Spatial Autocorrelation Analysis of a Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) Adult Population in a Mixed Deciduous Fruit Orchard in Northern Greece

Abstract We studied the spatio-temporal dispersion patterns of Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), in a mixed, deciduous, fruit orchard in Thessaloniki (northern Greece), using spatial autocorrelation methods to analyze adult trapping data. Each trapping station consisted of a Jackson trap (baited with trimedlure) and a McPhail trap (baited with ammonium acetate, putrescine, and trimethylamine). More males than females were captured throughout the season. Males and females exhibited different spatial dispersion patterns. Females were first detected during the summer (June–July) in apricot and peach trees bearing ripe fruits and significantly aggregated there toward the end of July. In the autumn, females significantly aggregated in apple orchards bearing mature fruits. Early aggregations of males were first detected in August in cherries and plums. In September, males significantly clustered in pears at the edges of the orchard, and by October, after an increase in population density, their spatial dispersion pattern became random (no significant spatial autocorrelation). At the end of the season (November), the dispersion of both sexes became random. Our results show that spatial autocorrelation statistics can provide an important tool in studying the spatial dynamics of this fly even in small orchards. Results also suggest that the incorporation of knowledge on spatial patterns into area-wide control projects may improve monitoring efforts and reduce program costs.

[1]  J. Hendrichs,et al.  Field Evaluation of Female-Targeted Trapping Systems for Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Seven Countries , 1999 .

[2]  B. Yuval,et al.  Population Fluctuations of Adult Mediterranean Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in a Mediterranean Heterogeneous Agricultural Region , 1997 .

[3]  D. Nestel,et al.  Spatial Analysis of Entomopathogenic Nematodes and Insect Hosts in a Citrus Grove in a Semi-Arid Region in Israel , 2001 .

[4]  J. Buonaccorsi,et al.  INTERACTIVE EFFECTS OF RESOURCE ABUNDANCE AND STATE OF ADULTS ON RESIDENCE OF APPLE MAGGOT (DIPTERA, TEPHRITIDAE) FLIES IN HOST TREE PATCHES , 1994 .

[5]  U. Kitron,et al.  Spatial analysis of the distribution of tsetse flies in the Lambwe Valley, Kenya, using Landsat TM satellite imagery and GIS , 1996 .

[6]  J. Carey,et al.  Seasonal and Annual Occurrence of Mediterranean Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) on Chios Island, Greece: Differences between Two Neighboring Citrus Orchards , 1998 .

[7]  N. Papadopoulos,et al.  Overwintering of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Northern Greece , 1996 .

[8]  D. Papaj,et al.  Sex differences in movement between natural feeding and mating sites and tradeoffs between food consumption, mating success and predator evasion in Mediterranean fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) , 1991, Oecologia.

[9]  David K. Weaver,et al.  PRACTICAL USE OF SPATIAL ANALYSIS IN PRECISION TARGETING FOR INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT , 1998 .

[10]  R. T. Cunningham,et al.  Host Plants of Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) on the Island of Hawaii (1949-1985 Survey) , 1990 .

[11]  G. Franz,et al.  Increased effectiveness and applicability of the sterile insect technique through male‐only releases for control of Mediterranean fruit flies during fruiting seasons , 1995 .

[12]  R. Prokopy,et al.  Mating Behavior of Ceratitis capitata on a Field-Caged Host Tree , 1979 .

[13]  J. Elkinton,et al.  Characterizing spatial patterns of gypsy moth regional defoliation , 1989 .

[14]  Andrew M. Liebhold,et al.  Geostatistical Analysis of Gypsy Moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) Egg Mass Populations , 1991 .

[15]  R. Heath,et al.  Adding Methyl-Substituted Ammonia Derivatives to a Food-Based Synthetic Attractant on Capture of the Mediterranean and Mexican Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) , 1997 .

[16]  T. Shelly.  Exposure to α-Copaene and α-Copaene-Containing Oils Enhances Mating Success of Male Mediterranean Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) , 2001 .

[17]  N. Papadopoulos,et al.  Effect of orange peel substances on mating competitiveness of male Ceratitis capitata , 2001 .

[18]  N. Papadopoulos,et al.  Temporal Changes in the Composition of the Overwintering Larval Population of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Northern Greece , 1998 .

[19]  R. Vargas,et al.  Seasonality in Occurrence and Distribution of Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Upland and Lowland Areas on Kauai, Hawaii , 1993 .

[20]  N. Papadopoulos,et al.  Seasonal and Annual Occurrence of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Northern Greece , 2001 .

[21]  N. Papadopoulos,et al.  Evaluation of synthetic food‐based attractants for female Mediterranean fruit flies (Dipt., Tephritidae) in McPhail type traps , 1999 .

[22]  E. Harris,et al.  Seasonal and Annual Distribution of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Honolulu and Suburban Areas of Oahu, Hawaii , 1987 .

[23]  N. Papadopoulos,et al.  Field Evaluation of Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) Female Selective Attractants for Use in Monitoring Programs , 1999 .

[24]  S. Fleischer,et al.  Spatial Analysis of Counts of Western Com Rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Adults on Yellow Sticky Traps in Corn: Geostatistics and Dispersion Indices , 1993 .

[25]  L. Taylor.  Assessing and Interpreting the Spatial Distributions of Insect Populations , 1984 .

[26]  N. Papadopoulos,et al.  Early Detection and Population Monitoring of Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) in a Mixed-Fruit Orchard in Northern Greece , 2001, Journal of economic entomology.

[27]  R. Vargas,et al.  Distributional Loci and Host Fruit Utilization Patterns of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly, Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae), in Hawaii , 1985 .

[28]  M. Bateman.  The Ecology of Fruit Flies , 1972 .

[29]  M. Kolbe,et al.  Infestation Patterns of Commonly Cultivated., Edible Fruit Species by Ceratitis capitata and Anastrepha spp. (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Guatemala and Their Relationship to Environmental Factors , 1990 .

[30]  Robert R. Sokal,et al.  Spatial autocorrelation in biology: 2. Some biological implications and four applications of evolutionary and ecological interest , 1978 .

[31]  David Nestel,et al.  Geostatistical Analysis of Leafhopper (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) Colonization and Spread in Deciduous Orchards , 1995 .

[32]  J. Hendrichs,et al.  Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Nature: Location and Diel Pattern of Feeding and Other Activities on Fruiting and Nonfruiting Hosts and Nonhosts , 1990 .

[33]  R. Prokopy,et al.  Potential for host range expansion in Ceratitis capitata flies: impact of proximity of adult food to egg‐laying sites , 1996 .

[34]  E. Rivnay.  The Mediterranean Fruit Fly in Israel , 1950 .

[35]  J. Keith Ord,et al.  Spatial Processes Models and Applications , 1981 .

[36]  R. Sokal,et al.  Spatial autocorrelation in biology: 1. Methodology , 1978 .

[37]  E. Harris,et al.  Distribution and seasonal occurrence of Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) on the Island of Kauai in the Hawaiian Islands. , 1983 .