MEDFLY CERATITIS-CAPITATA WIEDEMANN (DIPT, TRYPETIDAE) AS A ROT VECTOR IN LABORATORY CONDITIONS

Medfly proved to be not only a plant primary pest but also a plant pat hogen vector in laboratory conditions. The fungus, Rhizopus stolonifer , was used as a model. Rhizopus stolonifer has been previously shown t o be transmitted in a mechanical manner (contamination by contact betw een sporulated mediums and fly body) by some Diptera. Here we confirme d the mechanical transmission, and we demonstrated the internal transm ission (especially through the feces and regurgitation) of this fungus by Medfly. These results associated with the high prospecting activit y of Ceratitis capitata lead us to reconsider the damage caused in the orchards by this ''Fruit Fly of economic importance''.