Intraspecific Variation in the Wild Male Population, and its Potential Value in the Mass Rearing Program, of the Oriental Fruit Fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Abstract

A new concept for improvement of quality of breeding stock used for mass-rearing of tephritid fruit flies for sterile release eradication programs is reported. According to this concept, high quality individuals are those that are numerically dominant in the wild population and hence, they would be selected for breeding purposes. To recognize dominant variants among the wild males of the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), intraspecific differences were determined. A total of nine intraspecific variants were recognized. Out of these one labelled GIIC. was dominant in the dry, wet, and fringe habitats of this fruit fly.