SURVIVORSHIP OF STERILE MALES OF CERATITIS CAPITATA EXPOSED TO THE ESSENTIAL OIL OF SCHINUS POLYGAMA

RUIZ, M. J; JOFRÉ-BARUD, F.; GOANE, L.; GÓMEZ, M. P..; SEGURA, D. F.; LOPEZ, M.L.; VERA M. T.

Congreso; 5th Congress of the Latin American Association of Chemical Ecology; 2018

The Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is widely used for the control of the Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly), Ceratitis capitata Weidemann (Tephritidae), a worldwide pest causing important economic losses. SIT programs rely on the survival of the sterile males released as well as on its capacity to compete against wild males for wild females. The essential oil from roots of Zingiber officinale (GRO: Ginger root oil) is used in SIT programs because it improves the sexual competitiveness of sterile males of C. capitata. In previous studies we have shown that the exposure of sterile males to the essential oil (EO) of Schinus polygama also increases the mating success. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the exposure of sterile males to the EO of S. polygama affects their survival. Taking into account that availability of nutritional resources and density might influence survival; these factors were included in the experimental design. Sterile males of the Vienna 7 (tsl) strain exposed to S. polygama (EO), GRO (positive control) and a group control (non-exposed) were tested at two different densities (10 and 30 individuals per experimental unit) and three nutritional scenarios (nor water nor diet, water, water + diet). The mortality was registered daily for seven days. Results showed that males deprived of diet had shorter lifespan (p0.05). Since the exposure to the EO of S. polygama did not affect the survival of sterile males of C. capitata, this EO might be a good candidate to be used for SIT programs.