scholarly journals Slow Larvae Mutant and Its Potential to Improve the Pupal Color-Based Genetic Sexing System in Mexican Fruit Fly, (Diptera: Tephritidae)

2019 ◽  
Vol 112 (4) ◽  
pp. 1604-1610
Author(s):  
José S Meza ◽  
Carlos Cáceres ◽  
Kostas Bourtzis

Abstract For many years, an area-wide fruit fly control campaign against the Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens (Loew) has been implemented in some regions of Mexico and Texas, using the sterile insect technique (SIT) as its principal component. To improve the efficiency of the SIT, a genetic sexing strain based on black pupae mutation (bp) was developed for A. ludens, namely, ‘Tapachula-7’ (Tap-7 genetic sexing strains [GSSs]). This strain was introduced into the AW-IPM program recently and allows male-only releases for SIT applications. Here, we report the genetic and biological characterization of a new mutation, slow larvae (sl), which was introduced to the original translocation of the Tap-7 GSS resulting in two new GSS (slow-7 and Tap/slow-7). In both GSSs, the translocated wild-type males emerge from brown pupae that develop faster than females. The females are homozygous for sl mutation in the slow-7 GSS and homozygous for sl and bp mutations in the Tap/slow-7 GSS, reaching larval maturity 2 d after most of the wild-type males, allowing the separation of most males during pupariation. The potential use of the slow-7 and Tap/slow-7 GSSs in mass rearing and large-scale population suppression programs is discussed.

2015 ◽  
Vol 106 (3) ◽  
pp. 314-321 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. I. González-López ◽  
D. Rao ◽  
F. Díaz-Fleischer ◽  
D. Orozco-Dávila ◽  
D. Pérez-Staples

AbstractTephritid pests controlled through the sterile insect technique (SIT) are mass-reared and subsequently released in affected areas. Several quality parameters are currently used to test adults, but none take into account interactions with a predator. When sterile males are released in the field, they will need to avoid predators until they reach sexual maturity and survive long enough to mate with wild females. Spiders are one of the most common predators that flies may encounter in release sites. In this study, we evaluated the antipredator behavior of a mass-reared sterile unisexual strain (‘Tapachula-7’) of the Mexican fruit fly Anastrepha ludens (Diptera: Tephritidae) against their spider predators. We sampled spiders in citrus trees to determine which families could be more common. We established the baseline activity rates of sterile Tapachula-7 (Tap-7) flies in comparison with wild flies. We also tested the behavior of the fertile and sterile bisexual strain and wild flies against hunting spiders (Family Salticidae) and orb building spiders (Family Tetragnathidae). We recorded 18 spider families, with Salticidae being the most dominant. Tap-7 flies diminished their activity in comparison with wild males at 1800 h but showed similar activity levels earlier in the day. When exposed to orb-web spiders (Leucauge venusta), Tap-7, fertile and sterile males from the bisexual strain had similar rates of survival, but Tap-7 males showed lower survival than wild males. Against hunting spiders (Phidippus audax), wild males had higher probability of defensive wing displays, but there was no difference in spider attack rates. In general, sterile Tap -7 males performed as well as males from the bisexual strain, although they had lower survival than wild males. This could be due to either mass-rearing and/or irradiation effects. We recommend the use of the defensive wing display behavior as a quality parameter and propose a rapid and effective method to evaluate fly activity. The efficiency of SIT will be improved if released sterile males have the same antipredator repertoire as their wild counterparts.


BMC Genetics ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 15 (Suppl 2) ◽  
pp. S1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Silvia Zepeda-Cisneros ◽  
José Salvador Meza Hernández ◽  
Víctor García-Martínez ◽  
Jorge Ibañez-Palacios ◽  
Antigone Zacharopoulou ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 109 (3) ◽  
pp. 279-286
Author(s):  
A. Dor ◽  
P. Liedo

