreenkomstige toename in die aangrensende vrugteboord. Die aantal vrugtevlieë besmet met Penicillium en Alternaria spp. het tydens die navorsingstydperk deurgaans hoog gebly, veral nadat die vrugteboord-kultivars geoes is. Die voorkoms van Aspergillus-, Mucor- en Rhizopus spp. op Ceratitis-vrugtevlieë was deurgaans laag. Hierdie bevinding wys daarop dat vrugtevlieë 'n belangrike rol speel in die verspreiding van swarninokula, wat met na-oes verrotting geassosieer word, van vroegrypwordende steenvrugteboorde na mid- en laatrypwordende wyndruifwingerde. Drie eksperimente is in vitro onderneem om vrugtevlieë se potensiaal om B. cinereaverrotting te veroorsaak te bepaal. In die eerste eksperiment is ragi met slegs ongewonde korrels gebruik om die oordrag van konidia en siekte-ontwikkeling te ondersoek. In die tweede eksperiment is die effek van verwonding op siekte-ontwikkeling ondersoek. In die derde eksperiment is die effek van inokulumtipe (miselia en konidia) op verspreiding en siekte-ontwikkeling ondersoek deur ragis-segmente met gewonde korrels sowel as ragissegmente met ongeskonde korrels te gebruik. Die tafeldruif-kultivar Dauphine en die wyndruif-kultivar Shiraz, by kleurbreuk, twee weke voor oes en by oestyd, is in die eksperimente gebruik. Die oordragstudies is in etanol-ontsmette perspex-hokke uitgevoer. Siekte-ontwikkeling is bestudeer in droeë (±56% RH), etanol-ontsmette perspex-kamers en geinkubeer by 22°C. By ondersoek is gevind dat vlieë, sonder voorkeur, groot hoeveelhede B. cinerea op verskeie dele op die druiwekorrel-oppervlak deponeer. Bevriesingstudies het aangetoon dat die gedeponeerde konidia op verskeie dele van die korrelontkiem en die skil binnedring. Botrytis cinerea het egter meer dikwels by die korrelsteelkant as by die stempelkant, of op die wang, ontwikkel. Hierdie bevinding het 'n eiesoortige interaksie tussen B. cinerea, die vrugtevlieg en gasheerweefsel by die korrelsteelkant van die korrel aangetoon. Die verskynsel is gestaaf deur die bevinding dat B. cinerea ook meer dikwels by die korrelsteelkant van die korrels wat nie gevries is nie, ontwikkel het. Verdere bewys van hierdie interaksie is gevind by ongeskonde korrels wat aan die vlieë wat miselia gedra het blootgestel is. Die siekte het beduidend meer dikwels op gewonde as ongewonde korrels en verder aansienlik meer dikwels op die wondoppervlakte ontwikkel. Dit was ook duidelik dat vroulike vrugtevlieë baie meer vir verrotting verantwoordelik was as manlike vrugtevlieë. Die studie bewys dus dat Mediterreense vrugtevlieë die ontwikkeling van B. cinerea kan bevorder in omstandighede wat ongunstig is vir natuurlike infeksie. Die aktiwiteite van die Mediterreense vrugtevlieg C. capitata op die druiwekorrels is met behulp van digitale fotografie waargeneem. Verder is die deponering van konidia en miselia van B. cinerea op die verskillende dele (korrelsteelkant, wang en stempelkant) van die korrel, ontkieming van die swamstrukture na droeë (±56% RH) en nat (±93% RH) inkubasie en wonde wat tydens oviposisionering veroorsaak is, met epifluoressensie-mikroskopie ondersoek. Die waarnemings het onthul dat die vrugtevlieg se aktiwiteite gewoonlik tot die druiwekorrel beperk is. Hulle het korrelwange meer dikwels besoek. Besoek aan die korrelsteelkant het aansienlik toegeneem van kleurbreuk tot oestyd, wat op die moontlikheid van voedingstof-lekkasie by die deel aandui. Mikroskoopstudies het aangedui dat vlieë konidia enkel, in voedingspakkies en in fekale uitskeidings op die korreloppervlakte deponeer. Die konidia in die voedingspakkies is deur speekselvloeistof omhul en het in groepe van 10 tot 50 konidia voorgekom. Gemiddeld 60% van die konidia in voedingspakkies het in droeë omstandighede (±56% RH) ontkiem. Konidia wat deur die spysverteringskanaal van die vrugtevlieg gegaan het en in die fekale ekskresie gedeponeer is, was misvorm en het lae lewensvatbaarheid gehad. Laasgenoemde konidia was nie in groepe gedeponeer nie, maar is proporsioneel met die feces op die oppervlak van die druiwekorrel versprei. Konidia wat enkel en in feces gedeponeer is, het nie ontkiem nie, tensy toestande vogtig (±56% RH) was. Wonde wat deur die vroulike vrugtevlieë tydens oviposisionering veroorsaak is, is meer dikwels op die wang van die korrelopgemerk. Hierdie predisposisie van druiwekorrels tot B. cinerea-infeksie, meegebring deur die aktiwiteit van die vrugtevlieg, dui daarop dat die rol wat die vrugtevlieg in die inisiëring van Botrytis trosverrottingepidemies in wingerde speel, van beduidende belang is.

