Species range of fruit flies associated with mango from three agro-ecological zones in Ghana

Abstract

A trapping exercise to assess the range of fruit fly species from mango orchards in three agroecological zones in Ghana (Coastal Savanna (CS), the Transitional (TT) and Guinea Savanna (GS) zones) where mango is commercially grown was undertaken for two successive fruiting seasons in 2009 and 2010. Methodology and results: Using traps baited with three different attractants (Methyl eugenol (ME), Terpinyl acetate (TA) and Trimedlure (TML), a total of 39,011 fruit flies were collected, with 9,398 (24.1%) and 29,613 (75.9%) flies collected during the 2009 and 2010 seasons, respectively. Five fly species (in two genera), Bactrocera invadens, B. cucurbitae, Ceratitis cosyra, C. ditissima and C. capitata were identified. The highest relative fly densities (number of flies per trap per day, F/T/D) ranged from 1.86-31.40 and 16.25-121.39 in the 2009 and 2010 seasons, respectively. Conclusion and application: The most abundant flies in all six localities of the three zones were B.invadens, followed by C. cosyra and C. capitata. Even though all three zones had three species in common, the proportions varied. These variations are important with respect to formulating management strategies to mitigate the fruit fly situation.