Seasonal Population Fluctuations of Bactrocera Invadens (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Relation to Mango Phenology in the Lake  Victoria Crescent, Uganda

Mayamba, Alex; Nankinga, Caroline Kukiriza; Isabirye, Brian; Akol, Anne Margaret

Seasonal Population Fluctuations of Bactrocera Invadens (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Relation to Mango Phenology in the Lake Victoria Crescent, Uganda

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Seasonal population fluctuations of Bactrocera invadens (Diptera Tephritidae) in relation to mango phenology in the Lake Victoria Crescent, Uganda.pdf (515.09 KB)

Date

2014

Authors

Mayamba, Alex

Nankinga, Caroline Kukiriza

Isabirye, Brian

Akol, Anne Margaret

Publisher

Fruits

Abstract

Timing of management practices requires an understanding of pest population dynamics in given cropping systems. Our study was designed to establish the population trends of B. invadens in mango orchards and to determine if population fluctuations were reflected in fruit infestation levels during changes in mango phenology. Bactrocera invadens flies were trapped weekly from February 2011 to November 2012, using methyl eugenol and DDVP (dichlorvos) insecticidal strips. Trapping was done in three mango orchards in the Luweero district of Uganda’s Lake Victoria Crescent. Mango fruit samples were incubated for the retrieval of puparia to calculate positivity (proportion of fruits infested) and fruit infestation indices (number of puparia per kg of fruit) for each stage of fruit maturity. Results. Mean trap catches of adult B. invadens varied significantly over the months (range : ~11 flies per trap per day (FTD) to over 590 FTD; P £ 0.0001). During each year, infestations peaked during June-July and January-February. Trap catches were higher in the major fruiting season compared with the minor fruiting season and were the highest when mango was at the physiological maturity and ripe stages. Fruit infestation and positivity were highest for fruit at the physiological maturity and ripe stages and lowest at the fruit set stage. Our findings show that B. invadens is present year-round and all stages of mango fruit development are susceptible to attack. Thus, control measures should be implemented throughout the year and preferably started at fruit set to lessen fruit fly population build-up and damage to fruits.

Keywords

Uganda / Mangifera indica / fruits / phenology / integrated pest management / Tephritidae / Bactrocera invadens / population dynamics

Citation

Mayamba, A., Nankinga, C. K., Isabirye, B., & Akol, A. M. (2014). Seasonal population fluctuations of Bactrocera invadens (Diptera: Tephritidae) in relation to mango phenology in the Lake Victoria Chttps://doi.org/10.1051/fruits/2014033rescent, Uganda. Fruits, 69(6), 473-480.