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Tan KH, Nishida R. A review on natural phenylbutanoid attractants: Occurrence, distribution, and role in nature, especially in relation to Dacini fruit fly behavior and pollination. J Chem Ecol 2024:10.1007/s10886-024-01499-6. [PMID: 38644437 DOI: 10.1007/s10886-024-01499-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
The natural occurrence, distribution (within a plant) and roles of four phenylbutanoid compounds (anisyl acetone, cue-lure, raspberry ketone and zingerone) are elucidated for the Asia-Pacific and Oceania regions. These phenylbutanoids may act individually or in combination to attract true fruit fly males belonging to a tribe Dacini of subfamily Dacinae (Diptera: Tepritidae). Of special interest are the mutualistic interactions between the Dacini fruit fly males and the tropical daciniphilous (attracting exclusively Dacini fruit flies) orchids - leading to cross pollination for the orchids and enchanced mating success for the flies. When offered to male flies, anisyl acetone and cue-lure are generally converted to raspberry ketone. Upon consumption, raspberry ketone and zingerone are individually sequestered in the male rectal (pheromonal) gland unchanged. Attracted male flies readily imbibe the phenylbutanoid(s) in the floral synomone to compliment the endogenously synthesized male sex pheromonal components - to enhance attraction of conspecific females during courtship as well as attract conspecific males to form 'leks'. The phenylbutanoid(s) may also act as an allomone to deter vertebrate predators, especially geckos, besides possessing antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Cue-lure, raspberry ketone and zingerone are important attractants/lures used in pest surveillance and mass trapping under the integrated pest management (IPM) program against quarantine Dacini fruit fly pest species, particularly Bactrocera tryoni and Zeugodacus cucurbitae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keng Hong Tan
- Mobula Research Sdn. Bhd., 20, Jalan Tan Jit Seng, 11200 Tanjong Bungah, Penang, Malaysia.
| | - Ritsuo Nishida
- Laboratory of Chemical Ecology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
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Dispersal and competitive release affect the management of native and invasive tephritid fruit flies in large and smallholder farms in Ethiopia. Sci Rep 2021; 11:2690. [PMID: 33514782 PMCID: PMC7846734 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80151-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
African horticulture is seriously affected by fruit flies, both native and invasive. Novel sustainable control methods need testing against the backdrop of smallholder-dominated farming of Africa. We evaluated the potential of male-specific attractants (parapheromones) laced with insecticide to suppress the alien invasive Bactrocera dorsalis and native Ceratitis capitata. In large-scale guava, methyl-eugenol (ME)-bait stations combined with toxic protein baits suppressed B. dorsalis within 8 months but resulted in a resurgence of the displaced Ceratitis capitata. In smallholder farms, intervention using SPLAT-ME laced with spinosad was surprisingly unsuccessful. Subsequent mark-release-recapture experiments showed high dispersal rates of flies, covering many times a typical farm size, leading to a continuous influx of flies from surrounding areas. Several other factors important for intervention were evaluated. SPLAT-MAT-ME dollops remained attractive for over two weeks, although gradually becoming less attractive than fresh baits. Further, competitive displacement was observed: C. capitata selectively emerged from fruits in which B. dorsalis infestation was low. Finally, we evaluated whether ME could be combined with C. capitata male attractants [trimedlure (TML) and terpinyl acetate (TA)] without affecting attraction. Combining male lures did not affect catches directly, although at very high populations of B. dorsalis attracted to ME interfered with C. capitata trap entry. Although ME-based methods can effectively suppress B. dorsalis, they were not effective at single smallholder scale due to the high dispersive propensity of tephritids. Further, competitive release implies the need for a combination of lures and methods. These observations are important for developing control schemes tailored for African smallholder settings.
