Effect of aqueous plant extracts on the fruit fly Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of vegetable extracts to control Ceratitis capitata. The treatments were aqueous extracts prepared with fresh and dry vegetables at a 20% w/v (weight plant/water volume) rate of chinaberry leaf, twig and fruit, rue leaf, garlic, and ginger. For the immature phase evaluation, each repetition consisted of a plaque with 20 larvae or 20 pupae, which were dipped in 1 mL of extract for 30 seconds. For the extract prepared with chinaberry dry fruits, concentrations of 0, 5, 10, 15, 10, and 25% w/v were evaluated. Analyses were made after five days by counting the number of dead larvae or pupae and the number of deformed adults. For the adult phase, only the extracts prepared with dried vegetables were assessed. Each repetition included a plastic jar containing a red plum fruit and a cotton roller soaked with 5 mL of extract. For each plastic container, three females and two males of C. capitatawere transferred. After two days, the assessment of adult mortality and fruit withdrawal, which were individualized, were carried out. After seven days, the amount of larvae developed in each fruit was counted. It was found that all extracts reduced the number of viable insects, especially the chinaberry one, which also had an effect on the adult phase. In the studied conditions, no extract had effects on the fertility of C. capitata females.