The Population Dynamics and Parasitism Rates of Ceratitis capitata, Anastrepha fraterculus, and Drosophila suzukii in Non-Crop Hosts: Implications for the Management of Pest Fruit Flies

BUONOCORE-BIANCHERI, MARÍA JOSEFINA; WANG, XINGENG; NÚÑEZ-CAMPERO, SEGUNDO RICARDO; SUÁREZ, LORENA; SCHLISERMAN, PABLO; PONSSA, MARCOS DARÍO; KIRSCHBAUM, DANIEL SANTIAGO; GARCIA, FLÁVIO ROBERTO MELLO; OVRUSKI, SERGIO MARCELO

Insects

MDPI

Año: 2024 vol. 15

Abstract: Understanding the seasonal dynamics inherent to non-crop host–fruit fly–parasitoid interactionsis vitally important for implementing eco-friendly pest control strategies. This study assessedthe abundance and seasonal infestation levels of three pest fly species, Ceratitis capitata(Wiedemann), Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann), Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura), as well as therelated saprophytic drosophilids, and their natural parasitism in a disturbed wild habitat characterizedby non-crop hosts in northwestern Argentina over 40 months. Juglans australis Griseb (walnut),Citrus aurantium L. (sour orange), Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindley (loquat), Prunus persica (L.)Batsch (peach), and Psydium guajava L. (guava) were sampled throughout their fruiting seasons.Fruits were collected from both the tree canopies and the ground. The most abundant puparia wasA. fraterculus, followed by C. capitata and D. suzukii. Drosophila species from the D. melanogastergroup were highly abundant only in fallen fruits. Spatiotemporal overlaps of different host fruitavailability provided suitable sources for pest proliferation throughout the year. The populations ofboth invasive pests peaked from December to January, and were related to the highest ripe peachavailability, whereas the A. fraterculus population peaked from February to April, overlapping withthe guava fruiting period. The three pest fly species were parasitized mainly by three generalistresident parasitoids, which are potential biocontrol agents to use within an integrated pest managementapproach.