Using hydrogen stable isotope ratios to trace the geographic origin of the population of Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae) trapped in northern China

Authors

  • Zihua Zhao Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
  • Zhenglong Lu Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
  • Gadi VP Reddy Montana State University, Department of Research Centers, Western Triangle Agricultural Research Center, 9546 Old Shelby Road, P.O. Box 656, Conrad, Montana, 59425, USA
  • Shuo Zhao Beijing Plant Protection Station, Beijing 100029, China
  • Guanghui Lin Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Earth System Modeling, Center for Earth System Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
  • Jianyun Ding Beijing Plant Protection Station, Beijing 100029, China
  • Jiajiao Wu Guangdong Inspection and Quarantine Technology Center, Guangdong Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Guangzhou 510623, China,
  • Zhihong Li Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China

Keywords:

fruit fly, biological marker, biosecurity

Abstract

The oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel (Diptera: Tephritidae), is a generalist feeder that is known to successfully feed and breed on a variety of fruits and vegetables in the tropical and subtropical zones of Asia. Recently, the northward extension of B. dorsalis has been reported, and this geographic range increase relates to both climate changes and the rapid development of domestic and international trade and travel. However, it has not been possible to determine the origin of this pest, which is trapped in north China. In this study, traps baited with the sex attractant methyl eugenol were used to collect B. dorsalis in Beijing, China. With these traps B. dorsalis populations were sampled at the same time in 5 different latitudes of China and used to determine the distribution of δ2H stable isotope values. The relationship between rainwater and the B. dorsalis δ2H stable isotope values at these sites was modelled, which then could be used to hypothesize the population origin of B. dorsalis trapped in Beijing, China. The results showed that δ2H stable isotope values for B. dorsalis from Beijing were not consistent with that of the rainwater in Beijing, but rather were consistent with the results obtained from Fuzhou in southeast China. Bactrocera dorsalis trapped in Beijing was not a resident population, and may have come from South China. The fruit and vegetable trade may have vectored the fly northward in China. Our results also showed that δ2H stable isotope technology is a promising strategy for tracing the population origins of invasive fruit flies.

 

Resumen

La mosca oriental de la fruta, Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel (Diptera: Tephritidae), es una plaga generalista que se sabe que se alimenta y se reproduce con éxito sobre una variedad de frutas y verduras en las zonas tropicales y subtropicales de Asia. Recientemente, se ha informado sobre la extension de B. dorsalis hacia el norte, y este aumento geográfico se relaciona tanto con los cambios climáticos como con el rápido desarrollo de comercio y de viajes nacionales e internacionales. Sin embargo, no ha sido posible determinar el origen de esta plaga, que se considera invasiva en el norte de China. En este estudio, se utilizaron trampas cebadas con el atrayente sexual: metil eugenol para recolectar B. dorsalis en Beijing, China. Con estas trampas, se tomaron muestras de poblaciones de B. dorsalis al mismo tiempo en 5 latitudes diferentes de China y se usaron para determinar la distribución de los valores de isótopos estables δ2H. Se modeló la relación entre el agua de lluvia y los valores de isótopos estables δ2H en B. dorsalis en estos sitios, que luego se podrían utilizar para establecer la hipótesis del origen de la población de B. dorsalis encontrada en Beijing, China. Los resultados mostraron que los valores de isótopos estables δ2H para B. dorsalis de Beijing no fueron consistentes con los del agua de lluvia en Beijing, sino que fueron consistentes con los resultados obtenidos de Fuzhou en el sureste de China. Se ha observado Bactrocera dorsalis atrapados en Beijing no era una población residente, y puede haber venido del sur de China, desarrollando una población anholocíclica (toda hembras) en Beijing. El comercio de frutas y verduras puede haber traido la mosca hacia el norte en China. Nuestros resultados también mostraron que la tecnología de isótopos estables δ2H es una estrategia prometedora para rastrear los orígenes de la población de organismos invasores.

 

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Published

2019-04-27

Issue

Vol. 101, No. 2 (June 2018)

Section

Research Papers

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