ARS | Publication request: DEVELOPMENT AND FIELD EVALUATION OF A PUPAL-COLOR BASED GENETIC SEXING STRAIN OF THE MELON FRUIT FLY, BACTROCERA CUCURBITAE

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: April 20, 2004
Publication Date: August 20, 2004
Citation: Mcinnis, D.O., Mau, R., Tam, S.Y., Lim, R.R., Komatsu, J., Leblanc, L., Kurashima, R.S., Albrecht, C.P. 2004. Development and field evaluations of a pupal-color based genetic sexing strain of the melon fruit fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae. Oral presentation at the International Congress of Entomology, Brisbane, Australia, August, 2004.

Technical Abstract: The first genetic sexing system for the melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett), based on pupal color was developed. This system permits the separation of males (wild-type brown pupae) from females (mutant white pupae). Egg hatch averaged 42% for flies 2-5 weeks old, with higher rates (ca. 50%) for younger flies. Adult emergence rate was normal, averaging ca. 92%. Adult egg fecundity and fertility (both sexes) were very low (< 1% of normal) after irradiation at 100 Gy 1, 2, or 3 days before emergence. Adult flight ability from standard 20-cm tubes averaged ca. 65%. Irradiated females landed on, and oviposited into, zucchini fruit significantly less than non-irradiated females. Field cage survival tests indicated that the new strain survived as well (over 80%) as wild males over a 7-da period when provided with food and water. Mating tests indicated that males-only sterile flies mated significantly better than sterile males from bisexual (male and female) sterile populations. Males fed only sugar failed to mate at all with wild females, while males fed a low protein diet (6:1 sugar:protein), or fed the standard 3:1 diet, mated as well as wild males. Results of several successful SIT field evaluations in Hawaii in which induced egg sterility was monitored along with fly populations in traps, will be presented and discussed.