Abstract

DIAZ, Leonardo M.; MURUA, Fernando A.; ACOSTA, Juan. C.  and  ESCOBAR, Jorge M.. Dispersal behavior of Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) among agricultural valleys in San Juan, Argentina. Rev. Soc. Entomol. Argent. [online]. 2008, vol.67, n.1-2, pp.155-161. ISSN 0373-5680.

Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) is a cosmopolitan Tephritids dipteran native to the north of Africa, which is the main plague of fruit trees in many countries of the American continent. Here we assess the dispersion capacity of the Ceratitis capitata, by releasing sterile flies under field conditions, in order to predict possible invasion to agricultural valleys nearby. 54,000 marked sterile flies of both sexes were released in locations of the Tulum Valley, close to the access to the Ullum and Zonda valleys. Jackson & Mc Phail traps were set up for monitoring the dispersion flights. 1,213 adults were captured during the sampling period, and there was no dispersion of the released adults from the Tulum valley to the Ullum and Zonda valleys. Host presence, geographical position of each ravine and wind orientation could explain the dispersion difference betwen both ravines. The dispersion lasted five weeks and the average dispersion distance reached by the released adults was of 3,764 m (S= 2897 m). No differences between sexes were detected.

Keywords : Dispersal; Ceratitis capitata; Ravines; Valley.

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