Diversity, damage and pheromone specificity of fruit flies in the Forest-Savanna Transition zone of Ghana

Ernestina Narveh Awarikabey; Jakpasu Victor Kofi Afun; Maxwell Kelvin Billah; Enoch Adjei Osekre

doi:10.1017/S0007485324000750

Diversity, damage and pheromone specificity of fruit flies in the Forest-Savanna Transition zone of Ghana

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 February 2025

Ernestina Narveh Awarikabey

Jakpasu Victor Kofi Afun ,

Maxwell Kelvin Billah and

Enoch Adjei Osekre

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Ernestina Narveh Awarikabey*: Affiliation:
Crops Research Institute -CSIR
Jakpasu Victor Kofi Afun: Affiliation:
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
Maxwell Kelvin Billah: Affiliation:
Dept. of Animal Biology and Conservation Science, University of Ghana, P. O. Box LG. 67, Legon, Accra, Ghana
Enoch Adjei Osekre: Affiliation:
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
*: Corresponding author: Ernestina Narveh Awarikabey; Email: enarveh@gmail.com

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Abstract

Mango is a delicious tropical fruit with high economic value worldwide. The Forest-Savanna Transition zone of Ghana contributes significantly to the production of mangoes for both local and international markets. The zone is plagued with the fruit fly ‘menace’ like all mango-producing areas in Ghana. Not much has been done in terms of species monitoring. A 24- month fruit fly monitoring survey was conducted in eight mango orchards, to assess the composition of fruit flies associated with Mango and their damage levels. Four para-pheromone attractants (Methyl Eugenol, Terpinyl Acetate, Trimedlure, and Cuelure) were used to monitor fruit flies. Eight improvised water bottle traps (two per lure) were purposefully deployed in each orchard. A total of 18 tephritid species belonging to five genera were recorded. Bactrocera (one species), Ceratitis (six species), Dacus (eight species), Zeugodacus (one species) and Xanthaciura (two species). Bactrocera dorsalis was the most abundant species (90% of the collected samples), while the native mango fly, C. cosyra constituted 0.5%. Dacus fuscovittatus and Dacus pleuralis were for the first time captured and identified in Ghana. Dacus langi, Dacus carnesi, Dacus (diastatus?), Ceratitis silvestrii and C. quinaria were recorded for the first time in the zone. The zone recorded a diversity index of 0.41. Damage levels ranged from 41–91%. Ten out of the 18 species, are of economic importance on mango and must be watched. Periodic updates on seasonal fluctuations, species composition and new arrivals are key to the successful implementation of any management strategy.

Keywords

C. quinaria Ceratitis silvestrii Dacus species diversity index forest-savanna transition zone species composition Xanthaciura

Type: Research Paper
Information: Bulletin of Entomological Research , First View , pp. 1 - 11

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007485324000750 [Opens in a new window]
Copyright: Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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