Overwintering potential of the Mediterranean fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Austria.

The Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly), Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), one of the most important invasive pests of fresh fruits and vegetables from the coastal Mediterranean habitats, is expanding its current geographic distribution to cooler more temperate areas of Europe. Every year since 2010 the fly is detected in the area of Vienna, Austria. However, whether it can establish permanent populations is not known.

Mediterranean fruit fly population phenological patterns are strongly affected by elevation and host presence.

The Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly) (Ceratitis capitata, Diptera: Tephritidae), is an extremely polyphagous pest that threatens the fruit production and trading industry worldwide. Monitoring C. capitata populations and analysing its dynamics and phenology is considered of outmost importance for designing and implementing sound management approaches.

Latitudinal variation in survival and immature development of Ceratitis capitata populations reared in two key overwintering hosts.

Ceratitis capitata, a major agricultural pest, is currently expanding its geographic distribution to northern, temperate areas of Europe. Its seasonal biology and invasion success depend on temperature, humidity and host availability. In coastal warmer Mediterranean regions and cooler temperature areas, bitter oranges and apples serve as overwintering hosts during the larval stage.

Acute cold stress and supercooling capacity of Mediterranean fruit fly populations across the Northern Hemisphere (Middle East and Europe).

The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae), holds an impressive record of successful invasion events promoted by globalization in fruit trade and human mobility. In addition, C. capitata is gradually expanding its geographic distribution to cooler temperate areas of the Northern Hemisphere.

Chill coma recovery of Ceratitis capitata adults across the Northern Hemisphere.

The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae), is an invasive pest, that is currently expanding its geographic distribution from the Mediterranean coasts to more temperate areas of Europe. Given that low temperature is a primary determinant of insect species' range boundaries especially in the Northern Hemisphere with pronounced seasonality, we used chill coma recovery time for assessing latitudinal clines in basal chill tolerance of C. capitata adults.

Fitness cost of (Diptera: Tephritidae) adults emerged from pupae with different dormancy regimes: the case of prolonged chilling.

The European cherry fruit fly, (Diptera: Tephritidae), is a univoltine species that overwinters at pupal stage. Under optimum overwintering conditions pupae will develop into adults the next spring. Shorter or longer than optimum chilling periods induce prolonged pupae dormancy.

Effects of photoperiod and relative humidity on diapause termination and post-winter development of pupae.

The European cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis cerasi (Diptera: Tephritidae), is a univoltine species that undergoes obligatory summer-winter diapause at pupal stage in the soil (2-5 cm) beneath host trees. To study the effects of photoperiod and relative humidity on diapause termination and post-winter developmental duration of R. cerasi, pupae collected from Dossenheim (Germany) were exposed to different photoperiod or relative humidity regimes during a chilling period ranging from 2 to 8.

Microsatellite and Wolbachia analysis in Rhagoletis cerasi natural populations: population structuring and multiple infections.

Rhagoletis cerasi (Diptera: Tephritidae) is a major pest of sweet and sour cherries in Europe and parts of Asia. Despite its economic significance, there is a lack of studies on the genetic structure of R. cerasi populations.

Prolonged pupal dormancy is associated with significant fitness cost for adults of Rhagoletis cerasi (Diptera: Tephritidae).

In temperate areas, dormancy (diapause and/or quiescence) enables herbivorous insect species to persist and thrive by synchronizing growth and reproduction with the seasonal phenology of their host plants. Within-population variability in dormancy increases survival chances under unpredictable environmental changes. However, prolonged dormancy may be costly, incurring trade-offs in important adult fitness traits such as life span and reproduction.