Morfometria de Anastrepha fraterculus (Wied) (Diptera: Tephritidae) relacionada a hospedeiros nativos, Myrtaceae / Morphometry of Anastrepha fraterculus (Wied) (Diptera: Tephritidae) related to native Myrtaceae hosts

A mosca-das-frutas, Anastrepha fraterculus, tem, como principais hospedeiros primários, frutos de Myrtaceae. O tamanho do inseto pode ser indicador de aptidão e fecundidade, sendo os estudos morfométricos utilizados para auxiliar nestas identificações. Este trabalho objetivou verificar a associação entre peso dos frutos, pupários e tamanho das asas das moscas-das-frutas que se desenvolveram em diferentes mirtáceas. Foram amostrados frutos de araçazeiro-amarelo, araçazeiro-vermelho, goiabeira e goiabeira-serrana em cinco árvores de cada espécie. Os frutos foram pesados e os pupários oriundos destes pesados e individualizados. Registrou-se o número, sexo e área total da asa direita das moscas. Comparou-se o peso médio dos frutos, dos pupários e o tamanho de asas. O peso médio dos pupários foi maior em goiaba e araçá-vermelho. A maior área média de asa foi registrada nos indivíduos emergidos de goiabas e a menor, nos de araçá-amarelo. O peso dos frutos e dos pupários em araçá-amarelo, vermelho e goiaba-serrana não apresentaram associação significativa. Nas goiabeiras, a correlação entre o peso dos frutos e o dos pupários foi negativa. O peso dos frutos e a área da asa das moscas provenientes das espécies de mirtáceas não evidenciaram correlação. Os resultados indicam que a mosca é capaz de desenvolver-se de forma semelhante nas espécies de mirtáceas amostradas.

The fruit-fly Anastrepha fraterculus uses the myrtacean fruits as its main primary hosts. The insect size might be an indicator of aptitude and fecundity, and morphometric studies are used to help in those identifications. This study aimed to verify the association among fruit weight, puparial weight and wing size of fruit-flies that developed in different myrtacean species. Yellow strawberry guava, cattle guava, guava and feijoa fruits were sampled from 5 trees of each species. The fruits were weighed, and the puparia originated from them were also weighed and individualized. The number, gender and total right-wing area of the flies were registered. Mean fruit and puparial weights and wing sizes were compared. Mean puparial weight was higher in guava and cattle guava. The largest mean wing area was recorded for individuals from guavas; the smallest, for those from yellow strawberry guava. The fruit and puparial weights did not present a significant association in yellow strawberry guava, cattle guava and feijoa. In guavas, the correlation between fruit and puparial weights was negative. The fruit weight and wing area in all myrtacean species did not show any correlation. These results indicate the fly is able to develop similarly in all sampled myrtacean species.

The impact of flower head endophages on seed set of a native population of Chromolaena odorata (L) King & Robinson (Asteraceae) / O impacto de endófagos de capítulos sobre a produção de sementes de uma população nativa de Chromolaena odorata (L) King & Robinson (Asteraceae)

Chromolaena odorata (L.) King & Robinson, also known as siam weed, has negatively affected the ecology of several tropical and subtropical regions of the world and has caused them economic losses. The biocontrol of C. odorata is a challenge for many countries; however, several phytophagous insects are natural enemies of C. odorata. Here we present the main flower head feeding insects associated with a native population of C. odorata. The aims of this study were: (1) to evaluate both individual and aggregated impacts of endophagous insects on C. odorata seed production, and (2) to provide information on host specificity of each endophagous species at local and regional scales. The study was conducted in the cerrado area of the Reserva Biológica de Mogi-Guaçu, São Paulo, Brazil. We found 17 endophagous species from seven genera. We estimated that the endophages damaged at least 22% of all of the seeds C. odorata produced. Tephritid species were only found on the plant species from the tribe Eupatorieae, whereas lepidopteran and agromyzid species were found on the plant species from two or more Asteraceae tribes.

Chromolaena odorata (L.) King & Robinson tem causado impactos negativos, tanto ecológicos quanto econômicos, em regiões tropicais e subtropicais de diversas partes do mundo. Embora já se conheçam vários insetos fitófagos de C. odorata, o controle biológico dessa planta ainda é um desafio em muitos países. Neste artigo são apresentados os principais insetos associados a capítulos de uma população nativa de C. odorata. Os objetivos desse estudo foram: (1) investigar os impactos dos insetos endófagos sobre a produção de sementes de C. odorata, e (2) fornecer informações sobre a especificidade de hospedeiras dos insetos endófagos. O estudo foi realizado na área de cerrado da Reserva Biológica de Mogi-Guaçu, São Paulo, Brasil. Foram encontradas 17 espécies de insetos endófagos de sete gêneros. A perda estimada de sementes não dispersas por insetos endófagos foi de, pelo menos, 22% do total produzido. As moscas da familia Tephritidae foram encontradas somente em plantas hospedeiras da tribo Eupatorieae, enquanto mariposas (Lepidoptera) e moscas da familia Agromyzidae foram encontradas em plantas hospedeiras de duas ou mais tribos distintas.