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003.<br>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly), Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is well-known as a destructive pest of fruit worldwide. Various control methods have been used against this insect. The sterile insect technique (SIT) is used as an important and successful technological method for controlling or eradicating this pest in many countries. A key factor to successfully apply SIT is dependent on the availability of efficient and economical rearing methods. Artificial insect diets with low cost bulking agents have been of interest to many researchers. The present study investigated the use of locally available maize meal as a bulking agent in such diets. Maize meal is used for human consumption (in South Africa) and contains small amounts of protein. This makes the reduction of imported torula yeast as an ingredient of the diet and source of protein possible, thereby reducing the cost of the diet. The larval development of the Medfly reared on artificial diets was studied in small and large-scale tests. The effect of the diets on larval production was evaluated using pupal recovery, pupal weight, flight ability, sex ratio, fecundity and egg fertility. The results of the small-scale tests showed that the diet containing maize meal could be used to produce Medfly more economically than the standard Krige diet used by the ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij Research Institute at Stellenbosch. However, in large-scale tests the ingredients quantities of the diets used were not the same as those of small scale-tests. The cost of the modified larval diet was not reduced in large-scale tests. This was ascribed to the number of eggs used in the tests to produce one million of fruit flies. The maize meal with reduced number of eggs require more diet to produce one million flies therefore, making it more expensive and less viable. When similar amounts of eggs were used, the diet appears to be a suitable alternative as the result obtained was almost similar to those of the Krige diet.<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Mediterreens vrugtevlieg ("Medfly"), Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is wêreldwyd 'n skadelike plaag. Die steriele insek tegniek (SIT) het in baie lande 'n belangrike en suksesvolle manier geword om die plaag te beheer en uit te roei. Die belangrikste voorvereiste vir die suksesvolle toepassing van SIT is die beskikbaarheid van doeltreffende en ekonomiese teelmetodes. Meeste navorsers is geïntereseerd in kunsmatige diëte met 'n goedkoop vulstof. Hierdie studie is ontwerp om die gebruik van plaaslik beskikbare mieliemeel as vulstof te ondersoek. In Suid-Afrika word dit vir menslike gebruik aangewend en bevat klein hoeveelhede proteïene wat 'n vermindering van die ingevoerde torula gis moontlik kan maak, en sodoende die koste van die dieët kan verminder. Die ontwikkeling van Medfly larwes op kunsmatige diëte is bestudeer In kleinskaalse en grootskaalse eksperimente. Die invloed van die diëte op larwale produksie is evalueer deur gebruik te maak van van papie-ontwikkeling, papie-gewig, vliegvermoë, geslagsverhouding, volwasse voortplantingsvermoë en eiervrugbaarheid. Die resultate van die kleinskaalse toetse het aangetoon dat die mieliemeel dieët gebruik kan word om Medfly meer ekonomies as met die standaard Krige dieët, wat in die ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij navorsings instituut by Stellenbosch gebruik word, te teel. By die grootskaalse toetse was die koste nie laer nie. Dit word toegeskryf aan die aantal eiers wat gebruik is om 'n miljoen vlieë te produseer. Die mieliemeel dieët met 'n verminderde aantal eiers benodig meer dieët om 'n miljoen vlieë te produseer, wat dit duurder en minder lewensvatbaar maak. Wanneer soortgelyke hoeveelhede eiers gebruik was, het dit geblyk dat die dieët 'n opsie is, want die resultaat was soortgelyk aan dié van die Krige dieët.