Cold Torpor And Flight Threshold Of Anastrepha suspensa (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Authors

  • Walter P. Gould

Abstract

The Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew), is a pest of quarantine significance of many subtropical fruits in Florida. Fly free zones which require bait spraying with malathion when fly populations reach actionable levels, have been developed. Bait sprays also are used whenever new introductions of fruit fly species occur. Bait sprays will not be effective if the target population is immobile due to cold. The purpose of this study was to develop temperature thresholds for laboratory-reared and wild Anastrepha suspensa through controlled laboratory studies. This research determined that the cold torpor threshold for Caribbean fruit fly was 11.4C, and the flight threshold for 50% of the population was about 20C. It also was determined that the flight threshold of wild flies did not differ significantly from that of laboratory reared flies. Bait spray experiments and regular treatments could be scheduled to avoid cold periods when flies are not active.

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Published

1998-06-01

Issue

Section

Literature Review Articles