ARS | Publication request: HOSTS OF ANASTREPHA SPP. IN PUERTO RICO

Submitted to: Caribbean Food Crops Society Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract
Publication Acceptance Date: July 11, 2006
Publication Date: July 11, 2006
Citation: Jenkins, D.A., Goenaga, R.J. 2006. Hosts of Anastrephia spp. in Puerto Rico [abstract]. Caribbean Food Crops Society Proceedings. p. 196.

Technical Abstract: In this ongoing study, potential hosts of Anastrepha spp. were collected throughout the year and monitored for the emergence of fruit flies and their parasitoids. In addition, multi-lure traps baited with putrescine and ammonia acetate were used to monitor fruit fly population fluctuations at 4 locations on the Island. As expected, naturalized mango (Mangifera indica), Spondias mombin, and S. purpurea are important hosts for Anastrepha obliqua, but these fruits are only available in the summer. Terminalia catappa, available at various times throughout the year, was an important host for A. suspensa, although we occasionally reared A. obliqua from it. Psidium guajava, also available at various times throughout the year, was a host to both species of fruit flies, though A. suspensa was more commonly reared from this fruit. Other fruit that yielded fruit flies were carambola (Averrhoa carambola) and Syzygium malaccense (yielding almost entirely A. obliqua). Parasitoids (Utetes anastrephae) were reared from both species of fruit flies that had been in fruit of T. catappa, mango, an unidentified Syzygium sp., and P. guajva. Locations yielding parasitoids were Mayaguez (Tropical Agriculture Research Station, USDA-ARS), Adjuntas (UPR-Agricultural Experiment Station), and Corozal (UPR-Agricultural Experiment Station). Most parasitoids were reared from fruit flies collected during the summer months. The life history of both Anastrepha spp. are discussed in relation to their hosts phenologies.