Production Levels and Life History Traits of Mass Reared Queensland Fruit Fly Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) (Diptera: Tephritidae) during 1999/2002 in Australia

Abstract

Quality control data for three years of production (1999-2002) at the Camden sterile insect facility was analyzed. Pupal weight was positively and significantly related to per cent emergence and flight ability. Lifespan was negatively related to pupal weight. Per cent emergence was positively and significantly related to flight ability. Increasing weekly production volumes adversely affected most variables but did not affect egg hatch. However egg hatch was significantly and negatively linked to pupal weight. Increasing pupal weight also adversely impacted on the proportion of males produced. The outside weather, assessed by CLIMEX also impacted on production, indicating that the facility climate control was not independent of the local weather conditions.