Anastrepha species (Diptera, Tephritidae, Trypetinae) from a Neotropical Conservation Unity: diversity, population parameters and seasonality

Espécies de Anastrepha (Diptera, Tephritidae, Trypetinae) de uma Unidade de Conservação Neotropical: diversidade, parâmetros populacionais e sazonalidade

Due to the economic impact of some fruit fly species on fruit and vegetable crops, understanding their biology, ecology and evolution in areas with native vegetation are essential to enable the application of sustainable management methods to suppress their populations. Thus, the aims of this research were evaluate the species diversity of fruit flies in the Conservation Unity Cerro Corá National Park (CCNP) and quantify those with pest status elsewhere; to establish the population parameters for Anastrepha fruit fly species captured inside the CCNP; check if there is a relationship between climate components (temperature, relative humidity and rainfall) with species abundances, and provide some orientations to authorities, farmers, and the general public about environment conservation and sustainable agriculture in Paraguay. Collections occurred monthly during two years, using McPhail traps with food bait in transects inside the park. A total of 17,309 adults of eighteen Anastrepha species were collected, being six reported with pest status and 12 not pests. Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann 1830), A. sororcula Zucchi 1979 and A. punctata Hendel 1914 were the most abundant and frequent species. The highest abundances were recorded in May and July, corresponding to the autumn and winter, respectively. The correlation analysis between weather components and the abundance of these fruit fly species was not significant. This is the first study on populations parameters of fruit fly species along the year seasons in a conservation unit in Paraguay. The results here have generated information on components of regional biodiversity, with suggestions to guide authorities, farmers, and the general public about nature conservation, sustainable fruit and vegetable production in Paraguay.

Keywords:
biodiversity; fruit fly populations; protected areas; pest-species; species seasonality