Age-Related Response of Anastrepha suspensa (Diptera: Tephritidae) to Protein Hydrolysate and Sucrose

Abstract

Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew), males and females were given the choice Nu-Lure + sugar and water + sugar. The most active visitation periods were 0800-0830, 1300-1330, and 1600-1630 hours for Nu-Lure + sugar, and 0800-0830 hours for water + sugar. Female visits to food lures were ≈1.5 times male activity overall, but on only a few days could those female visits be statistically validated. Starved males visited water + sugar more than Nu-Lure + sugar at age 5 d. Fed flies displayed little or no pattern of feeding activity from 3-16 d old. Starved flies had peaks of visits to water + sugar for males on days 5. 6. 13, and 14, and females visits to Nu-Lure + sugar on days 8 and 9. Visitations to food lures by starved and fed females were mirrored by egg production. We conclude that A. suspensa has an absolute protein requirement for egg production.