Investigate factors that affect hosts suitability and hosts range of Tephritidae: Case of tomato fruit fly Dacus punctatifrons Karsch, Bambili, Cameroon

Abstract

Factors that influence development and host selection by pest are important for pest suppression in agro-ecology. Fresh eggs of D. punctatifrons were collected and inoculated to six local fruits in a non-choice test; developmental parameters of larvae were compared. Tomato, water-melon and sweet-pepper were revealed as preferential host of D. punctatifrons (complete development in 31.24 days). Larvae rearing on Guava and mango completed their life-cycle in a relatively longer time (38.63 days), those rearing on orange, all died at stage (L1). Principal Component Analysis showed that feeding significantly affect life traits and demographic parameters of D. punctatifrons. Larval suitability compare to existing databases reveals that, hosts of D. punctatifrons in the laboratory and in nature were different. This could means nutritional criterion is not the only determinant of host selection by D. punctatifrons in nature. Ecological factors (competition and farming practices) may influence more.