Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #193777
Title: SEASONAL ABUNDANCE OF ANASTREPHA SUSPENSA (DIPTERA: TEPHRITIDAE) FROM CITRUS IN PUERTO RICO

Author
item PANTOJA, ALBERTO
item HERNANDEZ, EVELIO - UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO
item MACHIAVELLI, RAUL - UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO

Submitted to: Journal of Agriculture of the University of Puerto Rico
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/23/2007
Publication Date: 10/20/2007
Citation: Pantoja, A., Hernandez, E., Machiavelli, R. 2007. Seasonal abundance of Anastrepha suspensa (Diptera: Tephritidae) from citrus in Puerto Rico. Journal of Agriculture of the University of Puerto Rico. 91(3-4):219-221.

Interpretive Summary: Fruit flies are the main dipterous pest on citrus, but are not considered a key pest in any of the tropical regions where citrus is commercially produced, but little information is available on the economic importance and life history of fruit flies in Puerto Rico. A. suspensa, (lso known as Trypeta suspensa (Loew), (Trypeta) Acrotoxa suspensa (Loew), Anastrepha unipuncta Séin, and Anastrepha longimacula Greene), was originally described from specimens collected from Cuba, but current distribution includes Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Puerto Rico, and Southern Florida. A. suspensa has established in Florida and is a potential pest to many fruits in that state; however, the strain from Florida is believed to have a different host preference range as in that state citrus is not affected by this species. In this study we report on the population dynamics of the Caribbean fruit fly, A. suspensa, on citrus in central Puerto Rico (18*10.528N, 066*47.964W, 571.5 meters above sea level). Encore presented the highest mean number of fruit flies (7.9 adults/trap) followed by Orlando (6.1 adults/trap). Cultivars Weikina and King presented similar fruit fly densities, while Cleopatra attracted about half of the number of adult flies as compared to Encore. The remainder seven cultivars presented population levels below 1 adult fly per trap during the sampling period. It is not clear what factors affect the incidence of fruitfly incidence on citrus in the island. The highest population density was reached in February, declining sharply from May to September when populations start to build up again reaching a second peak by November. The data suggest that sampling for this pest should concentrate from November to April when adult flies are more active.

Technical Abstract: Fruit flies population dynamics were studied in the central region of Puerto Rico. A. suspensa, (was the only species associated with citrus on this study. The cultivar Encore presented the highest mean number of fruit flies followed by Orlando. Cultivars Weikina and King presented similar fruit fly densities, while Cleopatra attracted about half of the number of adult flies as compared to Encore. The remainder seven cultivars presented population levels below one adult fly per trap during the sampling period. The highest population density was reached in February, declining sharply from May to September when populations start to build up again reaching a second peak by November. The data suggest that sampling for this pest should concentrate from November to April when adult flies are more active.