Effect of Aging on Three Lures Used for Monitoring Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae): Release Rate, Volatile Composition, and Fly Recaptures.

Prevention and control programs for Ceratitis capitata require a large supply of lures and traps for use in established trapping networks and mass-trapping suppression measures. The main lures currently used are: Trimedure (TML), three-component Biolure (BL), and Ceratrap (CT). The aim of this study was to determine the release rates of these lures, the chemical composition of their volatiles, and how these parameters change with exposure time. Tests were conducted under field conditions at three different elevations (25, 500, and 1,300 masl) during the dry and rainy seasons in Chiapas, Mexico. We found that for TML and BL, the release rate was similar in both seasons and at all three elevations. In the case of CT, the release rate was greater during the dry season and at the lowest elevation during the rainy season. With the caveat of using solid-phase microextraction technique for identification of lure compounds in this study, we found that the volatile compounds of TML were maintained throughout the rainy season, however, in the dry season, some compounds could not be detected. The volatile compounds emitted by BL were trimethylamine, ammonium acetate, and acetamide. Among volatile compounds of CT, acetic acid was the most abundant in the rainy season, while minor compounds were only detected during the first five weeks. Recapture rates were affected by elevation in the three lures tested and there was a significant interaction between elevation in exposure time for TML and BL.

Pupation Substrate Type and Volume Affect Pupation, Quality Parameters and Production Costs of a Reproductive Colony of Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) VIENNA 8 Genetic Sexing Strain.

Adequate pupation substrates and substrate volume are critical factors in the mass-rearing of insects for Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) applications. To identify an ideal pupation substrate for a reproductive colony of Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) VIENNA 8 genetic sexing strain, we first examined pupation in cellulose from recycled paper (cellulose I), sawdust, fine wheat bran, vermiculite and coconut fiber using a volume of 2.5-12.5 mL of substrate for each 5 mL volume of fly larvae. We found a positive relationship between substrate volume and pupation, with cellulose I generating the highest proportions of pupation and coconut fiber the lowest. Higher proportions of female flies (white pupae) pupated in sawdust. The proportion of female fliers increased as substrate volume rose in sawdust and coconut fiber, whereas it decreased in vermiculite and cellulose. In a second experiment, we tested three types of cellulose differing in physicochemical characteristics (celluloses I, II and III), sawdust, and fine wheat bran using a substrate:larvae ratio of 1:1. The three types of cellulose produced the highest pupation levels. The highest proportions of female fliers were observed in sawdust, and cellulose types III and II. Cellulose III and sawdust at relatively low volumes were more cost-effective to produce one million pupae than other substrates, including fine wheat bran used in a mass-rearing facility in Mexico.

Directional selection to improve the sterile insect technique: Survival and sexual performance of desiccation resistant Anastrepha ludens strains.

The sterile insect technique (SIT) is an effective, environmentally friendly method for insect control whose success depends on the sexual performance and survival of sterile males. These two parameters are influenced by environmental conditions of target areas, and releasing insects with a higher tolerance to stressful environments can improve SIT efficiency. Directional selection can be used to produce insect strains with higher tolerance to extreme environmental conditions, such as low humidity, for extended periods. We evaluated, under field cage conditions, the sexual competitiveness, sexual compatibility, and survival of strains of Anastrepha ludens (Loew) selected for desiccation resistance to determine the value of directional selection as a possible approach to enhance SIT efficiency. Fly strains (selected and unselected and those mass-reared) were exposed to stressful conditions of low humidity and food and water deprivation for 24 hr before test. As a control, mild conditions without the stressors were used. No differences in sexual competitiveness and sexual compatibility between selected, nonselected, and mass-reared strains were observed when previously exposed to mild conditions. Thus, selection for desiccation resistance does not modified negatively the sexual performance. However, when insects were exposed to stressful conditions, males of selected strains sexually outperform mass-reared males. Additionally, selected strains presented higher survival than mass-reared flies. The approach to integrate directional selection with other technologies in the SIT as well as the implications of using a desiccation-selected strain in the current pest management program is discussed.

A New Adult Diet Formulation for Sterile Males of Anastrepha ludens and Anastrepha obliqua (Diptera: Tephritidae).

A new adult diet formulation was evaluated for sterile Anastrepha ludens (Loew) and Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart) males at the emergence and release facility of fruit flies in Mexico. The formulation consists of hydrolyzed protein, sugar, juvenile hormone analogue methoprene, and water. The proportion of the ingredients between the solute (4% hydrolyzed protein and 96% sugar) and solvent (10% methoprene and 90% water) was 5:1. This new formulation was called the 1:24 formulation. The main objectives of this study were to develop a simple way to supply the 1:24 formulation to adults and to compare the sexual performance of these flies with the performance of flies fed a standard diet (called the Mubarqui formulation) used at the emergence and release facility of fruit flies in Mexico. The preparation, time, and cost also were evaluated. The results showed no significant differences in the sexual behaviors of the males (number of males mating, number of males calling, mating latency, and mating duration) between the 1:24 formulation and the Mubarqui formulation. However, the cost and the required preparation time are much lower for the 1:24 formulation process than for the Mubarqui formulation process. Based on these results, we recommend the 1:24 formulation as an additional adult diet option in the handling of sterile flies. Its application is practical and does not require changes in packaging systems. The contribution of our findings and their potential application to the improvement of the sterile insect technique are discussed.

Sterility and Sexual Competitiveness of Tapachula-7 Anastrepha ludens Males Irradiated at Different Doses.

A genetic sexing strain of Anastrepha ludens (Loew), Tapachula-7, was developed by the Mexican Program Against Fruit Flies to produce and release only males in programs where the sterile insect technique (SIT) is applied. Currently, breeding are found at a massive scale, and it is necessary to determine the optimum irradiation dose that releases sterile males with minimum damage to their sexual competitiveness. Under laboratory and field conditions, we evaluated the effects of gamma irradiation at doses of 0, 20, 40, 60 and 80 Gy on the sexual competitiveness of males, the induction of sterility in wild females and offspring survivorship. The results of the study indicate that irradiation doses have a significant effect on the sexual behavior of males. A reduction of mating capacity was inversely proportional to the irradiation dose of males. It is estimated that a dose of 60 Gy can induce more than 99% sterility in wild females. In all treatments, the degree of offspring fertility was correlated with the irradiation dose of the parents. In conclusion, the results of the study indicate that a dose of 60 Gy can be applied in sterile insect technique release programs. The application of this dose in the new genetic sexing strain of A. ludens is discussed.