Performance of Anastrepha obliqua (Diptera, Tephritidae) larvae fed on artificial diets

Moscas das frutas do gênero Anastrepha Schiner, 1868 são conhecidas por sua importância econômica devido aos danos que elas causam nos frutos comerciais. As exigências nutricionais dos estágios imaturo e adulto são diferentes e as larvas não se desenvolvem bem utilizando a mesma dieta do adulto. Embora as necessidades nutricionais básicas dos insetos sejam bem conhecidas, existe ainda o problema de elaborar dietas de criação adequadas para espécies com necessidades específicas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar o efeito de diferentes tipos e quantidades de carboidratos na dieta sobre a performance larval de Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart, 1835). Larvas foram criadas individualmente em tubos de ensaio contendo uma das dietas artificiais a serem testadas onde elas foram mantidas até a pupação. A composição básica das dietas testadas incluia 2,5 g de agar, 3,25 g de levedo de cerveja e quantidades variadas de sacarose e farinha de trigo. A adequação do meio artificial para A. obliqua foi testada pela avaliação da sobrevivência larval e pupal (%) e o tempo de desenvolvimento larval, pupal e de larva-adulto. A dieta contendo farinha de trigo (2 g) e sacarose (2 g) e a dieta somente com sacarose (5,5 g) foram as que apresentaram melhor performance larval. Todas as dietas testadas apresentaram resultados similares ou superiores às dietas utilizadas em outros trabalhos. A importância da presença da farinha de trigo e seu valor nutricional para as larvas são discutidos.

Fruit flies of the genus Anastrepha Schiner, 1868 are well-known for having economical importance since they damage commercially cultivated fruits. Nutritional demands during the immature and adult stages are different, so the larvae do not develop well using the same diet as the adults. Although the insect basic nutritional needs are well-known, there is also the challenge to elaborate rearing diets adequate to species with specific needs. The aim of this study was to determine the effect on the Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart, 1835) larvae performance of different kinds and amounts of carbohydrates in the diet. Larvae were individually reared until pupation in test tubes containing one of the artificial diets to be tested. The basic composition of the diets to be tested included 2.5 g agar, 3.25 g brewer's yeast and several different amounts of flour and sucrose. The suitability of the artificial diet for A. obliqua was tested evaluating the larvae and pupae survival (%) and the larvae, pupae and larvae-adults periods of development. The diet containing flour (2 g) and sucrose (2 g) and the diet containing only sucrose (5.5 g) have shown the best results regarding larval performance. All tested diets presented similar or superior results as compared to diets used in other studies. The importance of flour and its nutritional value for the larvae was discussed.

Performance of Anastrepha obliqua (Diptera, Tephritidae) larvae fed on artificial diets

Moscas das frutas do gênero Anastrepha Schiner, 1868 são conhecidas por sua importância econômica devido aos danos que elas causam nos frutos comerciais. As exigências nutricionais dos estágios imaturo e adulto são diferentes e as larvas não se desenvolvem bem utilizando a mesma dieta do adulto. Embora as necessidades nutricionais básicas dos insetos sejam bem conhecidas, existe ainda o problema de elaborar dietas de criação adequadas para espécies com necessidades específicas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar o efeito de diferentes tipos e quantidades de carboidratos na dieta sobre a performance larval de Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart, 1835). Larvas foram criadas individualmente em tubos de ensaio contendo uma das dietas artificiais a serem testadas onde elas foram mantidas até a pupação. A composição básica das dietas testadas incluia 2,5 g de agar, 3,25 g de levedo de cerveja e quantidades variadas de sacarose e farinha de trigo. A adequação do meio artificial para A. obliqua foi testada pela avaliação da sobrevivência larval e pupal (%) e o tempo de desenvolvimento larval, pupal e de larva-adulto. A dieta contendo farinha de trigo (2 g) e sacarose (2 g) e a dieta somente com sacarose (5,5 g) foram as que apresentaram melhor performance larval. Todas as dietas testadas apresentaram resultados similares ou superiores às dietas utilizadas em outros trabalhos. A importância da presença da farinha de trigo e seu valor nutricional para as larvas são discutidos.