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-09-25T12:18:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 FLAVIA QUEIROZ DE OLIVEIRA.pdf: 771334 bytes, checksum: 4a8901cbaaff36710ad317e89ac63ae6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-01-31<br>Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior<br>The red mombin fruit Spondias purpurea is a tropical fruit of vital importance to farmers in semi-arid region of Brazil, but it presents as a major factor limiting the occurrence of fruit flies Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae). Several papers have discussed the applicability of natural products such as essential oils, this pest control programs. However little is known about the effectiveness of this tactic in controlling C. capitata, as well as the impact of alternative technology in fruit quality. In this study we evaluated the effects of alternative substances as potential repellents and insecticides to C. capitata, and fruit quality of red mombin fruit. The experiments were performed at the Laboratory of Entomology UFPB Areia/PB. Three experiments were conducted: repellent activity (test I), insecticidal activity (test II) and physical and chemical quality of fruits (test III). For the all tests were used for red mombin fruit ripe fruit, water and disinfected with hypochlorite 0.1%, and dry in paper towels at room temperature. They were then treated with the following products: proagrim, essential oil of fennel and orange essential oil, both of the following concentrations, 0.0 (control), 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0% (w/v). For treatment of fruit products were diluted in water. While the second experiment, we used the same products and concentration of which was that the insecticidal activity via topical application of products on eggs, larvae of 1st, 2nd and 3rd instars and pupae. The results obtained in the first trial, no choice, revealed that the tested products significantly affected the fruit of red mombin fruit infestation by C. capitata. The effect of pesticides on fruit infestation reduction was dose-dependent. The average fertility of C. capitata (number of larvae per fruit) in fruit of red mombin fruit ranged from 1.65 (1%) to 1.025 (3%) when applied orange oil, 0.25 (1%) 0,075 (3%) for fennel oil and 2.1 (1%) to 0.95 (3%) when applied proagrim. The free-choice test results confirmed that no-choice, demonstrating the repellent action of the tested products. The preference index recorded was 0.5398 for orange oil; 0.3435 to 0.1717 and proagrim product for oil and fennel. In the trial of insecticide activity, it was found that, regardless of the product and the developmental stage of C. capitata mortality was directly related to increased concentrations. The median lethal concentrations (LC) of the product proagrim estimated for eggs of C. capitata was 1.6965% (w/v), which was 50higher than the average concentrations lethal (LC) estimated for larvae of 1st, 2nd and 3rd instar larvae of C. capitata, corresponding to 0.3409, 0.2277 and 0.1800% (w/v), respectively. While the estimated LC5050 of fennel oil to larvae of 1st, 2nd and 3rd instar were 0.5419, 0.5189, and 0.5464% (w/v), respectively. Low-dose response was found in all stages evaluated C. capitata after application of orange oil product. Regarding the effects of these products on fruit quality of red mombin fruit, it was found that no there is product-independent linear relationship between ° Brix and pH vs concentration vs concentration of fruit red mombin fruit. Products proagrim orange oil and promote greater weight losses of fruit pulp of red mombin fruit, from product oil of fennel. However, concentrations above 2.5% of fennel oil in fruits of red mombin fruit should be taken judiciously, in order to avoid compromising the physical quality, as well as reducing the degree Brix of fruit pulp of red mombin fruit.