Azadirachtin: Effects on Metamorphosis, Longevity, and Reproduction of Three Tephritid Fruit Fly Species (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Abstract

Effects of azadirachtin on the metamorphosis, longevity, and reproduction of Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann); oriental fruit fly, Dacus dorsalis Handel; and melon fly, Dacus cucurbitae Coquillett, exposed as late third in stars and pupae to treated sand were determined. Formation of pup aria was not affected by azadirachtin at the concentrations tested. Adult emergence was completely inhibited at concentrations of 14 ppm for C. capitata and D. dorsalis and at 10 ppm for D. cucurbitae. D. cucurbitae was significantly more susceptible to azadirachtin than C. capitata and D. dorsalis at LC ••. Even though adult emergence was inhibited, approximately 95% of treated puparia contained living adults. Adults that emerged from treatments appeared normal but significantly more died compared with controls. Ten days after emergence, 75%. D. dorsalis and 64% C. capttata exposed as larvae and pupae to 4.66 ppm azadirachtin had died. Approximately. 24% of D. cucurbitae exposed to 2.77 ppm azadirachtin died within 10 d after emergence. Azadirachtin had no significant effect on the number of eggs laid by adult D. dorsalis and C. capitata that had survived larval-pupal treatments. D. cucurbitae controls laid significantly more eggs than adults that had survived larval-pupal treatments with 1.85 ppm. Azadirachtin had no significant effect on egg hatch or the growth and development of F. progeny.