Comparative adult preference-larval performance relationship between a specialist and a generalist tephritid:...

Area of Science:

• Entomology
• Ecology
• Agriculture

Background:

• Phytophagous insects exhibit a wide range of host plant specialization, from monophagous to polyphagous.
• Understanding these differences is crucial for pest management and invasion risk assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the larval performance and adult host preference of a generalist (Queensland fruit fly, *Bactrocera tryoni*) and a specialist (breadfruit fruit fly, *B. umbrosa*).
• To evaluate how larval performance and female preference predict field infestation patterns.

Main Methods:

• Larval performance was assessed on 16 fruit species.
• Female host preference was tested on 5 fruit species.
• Field surveys were conducted on 11 fruit species to record natural infestations.

Main Results:

• *B. umbrosa* exclusively infested *Artocarpus* fruits in the field, with larvae developing only on *Artocarpus* species.
• Female *B. umbrosa* showed strong host preference, ovipositing mainly on *Artocarpus* and *Terminalia catappa*.
• *B. tryoni* larvae developed on 13 of 16 tested fruits, demonstrating broad larval performance and less selective oviposition.

Conclusions:

• Larval performance and female preference largely predicted field infestation patterns for both fruit fly species.
• The contrasting host specialization provides valuable data for estimating invasion risks of fruit fly species in new environments.