Aspects of the life history and demography of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), were compared in a laboratory-adapted strain and four wild strains from the islands of Kauai, Oahu, Maui, and Hawaii. Duration of the larval stage and preoviposition period differed significantly between laboratory-reared and wild lines. Growth rates, growth times, and population structure also differed significantly. Intrinsic rates of increase, mean generation times, and mean ages of reproduction differed: 0.14 versus 0.09-0.11 females per d, 31.7 versus 40.9-43.9 d, and 58.5 versus 73.1-79.2 d, respectively. Among wild populations, birth rates, death rates, and age distributions differed significantly with island. Results are discussed with respect to rearing procedure, host, habitat, and geography.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Vargas et al. (1989) studied this question.