Fruit flies of the genus Anastrepha Schiner, 1868 are well-known for having economical importance since they damage commercially cultivated fruits. Nutritional demands during the immature and adult stages are different, so the larvae do not develop well using the same diet as the adults. Although the insect basic nutritional needs are well-known, there is also the challenge to elaborate rearing diets adequate to species with specific needs. The aim of this study was to determine the effect on the Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart, 1835) larvae performance of different kinds and amounts of carbohydrates in the diet. Larvae were individually reared until pupation in test tubes containing one of the artificial diets to be tested. The basic composition of the diets to be tested included 2.5 g agar, 3.25 g brewer's yeast and several different amounts of flour and sucrose. The suitability of the artificial diet for A. obliqua was tested evaluating the larvae and pupae survival (%) and the larvae, pupae and larvae-adults periods of development. The diet containing flour (2 g) and sucrose (2 g) and the diet containing only sucrose (5.5 g) have shown the best results regarding larval performance. All tested diets presented similar or superior results as compared to diets used in other studies. The importance of flour and its nutritional value for the larvae was discussed.

Aceitação e preferência de frutos para oviposição em duas populações de Ceratitis capitata (Diptera, Tephritidae)

The influence of four host fruits, orange (Citrus sinensis L.), papaya (Carica papaya L.), mango (Mangifera indica L.) and apple (Malus domestica Borkh) on oviposition behavior of Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann, 1824) was evaluated. Experiments were carried out on two C. capitata laboratory-reared populations: one with artificial diet for 10 years with periodic introduction of wild flies and other reared with artificial diet for 20 years without wild flies introduction. In acceptance experiments two pieces of a single fruit type were exposed to a group of 10 females; after 48 hours, these were changed by two new pieces of the same fruit type, and, in the end of the fourth day, the experiments were concluded. In preference experiments, two pieces of different fruits were offered to the females. These experiments were driven under the same conditions of the acceptance ones. Acceptance and preference experiments for both populations showed the following choice hierarchy: papaya > mango > orange > apple. The acceptance experiments showed no differences in the number of eggs/female/day laid in the first 48 hours and in the last 48 hours of the experiments. The amount of eggs in the two pieces of fruits offered to the females was similar. In spite of the two populations present similar behavior in relation to host hierarchy, the number of laid eggs was different, being larger for the population reared without wild flies introduction.

Aceitação e preferência de frutos para oviposição em duas populações de Ceratitis capitata (Diptera, Tephritidae)

The influence of four host fruits, orange (Citrus sinensis L.), papaya (Carica papaya L.), mango (Mangifera indica L.) and apple (Malus domestica Borkh) on oviposition behavior of Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann, 1824) was evaluated. Experiments were carried out on two C. capitata laboratory-reared populations: one with artificial diet for 10 years with periodic introduction of wild flies and other reared with artificial diet for 20 years without wild flies introduction. In acceptance experiments two pieces of a single fruit type were exposed to a group of 10 females; after 48 hours, these were changed by two new pieces of the same fruit type, and, in the end of the fourth day, the experiments were concluded. In preference experiments, two pieces of different fruits were offered to the females. These experiments were driven under the same conditions of the acceptance ones. Acceptance and preference experiments for both populations showed the following choice hierarchy: papaya > mango > orange > apple. The acceptance experiments showed no differences in the number of eggs/female/day laid in the first 48 hours and in the last 48 hours of the experiments. The amount of eggs in the two pieces of fruits offered to the females was similar. In spite of the two populations present similar behavior in relation to host hierarchy, the number of laid eggs was different, being larger for the population reared without wild flies introduction.

Aceitação e preferência de frutos para oviposição em duas populações de Ceratitis capitata (Diptera, Tephritidae)

The influence of four host fruits, orange (Citrus sinensis L.), papaya (Carica papaya L.), mango (Mangifera indica L.) and apple (Malus domestica Borkh) on oviposition behavior of Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann, 1824) was evaluated. Experiments were carried out on two C. capitata laboratory-reared populations: one with artificial diet for 10 years with periodic introduction of wild flies and other reared with artificial diet for 20 years without wild flies introduction. In acceptance experiments two pieces of a single fruit type were exposed to a group of 10 females; after 48 hours, these were changed by two new pieces of the same fruit type, and, in the end of the fourth day, the experiments were concluded. In preference experiments, two pieces of different fruits were offered to the females. These experiments were driven under the same conditions of the acceptance ones. Acceptance and preference experiments for both populations showed the following choice hierarchy: papaya > mango > orange > apple. The acceptance experiments showed no differences in the number of eggs/female/day laid in the first 48 hours and in the last 48 hours of the experiments. The amount of eggs in the two pieces of fruits offered to the females was similar. In spite of the two populations present similar behavior in relation to host hierarchy, the number of laid eggs was different, being larger for the population reared without wild flies introduction.