title: Species diversity within a community of the curcurbit fruit flies Bactrocera cucurbitae, Dacus ciliatus, and Dacus demmerezi roosting in corn borders near cucurbit production areas of Reunion Island.
abstract: In order to better control fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) attacking Cucurbitaceae on Reunion Island (21°6 S/ 55°36 E), biological characteristics (seasonal fluctuation, relative abundance, sex ratio) of communities roosting in corn borders were investigated. The study was conducted in austral summer across a range of altitudes (750-1150 m) corresponding to the main areas of cucurbit cropping. Living adults were recorded roosting on corn planted within or around cucurbit fields. Results showed a high variability in seasonal fluctuation of populations according to local conditions. Bactrocera Cucurbitae (Coquillett) (Diptera: Tephritidae) was the least abundant species (27%) compared to Dacus ciliatus Loew (36%) and Dacus demmerezi Bezzi (37%). Relative abundance of B. Cucurbitae was lowest (< 18%) in high altitude sites (above 1000 m), where D. demmerezi was the most prevalent species (> 56%). Dacus ciliatus showed variable relative abundance (from 18 to 51%) depending on the experimental design (varying in location and in year). Sex ratio was also very variable from one species to another and from one experimental design to another.
authors.affiliation: CIRAD, UMR PVBMT ClRAD/University of La Réunion, 7 chemin de l'Irat, Ligne Paradis, 97410 Saint-Pierre (La Réunion), France. jean-philippe.deguine@cirad.fr
authors.forename: J-P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Deguine
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Atiama-Nurbel
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Douraguia
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chiroleu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Quilici
mesh_terms: D000531:Altitude; D000818:Animals; D019662:Cucurbitaceae; D005260:Female; D007300:Insect Control; D008297:Male; D011156:Population Density; D017508:Reunion; D012621:Seasons; D012744:Sex Ratio; D013045:Species Specificity; D033621:Tephritidae / Q000502:physiology*; D003313:Zea mays