<br>A ciriguela Spondias purpurea é uma frutífera tropical de importância vital para os agricultores do semi-árido do Brasil, porém tem como um dos fatores limitantes a ocorrência de moscas-das-frutas Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae). Diversos trabalhos têm discutido a aplicabilidade de produtos naturais, como óleos essenciais, em programas de controle desta praga. No entanto, pouco se sabe sobre a eficiência dessa tática no controle de C. capitata, assim como o impacto dessa tecnologia alternativa na qualidade dos frutos. Nesse trabalho avaliou-se os efeitos de substâncias alternativas como potenciais produtos repelentes e inseticidas à C. capitata, e na qualidade de frutos de ciriguela. Os experimentos foram realizados no Laboratório de Entomologia da UFPB Areia. Foram executados três ensaios: I- Ensaio de atividade repelente, II- Ensaio de atividade inseticida e III- Ensaio de qualidade físico-química dos frutos. Para todos os ensaios foram utilizados frutos de ciriguela maduros, higienizados com água e hipoclorito a 0,1%, e secos sob papel absorvente em temperatura ambiente. Em seguida foram tratados com os seguintes produtos: proagrim, óleo essencial de erva-doce e óleo essencial de laranja, ambos nas seguintes concentrações, 0,0 (testemunha); 1,0; 1,5; 2,0; 2,5 e 3,0% (m/v). Para o tratamento dos frutos os produtos foram diluídos em água. Enquanto que no segundo ensaio, foram utilizados os mesmos produtos e concentrações, sendo que foi avaliada a atividade inseticida através de aplicações tópicas dos produtos em ovos, larvas de 1º, 2º e 3º instar e pupas. Os resultados obtidos no primeiro ensaio, sem chance de escolha, revelaram que os produtos testados afetaram significativamente a infestação de frutos de ciriguela por C. capitata. O efeito dos produtos na redução da infestação de frutos foi tipo dose-dependente. A fecundidade média de C. capitata (número de larvas/fruto) em frutos de ciriguela variou entre 1,65 (1%) a 1,025 (3%) quando aplicado óleo de laranja; 0,25 (1%) a 0,075 (3%) para óleo de erva-doce e de 2,1 (1%) a 0,95 (3%) quando aplicado o proagrim. O ensaio com chance de escolha confirmou os resultados daquele sem chance de escolha, demonstrando a ação repelente dos produtos testados. O índice de preferência registrado foi de 0,5398, para óleo de laranja; 0,3435 para o produto proagrim e de 0,1717 para óleo de erva-doce. No ensaio de atividade inseticida, verificou-se que, independente do produto e do estágio de desenvolvimento de C. capitata a mortalidade foi diretamente relacionada com o aumento das concentrações. A concentração média letal (CL) do produto proagrim estimada para ovos de C. capitata foi de 1,6965 % (m/v), a qual foi superior as concentrações médias letais (CL) estimadas para larvas de 1º, 2º e 3º ínstar de C. capitata, correspondendo a 0,3409, 0,2277 e 0,1800 % (m/v), respectivamente. Enquanto que as CL 50 50 estimadas do óleo de erva-doce para larvas de 1º, 2º e de 3º instar foram de 0,5419, 0,5189, e de 0,5464 % (m/v), respectivamente. Baixa dose-resposta foi encontrada em todos os estágios avaliados de C. capitata após aplicação do produto óleo de laranja. Com relação aos efeitos destes produtos na qualidade de frutos de ciriguela, constatou-se que independente do produto não existe relação linear entre °Brix vs concentração e pH vs concentração de frutos de ciriguela. Os produtos proagrim e óleo de laranja promovem maiores perdas de peso de polpa de fruto de ciriguela, em relação ao produto óleo de erva-doce. No entanto, concentrações acima de 2,5% do óleo de erva-doce em frutos de ciriguela devem ser adotadas de forma criteriosa, para que se evite o comprometimento da qualidade física, assim como a redução do grau Brix de polpas de frutos de ciriguela.

