Tephritid Fruit Fly Species Composition, Seasonality, and Fruit Infestations in Two Central African Agro-Ecological Zones

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Tephritid fruit flies are a major threat to fruit production in sub-Saharan Africa. Central Africa has lagged considerably behind the rest of the world in fruit fly knowledge and management. In six consecutive years of research, we developed new knowledge on the diversity, seasonality, attraction to various lures/baits, and fruit infestations of frugivorous fruit fly infesting fruits, particularly mango and guava, in two contrasting agro-ecological zones (AEZs) of Cameroon representing the highland and mid-altitude AEZs of Central Africa’s Congo Basin. Ten fruit fly species from four genera—Bactrocera, Ceratitis, Dacus, and Perilampsis—were found in traps and fruits in both AEZs. Overall, the exotic fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis was most abundant in traps and in fruits, particularly mango and guava, followed by the native Ceratitis cosyra and C. anonae, which were the dominant Ceratitis species in mid-altitude and highland AEZs, respectively. As expected, seasonal patterns of the three species largely followed rainfall and fruit availability. Of the three food baits used, Torula yeast was the most efficient in trapping all species, compared with BioLure and Mazoferm. Among the 25 sampled fruit species, Irvingia wombolu, Dacryodes edulis, Voacanga africana and Trichoscypha abut were new worldwide host records for B. dorsalis. ABSTRACT: Bactrocera dorsalis and several Africa-native Ceratitis species are serious constraints to fruit production in sub-Saharan Africa. A long-term trapping and fruit collection study was conducted (2011–2016) in two contrasting agro-ecological zones (AEZs) of Cameroon to determine fruit fly species composition, seasonality, attraction to various lures and baits, and fruit infestation levels. Ten tephritid species from genera Bactrocera, Ceratitis, Dacus, and Perilampsis were captured in traps. Bactrocera dorsalis was the most dominant of the trapped species and persisted throughout the year, with peak populations in May–June. Ceratitis spp. were less abundant than B. dorsalis, with Ceratitis anonae dominating in the western highland zone and Ceratitis cosyra in the humid forest zone. Methyl eugenol and terpinyl acetate captured more B. dorsalis and Ceratitis spp., respectively than Torula yeast. The latter was the most effective food bait on all tephritid species compared with BioLure and Mazoferm. Bactrocera dorsalis was the dominant species emerging from incubated fruits, particularly mango, guava, and wild mango. Four plant species—I. wombolu, Dacryodes edulis, Voacanga Africana and Trichoscypha abut—were new host records for B. dorsalis. This study is the first long-duration and comprehensive assessment of frugivorous tephritid species composition, fruit infestations, and seasonality in Central Africa.