SEASONAL OCCURRENCE OF CERATITIS CAPITATA (DIPTERA: TEPHRITIDAE) ON ARGAN TREES (ARGANIA SPINOSE, SAPOTACEAE) IN MOROCCO.

The main objectives of this study are the assessment of Ceratitis capitata infestation level on Argan fruits, and monitoring of its seasonal dynamics, as well as the assessment of parasitism rate by its parasitoid Psyttalia concolor in Argan orchard. To study Argan fruit infestation level and the parasitism rate, infested Argan fruit were sampled and transferred immediately to laboratory. Sampled fruits were screened to determine the number of medfly punctures. Other sampled fruits were incubated in aerated plastic containers containing sterilized sand. C. capitata dynamics was monitored by using male attracted pheromones traps during 2018 and 2019. The obtained results show a current activity flight of C. capitata over the two studied years and dynamics variation between the two sampled years and between months. The peak of the C. capitata dynamics was recorded during May and June for 2018 and 2019 respectively. Low Argan infestation level was recorded during two periods: January and August-September. However, the peak of infestation was recorded during May (95%). P. concolor parasitism rate was relatively low. No significant effect of fruit origin on P.concolor parasitism rate (P>0.05) was found. Yet, the sampling period had a significant effect on parasitism rate (p<0.05). Argan tree is a suitable host plant promoting C. capitata development with a permanent flight dynamics year-round. Despite the mediocre and variable parasitism rate of P. concolor, this parasitoid can be a very important tool together with the other protective measures to reduce infestation rate of C. capitataand to decrease its population size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]