Prospecção de meios artificiais para a criação em laboratório da mosca-do-mediterrâneo, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann 1824), diptera, tephritidae

Abstract

Ceratitis capitata, commonly known as the Mediterranean fruit fly, is native to Africa and was first detected in Brazil in 1901, in the state of São Paulo, on coffee in a fruit dryer. This tephritid develops in various species of cultivated or wild fruits and some vegetables. Laboratory studies on the biology and behavior of C. capitata are advancing and are highly relevant for developing methods and techniques for population suppression of this species, particularly through biological control. This method employs biological agents to reduce the population to levels that allow viable fruit and vegetable production. Biological control is a key approach to avoiding food contamination with pesticides and preventing biodiversity loss in ecosystems. To enable research on economically important insect species, it is essential to rear them in laboratories, allowing continuous studies throughout the year. In this context, the present research aimed to develop a low-cost artificial diet capable of producing healthy individuals comparable to those found in natural environments. This study evaluated two diets for adults, D1 and D2, and two larval diets, DL1 and DL2, considering parameters such as the number of eggs laid, emergence rate, sex ratio, pupal viability, and production costs. In terms of oviposition and emergence, D2 performed similarly to D1 but demonstrated a slightly better balance in the sex ratio. Regarding larval diets, the New Diet (DL2) stood out with a higher number of eggs laid and emerged compared to DL1, proving to be a promising alternative for larval rearing. From an economic perspective, D2 showed greater viability for mass rearing of the species compared to D1. Nutritional adjustments, such as the balance between proteins and carbohydrates, and the inclusion of prebiotics can further improve the reproductive performance of C. capitata as a function of the diet developed, which showed great potential to contribute to the application of sustainable and efficient agricultural practices in integrated pest control.