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Tan KH. Recaptures of feral Bactrocera dorsalis and B. umbrosa (Diptera: Tephritidae) males after feeding on methyl eugenol. BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2020; 110:15-21. [PMID: 31190651 DOI: 10.1017/s0007485319000208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Two major fruit fly pest species, Bactrocera dorsalis and B. umbrosa, are strongly attracted to methyl eugenol (ME) found in >450 plant species. They are, however, exclusive pollinators of certain daciniphilous (attracting Dacini fruit flies) Bulbophyllum orchids. A comparison between the recaptures of feral males after feeding ad libitum on 0.6 mg ME (simulating an average floral quantity of an orchid flower - Trial 1) and 480 mg in Trial 2 was investigated using the non-invasive capture-mark-release-recapture (CMRR) technique. Based on daily CMRR over a 16-day period, using a different colour enamel paint each day, percentages of B. dorsalis males recaptured in Trial 1 were significantly higher than those in Trial 2. However, for B. umbrosa, percentages of recaptures for different day-specific colours were highly variable due to low fly numbers captured/day. In Trial 1, of 756 B. dorsalis males released, 36.4% were recaptured once, 7.7 twice, 2.4 three times and 0.4 four times. While in Trial 2 of 1157 released males, 6% were recaptured once and 0.3% twice. Of 67 B. umbrosa males released, 28.4% were recaptured once and none more than once in Trial 1. Nevertheless, of 119 flies released in Trial 2, 25.2% were recaptured once and 3.3% twice. Overall, many marked males did return to a single ME-source to 'refuel' ME (a sex pheromone precursor). The results also show that a relatively high number of flies paid multi-visitations to a single 0.6 mg ME-source and indicate that the presence of natural ME-sources may impact area-wide IPM programmes.
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Affiliation(s)
- K-H Tan
- Mobula Research Sdn. Bhd., 20, Jalan Tan Jit Seng, 11200 Tanjong Bungah, Penang, Malaysia
- Academy of Sciences Malaysia, MATRADE Tower, Jalan Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Cai Z, Yao Z, Li Y, Xi Z, Bourtzis K, Zhao Z, Bai S, Zhang H. Intestinal probiotics restore the ecological fitness decline of Bactrocera dorsalis by irradiation. Evol Appl 2018; 11:1946-1963. [PMID: 30459840 PMCID: PMC6231467 DOI: 10.1111/eva.12698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2017] [Revised: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 08/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The sterile insect technique (SIT) as an eco-friendly and reliable strategy has been used to control populations of insect pests of agricultural, veterinary and human health importance. Successful applications of SIT rely on the high-level ecological fitness of sterile males. A suitable and stable gut microbiome can contribute to the ecological fitness of insect by influencing their physiology, biochemistry and development processes. Here, we show that a shift in the gut bacterial composition and structure by sterilizing irradiation, characterized by a decrease in the major gut microbiota community Enterobacteriaceae, an expansion of the minor members (e.g., Bacillaceae) and a higher richness and diversity, is tightly linked to radiation-induced ecological fitness (male mating competitiveness, flight capacity, survival rate and life span) decline in Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) sterile males. Function prediction of gut microbiota indicated that changes in microbiome taxonomy tend to drive microbiome functional shifts. A higher nutrient consumption of the flourishing minor gut microbiota may cause a decline in nutrients and energy metabolic activity of host and then result in the reduced ecological fitness of irradiated flies. Furthermore, we found that a gut bacterial strain Klebsiella oxytoca (BD177) can restore ecological fitness by improving food intake and increasing haemolymph sugar and amino acid levels of irradiated B. dorsalis flies. Our findings suggest that gut symbiont-based probiotics can be used as agents for reversing radiation-induced ecological fitness decrease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaohui Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural MicrobiologyKey Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (MOE)China‐Australia Joint Research Centre for Horticultural and Urban PestsInstitute of Urban and Horticultural EntomologyCollege of Plant Science and TechnologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Zhichao Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural MicrobiologyKey Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (MOE)China‐Australia Joint Research Centre for Horticultural and Urban PestsInstitute of Urban and Horticultural EntomologyCollege of Plant Science and TechnologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Yushan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural MicrobiologyKey Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (MOE)China‐Australia Joint Research Centre for Horticultural and Urban PestsInstitute of Urban and Horticultural EntomologyCollege of Plant Science and TechnologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Zhiyong Xi
