Effect of the interaction between Lactobacillus casei and hydrolyzed yeast on the sexual competitiveness, survival, and fecundity of Anastrepha obliqua (Diptera: Tephritidae).

Enriching the diets of sterile fruit flies with bacterial species prior to their release has been shown to improve their survival and sexual competitiveness. However, most of the bacteria associated with fruit flies are enterobacteria, and some species have been classified as opportunistic pathogens. On the other hand, in diets that include hydrolyzed yeast, the effect of bacteria has been counterproductive, which could be due to the protein content in the diet being too high.

Bacterial Diversity Associated with Anastrepha obliqua Males Change Under Mass-Rearing Conditions and with Irradiation.

Recent advances in understanding the symbiotic interactions between bacteria and fruit flies have shown that they are relevant for mass rearing and the sterile insect technique (SIT). SIT involves mass production and release of sterile insects that would copulate with their wild conspecifics and thus decrease the population growth rate. The irradiation process used to sterilize mass-reared flies can modify the diversity and structure of the midgut bacterial communities, which could affect sterile male survival, flight capacity, and sexual competitiveness.

Attractiveness and Sexual Competitiveness of Males (Diptera: Tephritidae) Fed on a Diet Enriched With .

The West Indian fruit fly, (Macquart), is the second most important tephritid fruit fly in Mexico, infesting mango, hog plum and guava fruits. To control this pest, the Mexican government has implemented the use of the sterile insect technique (SIT), which involves the mass production, sterilization and release of flies. However, the laboratory males used in SIT are selected to a lesser extent by the wild females during competitiveness tests.