Mortality of Third Instar Caribbean Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) Reared in Diet or Grapefruits and Immersed in Heated Water or Grapefruit Juice

Abstract

Tephritid fruit fly larval mortality due to heat has been investigated by immersing immature fruit flies into heated water. It was postulated that this information could be used to model the relationship between heat and fruit fly kill in fruits subjected to heat quarantine treatments, such as hot water immersion, vapor heat, and forced hot air. Third instar Caribbean fruit flies, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew), were reared on a semi-artificial diet or grapefruits and immersed in: a) tap water, b) grapefruit juice, or c) tapwater with the same pH as grapefruit juice (using citric acid), all at 43.0±0.05°C. LT 95 estimates were 20-31% lower for puparia and adults of third instars immersed in grapefruit juice than those immersed in heated water, with or without acid. Mortality of third instars immersed in either heated grapefruit juice or heated water was not affected by either diet.