Abstract

The inhibitory effects of some bio-products on the infestation of Ceratitis capitataWied were studied. Fully ripe fruits of red mombin (Spondias purpurea L.) were cleaned, dried and treated with the products: Proagrim, essential oils of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) and orange (Citrus sinensis L.), at concentrations of 0.0 (control), 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0% (w/v). The results obtained in the no-choice test revealed that the products significantly affected the infestation by C. capitata on red mombin fruit. That is, the mean of the infestation (number of larvae/female)  of C. capitata ranged from 1.02 (3%) to 1.65 (1%) in fruits that were dressed with essential oil of orange, 0.07 (3%) to 0.25 (1%) for those treated with essential oil of fennel and 0.95 (3%) to 2.1 (1%) in the ones treated with proagrim. The free-choice test results confirmed those of the no choice test. The effective concentration to inhibit 50% infestation of C. capitata for fennel oil was estimated at 1.05% (w/v), which was significantly lower than the corresponding concentration for oil orange (2.11%) and proagrim (2.05%). Therefore, the essential oil of fennel is more efficient as compared to other products in reducing the infestation of this insect.

Key words: Bio-products, Mediterranean fly, Spondias purpurea.