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

Authors: BIANCHERI, MARIA - Pilot Plant For Micorbiological Industral Processess And Biotechnology; Wang, Xingeng; NÚÑEZ-CAMPERO, SEGUNDO - University Of La Rioja; SUÁREZ, LORENA - Government Of The Province Of San Juan; SCHLISERMAN, PABLO - Government Of The Province Of San Juan; PONSSA, MARCOS - Pilot Plant For Micorbiological Industral Processess And Biotechnology; KIRSCHBAUM, DANIEL - Federal University Of Pelotas; GARCIA, FLAVIO - Federal University Of Pelotas; OVRUSKI, SERGIO - Pilot Plant For Micorbiological Industral Processess And Biotechnology

Submitted to: Insects
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/12/2024
Publication Date: 12/15/2024
Citation: Biancheri, M.J., Wang, X., Núñez-Campero, S.R., Suárez, L., Schliserman, P., Ponssa, M.D., Kirschbaum, D.S., Garcia, F.R., Ovruski, S.M. 2024. 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. Insects. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15010061.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15010061

Interpretive Summary: The spotted-wing drosophila, Mediterranean fruit fly and South American fruit fly are global invasive pests. The first species has widely established in the US, whereas the last two species are quarantine pests for the US and there are constant threats of invasion by these two flies in southern US states. All three fly species can damage various crop and non-crop fruits. The availability of alternative hosts in non-crop habitats could play an important role in sustaining fly populations and dictating their local movement patterns. It is therefore important to understand the seasonal occurrence and dynamics of these flies in non-crop hosts surrounding crops in order to develop area-wide management strategies for these highly mobile pests. This study assessed the abundance of these three pest flies and their seasonal infestation levels in five non-crop fruit species as well as natural parasitism. The results showed that non-crop habitats provide reservoirs, sources, shelters, or overwinter sites for these fly populations as well as their natural enemies. These natural enemies are potential biocontrol agents for long-term, landscape-level management of those pest fruit flies.

Technical Abstract: Understanding the seasonal dynamics inherent to non-crop host- fruit fly-parasitoid interactions is vitally important for implementing eco-friendly pest control strategies. This study assessed abundances of and seasonal infestation levels by three pest fly species, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann), Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura), and saprophytic drosophilids, and their natural parasitism, in a disturbed wild environment prevailing 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 canopy and the ground. The most abundant puparia were from A. fraterculus followed by C. capitata and D. suzukii. Drosophila species from D. melanogaster group were highly abundant in fallen fruits. Spatiotemporal overlaps of different host fruit availability provided suitable sources for pest proliferation throughout year. Populations of both invasive pests peak from December to January, which are related to the highest ripe peach availability, whereas A. fraterculus population peaks from February to April, overlapping with the guava fruiting period. Pest fly species were mainly parasitized by three generalist resident parasitoids. These species are potential biocontrol agents to use within an integrated pest management approach.