Biology and control of Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) on guava in North Khartuom State

Abstract

Field and laboratory studies were undertaken at Khatoum State (Elkadarew, Elezergab, and Elkhujlab), and Sennar State (Senga) for three successive guava seasons 2006- 2009 . The collected species identified in the laboratory from guava fruits at the University of Sudan in August 2007, as Ceratitis capitata (Wiedmann) 45%, Ceratitis cosyra (Walker) 27.] 5 %, and the Asian fruit fly, Bactrocera invadens 20 % ( Drew Trusta and White ) and Pardalaspis quinaria (Bezzi) 7.5%. Ceratitis capitata was found to be the dominant fruit fly species in the three selected areas. Among the different fruit flies attractants investigated, food traps proved to be an effective lure for trapping large numbers of both sexes of Ceratitis capitata. . Monitoring of fruit fly species were carried out using food bait traps A comparison of med fly population among the three selected areas showed that population in July and August 2006 was significantly bigger than September2007. Also it demonstrates that population of Elezergab was significantly higher than both Elkadrew and Elkhujlab. The result of seasonal abundance of the med fly in Khartoum State (Khartoum North - Elezergab) surveyed during the period May 2007-April-2008 showed two peaks of med fly Populations. One peak was recorded in July, August, September, and October 2007 with values 84, 82, 81 and 80 respectively. The other peak was found during January 2008 with value 81. Significant reduction in population occurred 13 during June and April 2008 with values 21, 1 and 23 respectively. Drastic reduction recorded during May 2007 which was 1,9. The Population abundance of fruit flies generally increase with the rainy season, high population was recorded during the humid months of July and August, while low population .was recorded during dry May 1,9 In the present study a bigger population of med fly was found in Khartoum State Elezergab than that of Sennar State during August 2009. In the host preference experiment guava proved to be the most preferred by fruit flies followed by banana , mango, and grapefruit. No infestation was recorded in lemon. The activity time according to the present study indicated that the mid fly peak activity lies between the period 6-8 am , followed by a period between -8 -10 am and the period between 4-6 pm . The least activity was recorded during 12-2 pm. The number of Mediterranean fruit fly ovipucuters ranged from 11-120 with the an average of 48,6 punctures per guava fruit within the study area . All attempts for counting number of eggs per ovipuncture in the field ended up in vain , even with use of the eye- lens .The oviposition was usually on the .middle side , while it was very rare near the fruit stalks On the effect of guava fruit color on fruit fly infestation, yellow guava was the most susceptible 80% followed by yellow-green 60%. 14 Green shows slight infestation 20%, while dark green was the least susceptible 10%. A laboratory study was carried out to investigate med fly life cycle. Mean developmental time of egg + larvae was found to be 16 days, mean developmental time of pupae was found to be 10 days, mean longevity time of adult was found to be 25 days and the total of developmental time for all stages was recorded as 51 days. The chemical control experiment in the laboratory showed a Significant difference among insecticides used .Malathion (57%) was the most effective which gave 98 % mortility of fruit fly, followed by cypermethrin ( 0.03%) which gave 60%, neem ethanolic extract ( 4 ml) which gave 48 % then cafure powder (20 mg) which gave 20%,mortility. Despite the fact that synthetic chemicals were more effective than botanical extracts, but the botanicals proved to be more safe and biodegradable.