THE INFLUENCE OF HOST NUTRITIVE-VALUE ON THE PERFORMANCE AND FOOD SELECTION IN CERATITIS-CAPITATA (DIPTERA, TEPHRITIDAE)

One of the purposes of this study was to verify the nutritive value of different parts of the same fruit for larvae of Ceratitis capitata; a nother was to ascertain if the larvae select the part of the fruit wit h better nutritive value, and also if the females prefer to oviposit i n it. The results indicate that. (1) the lower part of the fruits test ed has greater quantities of solute and sugars and therefore may have better nutritive value; (2) the larvae chose the more adequate part of the fruit; (3) when placed on the less nutritive part, they move to t he more adequate part; and (4) it is not clear if the females prefer t o oviposit in the part of the fruit which is mote adequate for the lar vae.