Population Dynamic Of The Mediterranean Fruit Fly, Ceratitis Capitata Wiede (Diptera: Tephritidae) In The Coastal Region Of Syria

Mohammad Ahmad ⁽¹⁾, and Majeda Mofleh⁽²⁾.
⁽¹⁾ Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria
⁽²⁾ General Commission of Agricultural Research, Lattakia Research Center, Lattakia, Syria.

Abstract

The Mediteranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata Wiede (Diptera: Tephritidae) is considered as a serious pest to many important fruit crops in Syria. Population changes of adult males were studied using pheromone traps containing TML capsules. The variation of the insect density, especially the males, appeared to be in conformity with abundance of inter-cropped hosts and their maturity time. When the site has contained one host or more relatives as in citrus for example, the population peak was at the middle of citrus season (December). Whereas, when there was a differences in hosts maturities (peaches and citrus) two peaks were observed. The first peak was at the end of the peaches season (August) and the second peak was in December. The insect activity did not stop but it went down to a very low level in all studied sites during spring months, due to the absence of host fruits. There was no relation between the average temperatures and the amount of catch during the study period has not bear show. Whereas, temperature had a clear effect on the daily activity period of the insect during summer season, as traps caught a greater number of males in moderate temperatures. In hot day hours, insects tended to hide and became inactive. Nine generations for fruit fly (C. capitata) per year were registered. The generation period varied between one to two months.