title: Biology of Anastrepha grandis (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Different Cucurbits.
abstract: Anastrepha grandis (Macquart) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is one of the main pests of cucurbits in Brazil. Losses occur due to the damage caused to the fruits and the embargo on exports, as A. grandis is considered a quarantine pest in countries that import Brazilian cucurbits. This study aimed to evaluate the development of A. grandis in hosts of the Cucurbitaceae family. The hosts used were stem squash (Cucurbita pepo L.), squash (Cucurbita moschata Duchesne), chayote [Sechium edule (Jacq.) Swartz], mini watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum & Nakai], Spanish melon (Cucumis melo L.), hybrid squash "Tetsukabuto" (C. moschata×Cucurbita maxima Duchesne), and salad cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). We evaluated the viability and duration of egg-to-pupa period, pupal weight, sex ratio, and average number of pupae per fruit under controlled conditions of temperature, relative humidity, and photophase. The preoviposition and oviposition periods, fecundity, fertility, and longevity of females were determined for adults. Hosts of the genus Cucurbita provided a better development of A. grandis in comparison with other hosts, and presented a greater number of insects on fruit as well as higher infestation rate. Fecundity and longevity were also higher for females that developed in hosts of the genus Cucurbita, although values of these biological parameters varied between stem squash, squash, hybrid squash "Tetsukabuto."
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ecologia, Zoologia e Genética, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Avenida Eliseu Maciel s/n, 96010-900, Capão do Leão, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. ander_bolzan@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Anderson
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bolzan
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Entomologia, Embrapa Clima Temperado, Rodovia Br 392 km 78, 96010-970, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Dori E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Nava
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ecologia, Zoologia e Genética, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Avenida Eliseu Maciel s/n, 96010-900, Capão do Leão, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Flávio R M
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Entomologia, Embrapa Clima Temperado, Rodovia Br 392 km 78, 96010-970, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Valgas
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ecologia, Zoologia e Genética, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Avenida Eliseu Maciel s/n, 96010-900, Capão do Leão, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Giovani
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Smaniotto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019662:Cucurbitaceae / Q000254:growth & development; D005260:Female; D020387:Food Chain; D007300:Insect Control; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D008136:Longevity; D008297:Male; D010063:Ovum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D011679:Pupa / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D012098:Reproduction; D013045:Species Specificity; D033621:Tephritidae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Brazil; Cucurbits; South American cucurbit fruit fly; development