AbstractThe sterile insect technique (SIT) is a key element for the integrated management of pest populations of the Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens, in Mexico. Its success depends on the survival of mass-reared sterile males and their ability to mate with wild females. However, colonization and mass-rearing conditions can adversely affect their ability to avoid predators. To test if colony management strategies could contribute to improve field survival abilities of mass-reared flies, we compared the survival of males exposed to the orb-weaver spider Argiope argentata. Males compared originated from three strains with different colonization strategies: (a) a colony started from field-collected wild flies (replacement), (b) a colony started by hybridizing wild males with mass-reared adapted females (hybrid) and (c) a colony started with mass-reared males selected on the basis of their survival ability and mating competitiveness in field cages (selected). Mass-reared males and wild males were used as controls. Males were exposed to spiders under laboratory cage conditions. Overall, wild males showed better survival ability than mass-reared males. Regarding the colonization approach, wild males survived better than a hybrid, replaced and selected males. We conclude that mass-rearing conditions have a strong negative effect on the ability of males to escape spiders. The colonization systems evaluated did not counter this effect. The lower survival of males from the selected colony suggests that the selection over one generation did not contribute to improve males’ predator avoidance and escape abilities and probably needs to be modified. Possible explanations for this and implications on colonization and colony management for SIT purpose are discussed.


2013 ◽  
Vol 104 (2) ◽  
pp. 176-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Rao ◽  
S. Aguilar-Argüello ◽  
P. Montoya ◽  
F. Díaz-Fleischer

AbstractFruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) are major pests worldwide. The sterile insect technique, where millions of flies are reared, sterilized by irradiation and then released, is one of the most successful and ecologically friendly methods of controlling populations of these pests. The mating behaviour of irradiated and non-irradiated flies has been compared in earlier studies, but there has been little attention paid to the anti-predator behaviour of mass-reared flies, especially with respect to wild flies. Tephritid flies perform a supination display to their jumping spider predators in order to deter attacks. In this study, we evaluated the possibility of using this display to determine the anti-predator capabilities of mass-reared irradiated, non-irradiated flies, and wild flies. We used an arena setup and observed bouts between jumping spiders (Phidippus audax Hentz) and male Mexican fruit flies (Anastrepha ludens Loew). We show that although all flies performed a supination display to their predator, wild flies were more likely to perform a display and were significantly more successful in avoiding attack than mass-reared flies. We suggest that this interaction can be used to develop a rapid realistic method of quality control in evaluating anti-predator abilities of mass-reared fruit flies.


EDIS ◽  
1969 ◽  
Vol 2004 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Howard V. Weems, Jr. ◽  
John B. Heppner ◽  
Thomas R. Fasulo ◽  
James L. Nation

The Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew), has also been called the Greater Antilliean fruit fly, the guava fruit fly and the Caribfly. It is a near relative of the Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens (Loew), and is one of several species of fruit flies which are indigenous to the West Indies and the larvae of which attack several kinds of tropical and subtropical fruits. This document is EENY-196 (originally published as DPI Entomology Circulars 38 and 260), one of a series of Featured Creatures from the Entomology and Nematology Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Published: March 2001. EENY196/IN353: Caribbean Fruit Fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew) (Insecta: Diptera: Tephritidae) (ufl.edu)


2010 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. F. Edmunds ◽  
Martin Aluja ◽  
Fransico Diaz-Fleischer ◽  
Bruno Patrian ◽  
Leonhard Hagmann

Author(s):  
G I González-López ◽  
E Solís-Echeverría ◽  
F Díaz-Fleischer ◽  
D Pérez-Staples

Abstract Anastrepha ludens (Loew) is one of the most important pests of citrus and mango crops in Mexico. A method used to control this pest is the sterile insect technique, which consists in the mass production, irradiation, and release of insects in affected areas. The production of insects begins with the establishment of colonies to produce eggs, which must be highly fertile to ensure an adequate production of larvae. However, female fecundity and fertility can be affected by adult density and sex ratio, thus an optimal sex ratio in mass-rearing cages must be used. The genetic sexing strain of A. ludens (Tapachula-7) allows the identification of the sex at the pupal stage, making it possible to establish rearing cages with different sex ratios. We determined if different sex ratios have an effect on egg production. Two sex ratios (4♀: 1♂ and 1♀: 1♂) were compared. Fecundity, fertility and survival at different ages were also determined. Higher fertility and fecundity per female were observed at a ratio of 4:1. However, females with higher fecundity had reduced survival probabilities. In conclusion, maintaining colonies with a lower proportion of males in cages ensures a greater fecundity and fertility. Further research is necessary to understand whether results can be attributed to lower male harassment in cages.


2014 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 925-935 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Ayala ◽  
Ana Mabel Martinez ◽  
Isaac Figueroa ◽  
Samuel Pineda ◽  
Mario Miranda ◽  
...  

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