Invasive species are recognised as one of the most important, growing threat to food biosecurity, causing a significant economic loss in agricultural systems. Despite their damaging effect, they are attractive models for the study of evolution and adaptation in newly colonised environments. Currently, the global climate represents one key potential stressors to impact the food biosecurity because of its influence in the distribution and change in the abundance of agricultural pests. The tephritid fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) contain some of the most successful invaders and most devastating agricultural pests recognised worldwide. Among them, the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata and the South American fruit flies in the genus Anastrepha are particularly important for crop production. Insecticides have been used extensively for their control. This thesis investigates factors that are related to invasiveness in these species, in order to provide novel information that will ultimately improve management control methods. First, environmental niche modelling was used to determine the influence of climate change in the potential habitat distribution of C. capitata, predicting both polewards expansion as well as greater connectivity. Next, historical global dispersal patterns of the medfly over the past two centuries were investigated using molecular and genetic approaches. In Chapter 4, different attempts to identify the point mutation G328A Ccace2 gene that confers resistance to insecticides were assessed at local and intercontinental scale, in part by studying museum specimens from before and after the use of pesticides. Additionally, to improve genetic knowledge of this invasive species, the mitogenome of different species of Anastrepha were sequenced and analysed together with others tephritid. This investigation provides crucial information revealing the evolutionary factors that influence the medfly’s successful invasions and will contribute to the development of evidence-driven pest management protocols, especially in the Americas, including the choice among different control methods as well as the establishment of quarantine procedures to interrupt colonisation routes.

This interdisciplinaray work combines expertise in engineering and entomology in Israel and the US, to develop an acoustic trap for mate-seeking female medflies. Medflies are among the world's most economically harmful pests, and monitoring and control efforts cost about $800 million each year in Israel and the US. Efficient traps are vitally important tools for medfly quarantine and pest management activities; they are needed for early detection, for predicting dispersal patterns and for estimating medfly abundance within infested regions. Early detection facilitates rapid response to invasions, in order to contain them. Prediction of dispersal patterns facilitates preemptive action, and estimates of the pests' abundance lead to quantification of medfly infestations and control efforts. Although olfactory attractants and traps exist for capturing male and mated female medflies, there are still no satisfactorily efficient means to attract and trap virgin and remating females (a significant and dangerous segment of the population). We proposed to explore the largely ignored mechanism of female attraction to male song that the flies use in courtship. The potential of such an approach is indicated by studies under this project. Our research involved the identification, isolation, and augmentation of the most attractive components of male medfly songs and the use of these components in the design and testing of traps incorporating acoustic lures. The project combined expertise in acoustic engineering and instrumentation, fruit fly behavior, and integrated pest management. The BARD support was provided for 1 year to enable proof-of-concept studies, aimed to determine: 1) whether mate-seeking female medflies are attracted to male songs; and 2) over what distance such attraction works. Male medfly calling song was recorded during courtship. Multiple acoustic components of male song were examined and tested for synergism with substrate vibrations produced by various surfaces, plates and loudspeakers, with natural and artificial sound playbacks. A speaker-funnel system was developed that focused the playback signal to reproduce as closely as possible the near-field spatial characteristics of the sounds produced by individual males. In initial studies, the system was tasted by observing the behavior of females while the speaker system played songs at various intensities. Through morning and early afternoon periods of peak sexual activity, virgin female medflies landed on a sheet of filter paper at the funnel outlet and stayed longer during broadcasting than during the silent part of the cycle. In later studies, females were captured on sticky paper at the funnel outlet. The mean capture rates were 67 and 44%, respectively, during sound emission and silent control periods. The findings confirmed that female trapping was improved if a male calling song was played. The second stage of the research focused on estimating the trapping range. Initial results indicated that the range possibly extended to 70 cm, but additional, verification tests remain to be conducted. Further studies are planned also to consider effects of combining acoustic and pheromonal cues.

Bactrocera zonata, commonly known as the peach fruit fly, is a polyphagous pest native to tropical Asia, causing significant damage to various fruit crops, especially guava, mango and peach. It has spread to Southern and south east Asia, Egypt and other North African countries. The introduction of the pest to new areas is primarily driven by international tourism and trade of infested fruit. Its ability to establish in new regions is influenced by temperature and humidity, with potential for expansion under climate change. Despite its severity, few biological control efforts have been documented due to limited knowledge of potential natural enemies. Efforts in Africa have included releasing parasitoids, such as Aganaspis daci, Fopius arisanus, Diachasmimorpha longicaudata and Psyttalia incisi, with partial success. F. arisanus shows promise as a biological control agent, capable of parasitizing B. zonata in laboratory conditions, but may face climatic challenges in North Africa. Other natural enemies have been identified, but their low parasitism rates make them less viable for biological control. Further research is needed to assess the potential of various parasitoids for controlling B. zonata effectively.

