Changes in the spatial and temporal population density of the Mediterranean fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) in a citrus orchard

Abstract

This paper compares the results obtained when analysing the population density of the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann)) by standard methods and kriging interpolation. The data used were collected during a pest control experiment involving mass trapping of the females of this species in a citrus orchard. These captures provided a series of diagrams showing the heterogeneous spatial distribution of the flies. Since trapping began at the end of June, the insects were first caught preferentially in trees at the western and southern borders of the orchard. As the number of flies grew the rest of the crop was invaded. Kriging provided information that would allow more efficient pest management by focusing control efforts on areas where target populations are at their largest.