Evaluation of mangosteen, Garcinia mangostana L. (Clusiales: Clusiaceae) as a host for fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) of economic importance: Forced infestation test

Abstract

The study aimed to gather information on the status of mangosteen as a host of fruit flies to support a petition for its admissibility into the US market. A protocol developed for rambutan was adapted and applied, which included six treatments with intact and damaged mangosteen fruits, alone or mixed with fruits of preferred natural hosts of the test species. Results showed that fertile flies did not oviposit in intact mangosteen fruits; while they did lay eggs on their respective preferred natural hosts. Anastrepha obliqua oviposited in 3 of 40 mangosteen fruits with exposed pulp, yielding 17 larvae. Ceratitis capitata oviposited in 18 of 40 fruits with broken peel, yielding 158 larvae. All larvae recovered from broken peel mangosteen fruits died before pupation. Anastrepha ludens did not oviposit in fruits with exposed pulp.