The Mexican fruit fly (Anastrepha ludens) is a major pest of mango and citrus, causing significant damage through larval tunneling and fruit rotting. Native to Central America, it has also been found in the southern USA and poses a potential threat to the Mediterranean region. Classical biological control efforts began in the 1950s with the introduction of various parasitoids, though only Diachasmimorpha longicaudata and Aceratoneuromyia indica established successfully. Diachasmimorpha longicaudata remains the most effective, achieving up to 33% parasitism in augmentative releases. Other promising natural enemies include Doryctobracon crawfordi and Coptera haywardii, both native to the Neotropics. Numerous other parasitoids and predators, such as ants and spiders, contribute to A. ludens control, but their specific impacts and potential for biological control programs require further study.

Bactrocera dorsalis, also known as the Oriental fruit fly, is a highly polyphagous invasive pest originating from tropical south east Asia. It has invaded over 50 countries, causing significant economic damage to a wide range of fruit and vegetable crops through oviposition and larval development. The species thrives in tropical and subtropical climates, with potential to spread to warm temperate regions under irrigation or climate change. Classical biological control efforts against B. dorsalis have primarily involved the introduction of parasitic wasps, such as Fopius arisanus and Diachasmimorpha longicaudata. F. arisanus has shown high effectiveness, with significant reductions in B. dorsalis populations in Hawaii, French Polynesia, and parts of Africa, while D. longicaudata has been less successful. F. arisanus is considered the most promising biological control agent due to its high parasitism rates and adaptability, though it has not established in all regions. Other natural enemies, including various hymenopteran parasitoids and the predatory ant Oecophylla longinoda, have shown limited effectiveness and potential ecological drawbacks. Combining F. arisanus with other biological control agents targeting different life stages of B. dorsalis could enhance overall control efforts.

The Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni) is a significant horticultural pest in Australia, and has also established in other parts of the Pacific. There is a significant risk to New Zealand of invasion by this species, and several recent incursions have occurred. The potential effects of climate change on the distribution and impacts of invasive species are well known. This paper uses species distribution modelling using Maxent to predict the suitability of New Zealand to the Queensland fruit fly based on known occurrences worldwide and Bioclim climatic layers. Under current climatic conditions the majority of the country was generally in the lower range, with some areas in the medium range. Suitability prediction maps under future climate change conditions in 2050 and 2070, at lower emission (RCP 2.6) and higher emission (RCP 8.5) scenarios generally show an increase in suitability in both the North and South Islands. Calculations of the shift of suitable areas show a general movement of the centroid towards the south-east, with the higher emission scenario showing a greater magnitude of movement.

In this paper, we evaluate the short term impact of a Fruit Fly Eradication Program in the coastal areas of Peru. Exploiting arbitrary variation in the program's intervention borders, as well as precise geographic location data of farmer's households, we use a Geographical Regression Discontinuity (GRD) approach to identify the program's effects on agricultural outcomes. For this purpose, baseline and follow up surveys were collected for 615 households -307 treated and 308 controls- . Baseline data shows that producer and farm-level characteristics in treated and control areas are balanced. This confirms that the program's intervention borders were set only as a function of financial and logistic restrictions and independently of the pest incidence levels and/or other producer and/or farm characteristics. The results show that farmers in treated areas improved pest knowledge and are more likely to implement best practices for plague prevention and control. Beneficiary farmers also present increased fruit crops productivity and sales. The robustness of these findings is confirmed using placebo tests.