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular GeneticsMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMichigan
| | - Kostas Bourtzis
- Insect Pest Control LaboratoryJoint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and AgricultureVienna International CentreViennaAustria
| | - Zheng Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural MicrobiologyKey Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (MOE)China‐Australia Joint Research Centre for Horticultural and Urban PestsInstitute of Urban and Horticultural EntomologyCollege of Plant Science and TechnologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Shuai Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural MicrobiologyKey Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (MOE)China‐Australia Joint Research Centre for Horticultural and Urban PestsInstitute of Urban and Horticultural EntomologyCollege of Plant Science and TechnologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Hongyu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural MicrobiologyKey Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (MOE)China‐Australia Joint Research Centre for Horticultural and Urban PestsInstitute of Urban and Horticultural EntomologyCollege of Plant Science and TechnologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
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Mcinnis D, Hendrichs J, Shelly T, Barr N, Hoffman K, Rodriguez R, Lance D, Bloem K, Suckling D, Enkerlin W, Gomes P, Tan K. Can Polyphagous Invasive Tephritid Pest Populations Escape Detection for Years Under Favorable Climatic and Host Conditions? ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/ae/tmx038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
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Mze Hassani I, Raveloson-Ravaomanarivo LH, Delatte H, Chiroleu F, Allibert A, Nouhou S, Quilici S, Duyck PF. Invasion by Bactrocera dorsalis and niche partitioning among tephritid species in Comoros. BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2016; 106:749-758. [PMID: 27312045 DOI: 10.1017/s0007485316000456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Ten economically important species belonging to the Tephritidae have been recorded in Union of the Comoros (an island nation off the coast of East Africa). Little is known about the distribution of these species and how they are affected by climatic factors in the Comoros archipelago. The main objectives of this study were to characterize: (i) the population dynamics of tephritid fruit flies in relation to season and host fruit availability and (ii) the geographic distribution of tephritids in relation to temperature and rainfall. The study was conducted during 2 years at 11 sites on three islands (Grande Comore, Anjouan, and Mohéli) in the archipelago. The site elevations ranged from 55 to 885 m a.s.l. At each site, flies were collected weekly in eight traps (four different lures, each replicated twice). Fruit phenology was also recorded weekly. The dominant tephritid species detected was the invasive Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel followed by Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann. Tephritid species were generally more abundant during the hot and rainy seasons than during the cold and dry seasons. Bactrocera dorsalis numbers were higher on Grande Comore than on the two other islands. On Anjouan and Mohéli, B. dorsalis numbers were very low in 2014 but sharply increased in 2015, suggesting a recent invasion of these islands. Abundances were significantly related to the fruiting of mango, strawberry guava, and guava for B. dorsalis and to the fruiting of mango, guava, and mandarin for C. capitata. Bactrocera dorsalis was more abundant in hot and humid low-altitude areas, while C. capitata was more abundant in dry medium-altitude areas, suggesting the occurrence of climatic niche partitioning between the two species.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Mze Hassani
- CIRAD,UMR PVBMT,F-97410 Saint-Pierre,La Réunion,France
| | - L H Raveloson-Ravaomanarivo
- Departement d'Entomologie,Faculté des Sciences,Université d'Antananarivo,B.P.: 906 Antananarivo, 101,Madagascar
| | - H Delatte
- CIRAD,UMR PVBMT,F-97410 Saint-Pierre,La Réunion,France
| | - F Chiroleu
- CIRAD,UMR PVBMT,F-97410 Saint-Pierre,La Réunion,France
| | - A Allibert
- CIRAD,UMR PVBMT,F-97410 Saint-Pierre,La Réunion,France
| | - S Nouhou
- Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, la Pêche et l'Environnement (INRAPE) Moroni Union des Comores,Mdé Ex-CEFADER,B.P: 289 Moroni,Union des Comores
| | - S Quilici
- CIRAD,UMR PVBMT,F-97410 Saint-Pierre,La Réunion,France
| | - P F Duyck
- CIRAD,UMR PVBMT,F-97410 Saint-Pierre,La Réunion,France
