Rearing two fruit flies pests on artificial diet with variable pH

Area of Science:

• Entomology
• Pest Management
• Insect Physiology

Background:

• Fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) are significant global fruit pests.
• Anastrepha fraterculus and Ceratitis capitata are key fruit fly species in Brazil.
• Understanding dietary requirements is vital for effective pest control strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of artificial diet pH on the larval development and adult performance of two major fruit fly species.
• To determine the optimal pH range for rearing Anastrepha fraterculus and Ceratitis capitata in laboratory settings.

Main Methods:

• Laboratory experiments were conducted at controlled conditions (25 ± 2 °C, 70 ± 10% RH, 12:12h L:D).
• Semisolid artificial diets with pH adjusted using hydrochloric acid (pH 1.0 to 6.0) were tested.
• Larval development, pupation, adult emergence, sex ratio, and longevity were assessed for both species.

Main Results:

• A diet pH of 6.0 failed to support larval development for both fruit fly species.
• Highly acidic diets (lower pH) inhibited egg, larval, and pupal development, as well as adult reproduction in Anastrepha fraterculus.
• Ceratitis capitata showed greater sensitivity to diet pH, impacting larval duration, viability, pupal numbers, sex ratio, and male longevity.

Conclusions:

• Dietary pH significantly affects the development and performance of Anastrepha fraterculus and Ceratitis capitata.
• Extremely acidic conditions are detrimental to fruit fly development and reproduction.
• Ceratitis capitata is more susceptible to variations in artificial diet pH than Anastrepha fraterculus, offering potential for species-specific control strategies.