Life History and Demographic Parameters of Three Laboratory-reared Tephritids (Diptera: Tephritidae)1

Abstract

Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata [Wiedemann]), the oriental fruit fly (Dacus dorsalis Hendel), and the melon fly (D. cucurbitae Coquillett) were reared on the same artificial diet. The species were similar in duration of the larval and pupal stages, and the date of adult emergence. The species differed most notably in duration of the egg stage, preoviposition period, mean number of eggs laid, and adult longevity. Highest mortalities for all three species occurred during the larval stage. C. capitata, with the shortest mean generation time (T = 31.5 days) and the second highest net reproductive rate (R_o = 317.5), possessed the highest intrinsic rate of increase (r_m = 0.18). D. dorsalis, with the highest R_o (418.5) but a longer generation time (T = 37.4), possessed the second highest r_m (0.16). D. cucurbitae, with a comparatively low R_o (255.4) and a long T (37.3), had the lowest r_m (0.15). These demographic parameters are discussed with respect to the simultaneous rearing of all three species in a common insectary.