Species of Anastrepha (Diptera: Tephritidae) in orchards of guavas: diversity, population fluctuation, and host phenology

ABSTRACT:Studies were carried out in guava orchards, in two municipalities of the State of Sâo Paulo, Brazil. In Monte Alegre do Sul, the survey was done in an experimental station of Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios, in which 13 Anastrepha species were collected from January 2002 to December 2003. In Monte Alto, in a commercial orchard, eight species were captured, from January to December 2004. Anastrepha fraterculus was the most frequent species in both municipalities. The climatic parameters had low influence on the population fluctuation of the Anastrepha species in both orchards. The most common population peaks of Anastrephaspecies varied between the orchards. The availability of fruits in the orchard and nearby them is the factor that determines the size of the fruit fly populations.