Seasonal Abundance and Diversity of Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Three Types of Plant Formations in Western Burkina Faso, West Africa

Abstract

Abstract Fruit flies are significant insect pests, worldwide. Tephritid species diversity and their seasonal abundance were investigated over 2 yr (May 2017 to May 2019) in Western Burkina Faso. A mass trapping experiment consisting of 288 Tephri Trap types, operating with four types of parapheromones comprising methyl eugenol, terpinyl acetate, trimedlure, and cue lure and an insecticide (Dichlorvos), was used for attracting and killing insects. Plant formations including natural fallows, mango orchards, and agroforestry parks in each of the six study sites were selected for data collection. Twenty-nine tephritid species belonging to 10 genera were identified. Fourteen fruit fly species were identified for the first time in Burkina Faso. The genera Ceratitis MacLeay (Diptera : Tephritidae) and Dacus Fabricius (Diptera: Tephritidae) with, respectively, 14 and 7 species recorded were the most represented. The dominant species caught was the invasive Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel (Diptera: Tephritidae) followed by Ceratitis cosyra Walker (Diptera: Tephritidae) and Ceratitis silvestrii Bezzi (Diptera: Tephritidae). The fruit fly population density was very high during the rainy season, with peaks occurring in June or July. The fruit fly species were generally more abundant during the hot and rainy seasons than during the cold and dry seasons. The highest diversity was recorded in natural fallows, as compared with the mango orchards and agroforestry parks. Tephritid species found refuge in the mango orchards during the dry and cold periods. The results of that investigation may be used for developing a sustainable pest management strategy for commercial orchards.