POPULATIONAL FLUCTUATIONS OF FRUIT FLIES OF THE GENUS ANASTREPHA SCHINER, 1868 (DIPTERA, TEPHRITIDAE) ON THE LUIZ DE QUEIROZ CAMPUS, PIRACICABA, SÃO PAULO

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted on the Luiz de Queiroz campus of the Universidade de São Paulo, in Piracicaba, State of São Paulo. Populational fluctuations of the most abundant species of fruit flies (Anastrepha fraterculus, A. obliqua, A. pseudoparallela and A. bistrigata) on the campus were studied. The populational levels of Anastrepha Schiner, 1868 increased from August to November with the highest peak in September. A. fraterculus showed a similar pattern of fluctuation due to its high populational level. Probably the availability of host fruits determined most of the variation of population sizes in the most abundant species of Anastrepha.

KEY WORDS:
Insecta; host fruits; McPhail trap; populational peaks.