Abstract

The objective of this work was to determine the biological characteristics of South American fruit fly Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann, 1830) (Diptera: Tephritidae) using three fruit hosts. Mature fruits of cherry (Eugenia involucrata DC. (Myrtaceae) (n = 200), guabiroba (Campomanesia xanthocarpa (Mart.) O. Berg. (Myrtaceae) (n=200) and apple Malus domestica Borkh. variety “Gala” (Rosaceae) (n = 100) were placed separately in plastic cages. These fruits were exposed to A. fraterculus for four hours for oviposition. On a daily basis, the resulting larvae and the pupa were separated. Studies on fertility and longevity used 25 pairs of adults that emerged from these fruits. A. fraterculus completed its biological cycle in all fruits tested. The period of development from egg to adult was shorter in fruits of C. xanthocarpa (25.9 days) and E. involucrata (28.6 days) than in those of M. domestica (34.7 days). The pre-oviposition period was shorter in adults, which emerged from fruits of C. xanthocarpa (9.9 days). The results show the importance of native host fruits for population growth of A. fraterculus, and probably, for host availability of larvae of A. fraterculus for natural and applied biological control in the Southern Cone of South America region.

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