Behaviour of adult fruit flies

Female Ceratitis capitata were more active in the afternoon than in the morning, while the converse was true for males. Fly maturity was slightly shorter at higher temperatures (24 – 34°C) than at 22°C. Calling by male flies occurred during the morning and early afternoon. The frequency of mating and ovipositing increased during early morning and decreased again from mid-afternoon at most temperatures. Feeding on both protein and sugar took place throughout the day. The optimum temperature for C. capitata development was 26⁰C.

The activity of Ceratitis rosa increased when the light intensity started increasing at 05:00. There was a sharp increase in activity of the males at about 17:00 when the lights were fading. Calling and mating took place during late afternoon when the light was fading. Feeding took place throughout the day, but there was an increase in feeding during the afternoon. The optimum temperature a was about 26⁰C.

C. rosa laid fewer eggs than C. capitata at all temperatures and at 32 and 34⁰C C. rosa laid very few eggs. The time for the onset of oviposition for C. rosa was longer than that for C. capitata at all temperatures.

The parasitic wasp, Muscidifurax raptor successfully parasitized exposed Ceratitis capitata pupae. However, pupae buried in sand were not parasitized. Therefore, this parasite will not be of use as a biological control agent.

The activity patterns of C. capitata were not affected by spinosad. Female fruit flies were attracted to the spinosad, but not male fruit flies.