Abstract
The role of the mango in sustaining livelihoods of rural African farmers is threatened by Tephritidae fruit fly infestation. The development of efficient control strategies will save earnings in Africa but prevent dispersal of these potentially invasive species elsewhere. The main pests are the native Ceratitis cosyra and the recent invader Bactrocera invadens. We seek to understand the agricultural practices and environmental factors affecting the impact of natural enemies on fruit fly populations. The enhanced knowledge, will equip farmers in environmentally sustainable pest management. We also seek to deduce difference in impact of generalist and specialist, endemic and introduced natural enemies. These include e.g. endemic parasitoids Fopius caudatus, and Pachyrepoideus vindemiae, introduced parasitoid F. arisanus. Also, we aim to unravel insect visual and odour preferences for these species, which combined with pest preference, would be used to develop lures with high selectivity for target species and low selectivity for key natural enemies. Field studies will be conducted thru a participatory approach with farmers. Sampling of fruit fly infested mango and fruit fly pupa, will determine parasitism rate and I will learn from taxonomy expert to identify species. Olfactometer and wind tunnel assays with mass-reared insects will be conducted at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, IITA, in Benin and at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU
Sweden