Population Density and Infestation Rate of the Mediterranean fly, Ceratitis capitata and the Peach Fruit Fly, Bactrocera zonata in Stone Fruit Orchards in the Najaf region, Iraq

Abstract

The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann and the peach fruit fly, Bactrocera zonata Saunders (Diptera: Tephritidae) are among the most important pests affecting fruit orchards in Iraq and many countries worldwide. The current study was conducted to monitor the population density of these insects and estimate the infestation rate during the 2021/2022 season of stone fruits (apricot and peach), using sex attractants in the Kufa and Abbasiya regions of the Najaf region. The results obtained showed a superiority of the peach fly population density throughout the study period in the Kufa region, whereas there was a superiority of the Mediterranean fly in the Abbasiya region early in the season. Nevertheless, the peach fruit fly eventually outperformed as it adapted to elevated temperatures. The study recorded the highest infestation rate on apricot fruits (28%) on June 15, 2022, and the highest infestation rate on peach fruits (32%) on July 1, 2022 in the Kufa region. In the Abbasiya region, the highest infestation on apricot fruits (46%) was recorded on June 15, 2022, and the highest infestation on peaches (48%) was recorded on July 1, 2022. The current study indicated that B. zonata has gradually become widespread to the extent that it has surpassed the dominance of C. capitata as a major fruit pest. Climate change is likely responsible for the increasing prevalence of B. zonata as a pest over the past eight years.

Keywords:

Mediterranean fruit fly, peach fruit fly, apricot, peach, Najaf region.