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Suckling DM, Kean JM, Stringer LD, Cáceres-Barrios C, Hendrichs J, Reyes-Flores J, Dominiak BC. Eradication of tephritid fruit fly pest populations: outcomes and prospects. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2016; 72:456-465. [PMID: 25204807 DOI: 10.1002/ps.3905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2014] [Accepted: 09/05/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The number of insect eradication programmes is rising in response to globalisation. A database of arthropod and plant pathogen eradications covers 1050 incursion responses, with 928 eradication programmes on 299 pest and disease taxa in 104 countries (global eradication database b3.net.nz/gerda). METHODS A subset of the database was assembled with 211 eradication or response programmes against 17 species of fruit flies (Tephritidae) in 31 countries, in order to investigate factors affecting the outcome. RESULTS The failure rate for fruit fly eradication programmes was about 7%, with 0% for Ceratitis capitata (n = 85 programmes) and 0% for two Anastrepha species (n = 12 programmes), but 12% for 13 Bactrocera species (n = 108 programmes). A number of intended eradication programmes against long-established populations were not initiated because of cost and other considerations, or evolved during the planning phase into suppression programmes. Cost was dependent on area, ranged from $US 0.1 million to $US 240 million and averaged about $US 12 million (normalised to $US in 2012). In addition to the routine use of surveillance networks, quarantine and fruit destruction, the key tactics used in eradication programmes were male annihilation, protein bait sprays (which can attract both sexes), fruit destruction and the sterile insect technique. CONCLUSIONS Eradication success generally required the combination of several tactics applied on an area-wide basis. Because the likelihood of eradication declines with an increase in the area infested, it pays to invest in effective surveillance networks that allow early detection and delimitation while invading populations are small, thereby greatly favouring eradication success.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Maxwell Suckling
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Christchurch, New Zealand
- Plant Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre, Canberra, Australia
- Better Border Biosecurity, New Zealand
| | - John M Kean
- Better Border Biosecurity, New Zealand
- AgResearch Limited, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Lloyd D Stringer
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Christchurch, New Zealand
- Plant Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre, Canberra, Australia
- Better Border Biosecurity, New Zealand
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Carlos Cáceres-Barrios
- Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Seibersdorf Laboratories, Seibersdorf, Austria
| | - Jorge Hendrichs
- Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Vienna International Centre, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jesus Reyes-Flores
- Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Vienna International Centre, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bernard C Dominiak
- NSW Department of Primary Industries, Orange, New South Wales, Australia
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Manoukis NC, Siderhurst M, Jang EB. Field Estimates of Attraction of Ceratitis capitata to Trimedlure and Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae) to Methyl Eugenol in Varying Environments. ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2015; 44:695-703. [PMID: 26313976 DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvv020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2014] [Accepted: 01/30/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Measuring and modeling the attractiveness of semiochemical-baited traps is of significant importance to detection, delimitation, and control of invasive pests. Here, we describe the results of field mark-release-recapture experiments with Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) and Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) to estimate the relationship between distance from a trap baited with trimedlure and methyl eugenol, respectively, and probability of capture for a receptive male insect. Experiments were conducted using a grid of traps with a central release point at two sites on Hawaii Island, a Macadamia orchard on the East side of the island and a lava field on the West side. We found that for B. dorsalis and methyl eugenol there is a 65% probability of capture at ∼36 m from a single trap, regardless of habitat. For C. capitata, we found a 65% probability of capture at a distance of ∼14 m from a single trap in the orchard and 7 m in the lava field. We also present results on the spatial and temporal pattern of recaptures. The attraction data are analyzed via a hyperbolic secant-based capture probability model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas C Manoukis
- US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Daniel K. Inouye US Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, 64 Nowelo St., Hilo HI 96720.
