Oviposition Behavior of Females of Anastrepha fraterculus and Ceratitis capitata in Infested Fruit

LIENDO, M. CLARA; M. TERESA VERA; MILLA; A PARREÑO; CLADERA; DF SEGURA

Bangok

Simposio; 9th International Symposium on Fruit Flies of Economic Importance; 2014

A. fraterculus and C. capitata overlap their area of distribution and host fruits in Argentina. Because resource is limitant, mechanisms that allow escaping from competition should be favored. Both species use host marking pheromones (HMPs) to reduce intra-specific larval competition. The aim of this work was to study the importance of chemical signals coming from infested fruit on the female host choice, both at intra and interspecific level. Data recorded: selected option fruit, time of permanence in the fruit, number and duration of oviposition. The frecuency of visits to each option was similar in both experiments (G test of homogeneity: Intraspecific competition: G1,24 = 0.96, P = 0.327; Interspecific competition: G1,21 = 0.55, P = 0.459). The frecuency of visits to each option was similar in both experiments (G test of homogeneity : Intraspecific competition: G1,21 = 0.17, P = 0,681; Interspecific competition: G1,20 = 0.55, P = 0.458). In a intraspecific experiments, % of females that did not laid eggs were similar for both options of fruit (G test of homogeneity: G1, 17 = 0.928, P = 0.335). In the interspecific experiment, the rejection of fruits as substrate of oviposition was higher for infested fruit (G test of homogeneity : G1.10 = 4.52, P < 0.05). In a intraspecific experiments, % of females that did not laid eggs were similar for both options of fruit (G test of homogeneity: G1, 11 = 1.56, P = 0.211). In the interspecific experiment, the rejection of fruits as substrate of oviposition was higher for infested fruit (G test of homogeneity: G1, 13 = 7.09, P < 0.01;). Results support the idea that females from the two species are able to recognize and avoid fruits that are infested by individuals of the competitor species. ? The role of HMPs was not tested here, but the evidence suggests that infested fruit is chemically recognized. ? This recognition would lead to the avoidance infested fruit, providing a mechanism to escape from larval competition, thus favoring the stable coexistence of these species in nature.