FRUIT FLY (DIPTERA: TEPHRITIDAE) IN GUAVA (PSIDIUM GUAJAVA L.), IN MOSSORÓ, BRAZIL

ABSTRACT

Guava (Psidium guajava L.) is heavily infested by fruit flies in Brazil. However, little is known about losses in orchards, or about the relation among infestation levels, losses and fruit fly population fluctuation. The objective of this paper was to determine the guava infestation levels by Anastrepha species and to relate them to loss percentage and population fluctuation. Fruits were collected monthly in 1999 and 2000 in an orchard in Mossoró, State of Rio Grande do Norte. The highest infestation levels (67 and 97 puparia/kg) and population peaks (6,8 and 7,6 flies/trap/day) occurred from May to July. No infested fruits were observed in January, February, November and December. Losses were more than 70% with infestation levels higher than 35 puparia/kg of fruits. However, the relation between infestation levels and population fluctuation was not clearly defined.

KEY WORDS:
Insecta; Tephritids; pest; host.