title: Population Fluctuation of Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) as a Function of Altitude in Eastern Guatemala.
abstract: Population fluctuations of Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) were evaluated over a period of 12 mo in four altitudinal strata (400-750, 750-1,100, 1,100-1,450, and 1,450-1,800 meters above sea level, masl) in Eastern Guatemala. Within each altitudinal range, sampling plots were established in coffee plantations and adjacent areas, in which Jackson traps were set and baited with Trimedlure. Coffee berries and other host fruits were collected. Population density was lowest at the 400-750 masl stratum and highest at 1,450-1,800 masl. At every altitudinal range, the fluctuations of the pest were associated mainly with the availability of ripe coffee berries as a primary host. From 750-1,450 masl, the pest was also associated with the availability of sweet orange and mandarins in commercial and backyard orchards. The highest densities of the pest were recorded in the dry season. Citrus were the main alternate host where ripe coffee berries were not available. This knowledge on population dynamics of C. capitata will contribute to develop more effective area-wide pest management strategies including the use of sterile insects, natural enemies, and bait sprays.
authors.affiliation: El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico (salvador.flores@iica-moscafrut.org.mx; pliedo@ecosur.mx), Moscafrut Program SAGARPA-IICA Metapa de Domínguez, Chiapas, Mexico (pablo.montoya@iica-moscafrut.org.mx), salvador.flores@iica-moscafrut.org.mx.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Flores
authors.affiliation: Moscafrut Program SAGARPA-IICA Metapa de Domínguez, Chiapas, Mexico (pablo.montoya@iica-moscafrut.org.mx).
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Montoya
authors.affiliation: El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico (lruiz@ecosur.mx).
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Montoya
authors.affiliation: Co-direction of Regional Medfly Program Mexico - Guatemala - USA (antonio.villasenor@medfly.org.gt; alvaro.valle@medfly.org.gt; W.R.Enkerlin@iaea.org), and.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Villaseñor
authors.affiliation: Co-direction of Regional Medfly Program Mexico - Guatemala - USA (antonio.villasenor@medfly.org.gt; alvaro.valle@medfly.org.gt; W.R.Enkerlin@iaea.org), and.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valle
authors.affiliation: Co-direction of Regional Medfly Program Mexico - Guatemala - USA (antonio.villasenor@medfly.org.gt; alvaro.valle@medfly.org.gt; W.R.Enkerlin@iaea.org), and Insect Pest Control Section, Joint FAO/IAEA Division, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Enkerlin
authors.affiliation: El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico (salvador.flores@iica-moscafrut.org.mx; pliedo@ecosur.mx).
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liedo
mesh_terms: D000531:Altitude; D000818:Animals; D033622:Ceratitis capitata / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D002957:Citrus / Q000254:growth & development; D040503:Coffea / Q000254:growth & development; D020387:Food Chain; D006166:Guatemala; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D011157:Population Dynamics
keywords: Mediterranean fruit fly; altitude; environmental condition; host; population dynamics