Fruit fly species, their distribution, host range and seasonal abundance in Blue Nile State, Sudan.
Fadlelmula A. A., Ali E. B. M.
Author Affiliation: Agricultural research corporation, Wad Medani, Sudan.
Persian Gulf Crop Protection 3 : 17-24
Abstract : This work was conducted at Blue Nile State, for two consecutive seasons 2009/2010 and 2010/2011, to study the geographical distribution, host range and seasonal abundance of fruit flies. Five localities in Blue Nile State (Damazine, Rosaries, Baw, Kurmuk and Geissan) were selected and GPS was used to mark the coordinates of the sites. Two orchards of mango and guava located at Damazine and Rosaries were selected for seasonal abundance studies during March 2009 to December 2010. Rearing of infested fruits and trapping with methyl eugenol were used to monitor and detect the fruit fly species. Bactrocera invadens was found in the five localities and it was a dominant among the fruit fly species. Bactrocera invadens, Ceratitis cosyra, Bactrocera cucurbitae, Dacus ciliatus and Dacus longistylus. were found in fruits of mango (Mangifera indica), guava (Psidium guajava), grape fruit (Citrus paradise), banana (Musa spp.), papaya (Carica papaya), cantaloupe (Cucumis melo), brazilia (Terminalia braziliansis), Usher (Calotropis procera) and wild straw berry (Fragaria vesca). B. invadens was hosted on mango, guava, grapefruit, banana, papaya, cantaloupe, brazilia and wild straw berry, while C. cosyra was found on mango fruits in Geissan locality. Wild straw berry was found as host plant for B. invadens, B. cucurbitae, D. ciliates and D. longistylus. Usher was detected as host plant for D. longistylus. B. invadens showed a low population level during March-May in mango orchard. The population peaks appeared in June-July, December and January depending on the temperature, rainfall and availability of the mango fruits.