Behavior and interactions between Anastrepha ludens (L) and A. oblicua (M) on a field caged mango tree - I. Lekking behaviour and male territoriality.
Aluja M., Hendrichs J., Cabrera M.
Author Affiliation: Moscamed Program DGSV-SARH, Mexico.
Fruit flies of economic importance. Proceedings of the CEC/IOBC International Symposium, Athens, Greece, 16-19 November 1982 : 122-133
Abstract : The behaviour patterns of adults of Anastrepha obliqua (Macq.) and A. ludens (Lw.) were studied in field cages on a mango tree in Mexico. A. ludens was found to be strongly crepuscular, while A. obliqua was active for more of the day. Inter- and intraspecific interactions were common, and interspecific lek formation was observed. Out of 122 encounters between males of A. obliqua, the resident won 69.7%. In interspecific encounters, A. obliqua as resident won 71%, and A. ludens as resident won 66.7% of times. Of 180 male-male encounters, 74.4% took place on the bottom of the foliage. Of 209 leks formed in 6 days, 86.12% were of A. obliqua, 3.34% of A. ludens and 10.52% were mixed. Lek size varied from 2 to 8 flies. A. obliqua seemed to have a greater ability than A. ludens to adapt to mango, an introduced food-plant. Marked character displacement was observed, especially where both species attacked the same fruit. It is suggested that local conditions in Mexico favour the formation of host-plant races in some species of Anastrepha.