Diversity of Frugivore Fruit Fly Species (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Niger State, Southern Guinea Savannah Zone of Nigeria

Abstract

The diversity of frugivore fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) species was studied from May-October, 2014 in orchards of mango, cashew, guava and water melon situated in Paikoro and Lapai Local Government Areas of Niger State, Nigeria, The flies were trapped using Ball and Steiner traps baited with torula yeast and a para-pheromone, methyl eugenol, respectively. Traps were cleared at 7-day intervals and serviced monthly. Trapped flies were collected in zip-packs, transferred into 75% alcohol and identified in the laboratory. Twenty-three fly species within the genera Bactrocera, Ceratitis, Dacus, Perilampsis and Trirhithrum were collected, with Ceratitis species being the richest. The trap with para-pheromone trapped higher number of species than that with torula yeast bait. Bactrocera invadens was the most abundant species at all sites. Alpha diversity index showed that the mango orchard was richer in species than other sites while Beta diversity index revealed high similarities among sampling sites.