| | - Matthew Siderhurst
- Department of Chemistry, Eastern Mennonite University, 1200 Park Rd., Harrisonburg, VA 22802
| | - Eric B Jang
- US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Daniel K. Inouye US Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, 64 Nowelo St., Hilo HI 96720
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Efficient management of fruit pests by pheromone nanogels. Sci Rep 2013; 3:1294. [PMID: 23416455 PMCID: PMC3575019 DOI: 10.1038/srep01294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2012] [Accepted: 01/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Environment-friendly management of fruit flies involving pheromones is useful in reducing the undesirable pest populations responsible for decreasing the yield and the crop quality. A nanogel has been prepared from a pheromone, methyl eugenol (ME) using a low-molecular mass gelator. This was very stable at open ambient conditions and slowed down the evaporation of pheromone significantly. This enabled its easy handling and transportation without refrigeration, and reduction in the frequency of pheromone recharging in the orchard. Notably the involvement of the nano-gelled pheromone brought about an effective management of Bactrocera dorsalis, a prevalent harmful pest for a number of fruits including guava. Thus a simple, practical and low cost green chemical approach is developed that has a significant potential for crop protection, long lasting residual activity, excellent efficacy and favorable safety profiles. This makes the present invention well-suited for pest management in a variety of crops.
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Geurts K, Mwatawala M, De Meyer M. Indigenous and invasive fruit fly diversity along an altitudinal transect in Eastern Central Tanzania. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2012; 12:12. [PMID: 22935017 PMCID: PMC3467091 DOI: 10.1673/031.012.1201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2011] [Accepted: 06/24/2011] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The relative abundance of indigenous and invasive frugivorous fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) was evaluated spatially and temporally along an altitudinal transect between 581-1650 m in the Uluguru Mountains near Morogoro, Tanzania. The polyphagous invasive fruit fly Bactrocera invadens Drew, Tsuruta, and White and the indigenous fruit fly Ceratitis rosa Karsch show a similar temporal pattern, but are largely separated spatially, with B. invadens being abundant at lower elevation and C. rosa predominant at higher elevation. The polyphagous indigenous C. cosyra (Walker) coincides with B. invadens but shows an inverse temporal pattern. The cucurbit feeders B. cucurbitae (Coquillett) and Dacus bivittatus (Bigot) show a similar temporal pattern, but the former is restricted to lower elevations. Host availability and climatic differences seem to be the determining factors to explain the differences in occurrence and abundance in time and space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrien Geurts
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Maulid Mwatawala
- Department of Crop Science and Production, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania
| | - Marc De Meyer
- Entomology Section, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium
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Virgilio M, Backeljau T, Emeleme R, Juakali JL, De Meyer M. A quantitative comparison of frugivorous tephritids (Diptera: Tephritidae) in tropical forests and rural areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo. BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2011; 101:591-597. [PMID: 21554799 DOI: 10.1017/s0007485311000216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Most of the current knowledge about African tephritids originates from studies performed in agricultural areas, while information about their distribution in pristine or moderately disturbed environments is extremely scarce. This study aims at (i) describing levels of spatial variability of frugivorous tephritids in tropical forests and small rural villages of the Congo River basin and (ii) verifying if human-mediated activities, such as small-scale agriculture and trade, can affect their distribution patterns. Four locations were sampled along a 250 km stretch of the Congo River. At each location, pristine and disturbed habitats (i.e. tropical forests and small rural villages, respectively) were sampled, with three replicate sites in each combination of habitat and location. Sampling with modified McPhail traps baited with four different attractants yielded 819 tephritid specimens of 29 species from seven genera (Bactrocera, Carpophthoromyia, Ceratitis, Dacus, Celidodacus, Perilampsis, Trirhithrum). The three most abundant species sampled (Dacus bivittatus, D. punctatifrons, Bactrocera invadens) showed significant variations in abundance across locations and sites and accounted for 98.29% of the overall dissimilarity between habitats. Assemblages differed among locations and sites while they showed significant differences between pristine and disturbed habitats in two out of the four locations. This study shows that frugivorous tephritids in central Congo have remarkably patchy distributions with differences among locations and sites representing the main source of variability. Our data show that, in rural villages of central Democratic Republic of Congo, human activities, such as small-scale agriculture and local commerce, are not always sufficient to promote differences between the tephritid assemblages of villages and those of the surrounding tropical forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Virgilio
- Royal Museum for Central Africa, Leuvensesteenweg 13, B-3080 Tervuren, Belgium.
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