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Simple Summary: The South American fruit fly Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedmann) is found from northern Mexico to northern Argentina, where it causes damage to many different wild and cultivated fruits. It is a not a single species, but a complex of practically identical species. Eight morphological types (morphotypes) have been identified. To facilitate the identification of the species, alternative, non-morphological methods, such as those based on genome sequences, are necessary. The sterile insect technique is an efficient method used to combat these pests, which involves the release of many sterile male insects into the wild. Mass-reared sterile field-released males mate with females, which lay inviable eggs, thereby reducing the population. This approach is only successful when the released males are sexually compatible with the females of the target population. Hence, accurate identification is necessary for its success. We evaluated the use of the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) sequence for discriminating members of the A. fraterculus cryptic species complex and a related species, Anastrepha schultzi Blanchard. The ITS2 sequence successfully discriminated between different morphotypes and provides a basis for the development of keys for discrimination of the species within the complex. ITS2 also represents an important marker for the poorly studied species A. schultzi. The South American fruit fly Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedmann) has a vast range extending from northern Mexico, through Central America, to South America where it is an extremely polyphagous pest of wild and cultivated fruits. It is a complex of cryptic species currently composed of eight recognised morphotypes: "Mexican", "Venezuelan", "Andean", "Peruvian", "Ecuadorian", and the three Brazilian morphotypes "Brazilian-1", "Brazilian-2", and "Brazilian-3". Molecular markers that can identify the member species of the complex are crucial for the implementation of effective pest control measures, such as the sterile insect technique. The object of this study was to evaluate the use of the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) sequence for discriminating several members of the A. fraterculus cryptic species complex (Mexican, Peruvian, and Brazilian-1) and a related species, Anastrepha schultzi Blanchard. The analysis highlighted significant genetic differentiation between the evaluated morphotypes, allowed their discrimination within the A. fraterculus cryptic species complex, and provided new insights into their genetic relationships. The ITS2 marker provides a basis for the development of taxonomic keys for the discrimination of the cryptic taxa within the A. fraterculus cryptic species complex. ITS2 also represents an important marker for the poorly studied species A. schultzi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sterile Mediterranean fruit fly,Ceratitis capitata(Wied.), males were evaluated as vectors to spreadBeauveria bassiana(Bals) conidia to wildC. capitatapopulations under field conditions. The inoculated sterile males were released by air, using the chilled adult technique over 7000 ha of coffee growing in Chimaltenango, Guatemala, Central America. The impact of releases was determined using dry traps baited with a food attractant. The effects of these releases onApis mellifera, Linnaeus (honey bee),Hypothenemus hampei, Ferrari (coffee berry borer) and the parasitic miteVarroa destructor(Oudeman) were also evaluated. Inoculated sterile males were able to transmit fungal spores to 44% of the wildC. capitataflies captured in traps, which likely were infected through intra- and intersexual interactions during leks, mating or mating attempts. There was no transmission of the fungal spores to non-target insect species such as coffee berry borer, honey bees or varroa. We conclude that sterile males of Mediterranean fruit fly inoculated withB. bassianacan act as effective vectors of conidia to wild populations, constituting a safe, environmentally friendly and selective alternative for suppressing the medfly under a Sterile Insect Technique-based IPM approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), is a major pest of fruit crops in the Mediterranean Basin countries. If no control measures are applied in Israel, Palestinian Territories, and Jordan against this pest, the annual fruit losses are estimated to be about U.S. $365 million, which is more than half the total revenue produced by fruits considered to be Mediterranean fruit fly hosts in these countries. Under the current control programs, the direct damage (yield loss and control costs) and indirect damage (environmental impact and market loss) amount to U.S. $192 million per year. This amount could increase each year if the current control programs are kept. The aim of this study was to evaluate, on a regional basis, the economic returns of 3 improved alternative Mediterranean fruit fly controlmethods using a 9-yr time frame. The control alternatives include population suppression using bait sprays, population suppression using massive release of sterile male flies, and population eradication also using massive releases of sterile male flies. For each option, an action plan was prepared which includes intensity, frequency and timing of sampling (trapping and fruit gathering), control (bait sprays and sterile male releases), and postcontrol (quarantine and emergency capacity) techniques. For the economic evaluation costs and benefits at net present value are computed for each control option to estimate the economic indices. Results indicate that the 3 area-wide control options are technically and economically feasible and all are better than the it current control programs. For each option, the economic returns on a medium and long term are discussed, along with the environmental impact. Over the 9-yr time frame, the greatest economic returnis from the sterile male suppression option. Over a much longer timeframe, l; the greatest return is for the sterile male eradication option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]