Comparison of Two Methods of Rearing Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) and Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) from Mock Orange and Coffee in the Laboratory

Abstract

Two methods of rearing fruit flies and parasitoids from fruit collected in the field were compared. Infested ripe mock orange, Murraya paniculata (I~), fruit were collected from sites in Honolulu and suburbs, and infested ripe coffee, Coffea arabica L., were collected from sites in Makaha valley. Fifty fruit were held in the laboratory in individual plastic Ziploc® bags, or fruit were held in groups of 50 per plastic bag. Significantly more (P < 0.05 df 34) Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) were reared from the fruit in groups than from individual fruit. Higher numbers of unemerged pupae were obtained from mock orange and coffee from individual fruit than from fruit groups. The results showed that when given a choice under limited food conditions larvae may migrate from one fruit to another to feed, and thereby improve their chances for survival to maturity. Some larvae of C. capitata, which developed in coffee, and B. dorsalis which developed in mock orange, showed multiple infestation of these fruits. The implications of this study to tephritid fruit fly ecology are discussed.