The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae), is a ubiquitous pest of fruit trees, causing significant economic damage both in the U.S. and in Israel. Control efforts in the future will rely heavily on the sterile insect technique (SIT). Success of such operations hinges on the competitive ability of released males. The mating system of the medfly is based on leks. These are aggregations of sexually signaling males that attract females (who then select and copulate a courting male). A major component of male competitiveness is their ability to join existing leks or establish leks that are attractive to wild females. Accordingly, we identified leks and the behaviors associated with them as critical for the success of SIT operations. The objectives of this proposal were to determine 1. what makes a good lek site, 2. what are the energetic costs of lekking, 3. how females choose leks, and finally 4. whether the copulatory success of sterile males may be manipulated by particular pre-release diets and judicious spatial dispersal. We established that males choose lek sites according to their spatial location and penological status, that they avoid predators, and within the lek tree choose the perch that affords a compromise between optimal signalling, micro-climatic conditions and predation risk (Kaspi &amp; Yuval 1999 a&amp;b; Field et al 2000; Kaspi &amp; Yuval submitted). We were able to show that leks are exclusive, and that only males with adequate protein and carbohydrate reserves can participate (Yuval et al 1998; Kaspi et al 2000; Shelly et al 2000). We determined that females prefer leks formed by protein fed, sexually experienced males (Shelly 2000). Finally, we demonstrated that adding protein to the diet of sterile males significantly enhances their probability of participating in leks and copulating wild females (Kaspi &amp; Yuval 2000).

Original Objectives and revisions: (1) "To determine the biosynthetic pathway of JHB3 in the adult C. capitata CA in order to establish parameters for the future choice and synthesis of suitable inhibitors". Modified: to determine the pattern of FR-7 biosynthesis during normal reproductive maturation, and identify enzymes potentially involved in its synthesis. (2) "To correlate allatal epoxidase activity to the biosynthesis of JHB3 at different stages of reproductive maturation/vitellogenesis and evaluate the hypothesis that a specific JH-epoxidase may be rate limiting". Modified: to study the effects of epoxidase inhibitors on the pattern of allatal JH biosynthesis in vitro and on female reproduction in vive. (3) "To probe and clone the gene homologous to ap from C. capitata, determine its exon-intron organization, sequence it and demonstrate its spatial and temporal expression in larvae, pupae and adults." The "Medfly" (Ceratitis capitata) is a serious polyphagous fruit pest, widely distributed in subtropical regions. Damage is caused by oviposition and subsequent development of larvae. JH's are dominant gonadotropic factors in insects. In the higher Diptera, to which the Medfly belongs, JHB3 is a major homolog. It comprises 95% of the total JH produced in vitro in D. melanogaster, with JH-III found as a minor component. The biosynthesis of both JH-III and JHB3 is dependent on epoxidation of double bonds in the JH molecule. The specificity of such epoxidases is unknown. The male accessory gland D. melanogaster produces a Sex Peptide, transferred to the female during copulation. SP reduces female receptivity while activating specific JH biosynthesis in vitro and inducing oviposition in vive. It also reduces pheromone production and activates CA of the moth Helicoverpa armigera. In a previous study, mutants of the apterous (ap) gene of D. melanogaster were analyzed. This gene induces previteilogenic arrest which can be rescued by external application of JH. Considerable progress has been made in recombinant DNA technology of the Medfly. When fully operative, it might be possible to effectively transfer D. melanogaster endocrine gene-lesions into the Medfly as a strategy for their genetic control. A marked heterogeneity in the pattern of JH homologs produced by Medfly CA was observed. Contrary to the anticipated biosynthesis of JHB;, significant amounts of an unknown JH-like compound, of unknown structure and provisionally termed FR-7, were produced, in addition to significant amounts of JH-III and JHB3. Inhibitors of monooxygenases, devised for their effects on ecdysteroid biosynthesis, affect Medfly JH biosynthesis but do not reduce egg deposition. FR-7 was isolated from incubation media of Medfly CA and examined by various MS procedures, but its structure is not yet resolved. MS analysis is being done in collaboration with Professor R.R.W. Rickards of the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia. A homologue of the ap gene of D. melanogaster exists in the Medfly. LIM domains and the homeo-domain, important for the function of the D. melanogaster ap gene, are conserved here too. Attempts to clone the complete gene were unsuccessful. Due to the complexity of JH homologs, presence of related FR-7 in the biosynthetic products of Medfly CA and lack of reduction in eggs deposited in the presence of monooxygenase inhibitors, inhibition of epoxidases is not a feasible alternative to control Medfly reproduction, and raises questions which cannot be resolved within the current dogma of hormonal control of reproduction in Diptera. The Medfly ap gene has similar domains to the D. melanogaster ap gene. Although mutant ap genes are involved in JH deficiency, ap is a questionable candidate for an endocrine lesion, especially since the D. melanogoster gene functions is a transcription factor.

