Laboratory evaluation of interspecific mating between Zeugodacus fruit flies and Bactrocera dorsalis

Abstract The increasing number of tephritid pest invasions worldwide highlights the importance of interspecific interactions among tephritid pests. The melon fly [ Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett)], the pumpkin fruit fly [ Zeugodacus tau (Walker)], and the oriental fruit fly [ Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel)] (all Diptera: Tephritidae) are neotropical fruit flies with overlapping distributions. Their interactions during mating hours have rarely been observed in nature due to their nocturnal behavior. Here, laboratory studies were conducted under no‐choice and choice conditions to quantify interspecific mating. The interactions during mating hours resulted in interspecific mating, which reduced conspecific mating success and interrupted mating activity patterns. Successful interspecific mating pairs of Z. cucurbitae and Z. tau were recorded in no‐choice and choice tests. Interspecific mating between male Z. cucurbitae and female Z. tau significantly reduced conspecific mating in Z. tau . Observations of the diel mating activity patterns showed that male Z. cucurbitae initiated calling behaviors earlier than Z. tau males, giving Z. cucurbitae more chances to court Z. tau . Though males of neither Zeugodacus species formed mating pairs with B. dorsalis , Zeugodacus males reduced conspecific mating in B. dorsalis in the choice trials. Thus, interspecific interactions among Z. cucurbitae , Z. tau , and B. dorsalis affected conspecific mating; interrupted conspecific mating activity patterns were recorded in all three species. This information could be used to improve management practices.