Dynamic interactions by fruit/seed-infesting insects on Schoepfia schreberi (Olacaceae)
Maurilio López-Ortega1, Francisco Díaz-Fleischer1, Paulino Pérez-Rodríguez2 & Julio C. Rojas3
ABSTRACT Temporal and spatial patterns of fruit infestation and fruit predation of Schoepfia schreberi J.F. Gmel (Santalales: Olacaceae) by a phytophagous insect guild were studied for three years at two study sites. The guild consisted of a fruit fly Anastrepha spatulata Stone (Diptera: Tephritidae) and two moth species; the gelechiid Coleotechnites sp. and an unidentified tortricid, and two species of Hemiptera, Ramosiana insignis and Vulcirea violacea (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). When fruit were highly available A. spatulata infested the largest number of fruits and substantially displace its moth competitors. Also, strong association was observed between the amount of fruit presented and the occurrence of R. insignis (P = 0.002). In a separate experiment, we examined the ability of A. spatulata to locate suitable fruits and found that, the variation in fruit characters influenced fruit suitability in relation to its size [4.1261 ± 0.0272 mm (mean ± SE)] and weight [0.0618 ± 0.0005 mg (mean ± SE)]. Uninfested fruits produce viable seed but the interaction of all species (exploiting for the fruits) led to limited seed formation.
KEYWORDS Anastrepha spatulata, Fruit-seed predators, Coleotechnites sp, Hemiptera, Species coexistence.