Motivated by the high risks to the environment and human health imposed by the current overuse of chemical insecticides we offer an alternative approach for the design of highly active insect-selective compounds that will be based on the ability of natural toxins to differentiate between insect and mammalian targets. We wish to unravel the interacting surfaces of insect selective toxins with their receptor sites on voltage-gated sodium channels. In this proposal we put forward two recent observations that may expedite the development of a new generation of insect killers that mimic the highly selective insecticidal toxins: (i) A small (27aa) highly insecticidal sea anemone toxin, Av3, whose toxicity to mammals is negligible; (ii) The prominent positive cooperativity between distinct channel ligands, such as the strong enhancement of pyrethroids effects by anti-insect selective scorpion depressant toxins. We possess a repertoire of insecticidal toxins and sodium channel subtypes all available in recombinant form for mutagenesis followed by analysis of various pharmacological, electrophysiological, and structural methods. Our recent success to express Av3 provides for the first time a selective toxin for receptor site-3 on insect sodium channels. In parallel, our recent success to determine the structures and bioactive surfaces of insecticidal site-3 and site-4 toxins establishes a suitable system for elucidation of toxin-receptor interacting faces. This is corroborated by our recent identification of channel residues involved with these two receptor sites. Our specific aims in this proposal are to (i) Determine the bioactive surface of Av3 toward insect Na-channels; (ii) Identify channel residues involved in binding or activity of the insecticidal toxins Av3 and LqhaIT, which differ substantially in their potency on mammals; (iii) Illuminate channel residues involved in recognition by the anti-insect depressant toxins; (iv) Determine the face of interaction of both site-3 (Av3) and site-4 (LqhIT2) toxins with insect sodium channels using thermodynamic mutant cycle analysis; and, (v) Examine whether Av3, LqhIT2, pyrethroids, and indoxacarb (belongs to a new generation of insecticides), enhance allosterically the action of one another on the fruit fly and cockroach paraNa-channels and on their kdr and super-kdr mutants. This research establishes the grounds for rational design of novel anti-insect peptidomimetics with minimal impact on human health, and offers a new approach in insect pest control, whereby a combination of allosterically interacting compounds increases insecticidal action and reduces risks of resistance buildup.

For Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) and our partners, 2016 was a year of remarkable successes. Not only did we eradicate 10 fruit fly outbreaks, but we also achieved 4 years with zero detections of pink bollworm, moving us one step closer to eradicating this pest from all commercial cotton-growing areas of the continental United States. And when the U.S. corn industry faced the first-ever detection of bacterial leaf streak (Xanthomonas vasicular pv vasculorum), we devised a practical and scientific approach to manage the disease and protect valuable export markets. Our most significant domestic accomplishment this year, however, was achieving one of our agency’s top 10 goals: eliminating the European grapevine moth (EGVM) from the United States. On the world stage, PPQ helped U.S. agriculture thrive in the global market-place. We worked closely with our international trading partners to develop and promote science-based standards, helping to create a safe, fair, and predictable agricultural trade system that minimizes the spread of invasive plant pests and diseases. We reached critical plant health agreements and resolved plant health barriers to trade, which sustained and expanded U.S. export markets valued at more than $4 billion. And, we helped U.S. producers meet foreign market access requirements and certified the health of more than 650,000 exports, securing economic opportunities for U.S. products abroad. These successes underscore how PPQ is working every day to keep U.S. agriculture healthy and profitable.