Population development of mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) in citrus and pomegranate orchards of Antalya province

Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is an important pest of pomegranate and citrus fruits in our country. This study was conducted between 2018 and 2023 to determine the population developments in pomegranate and citrus gardens in Kepez district of Antalya province. The population of the pest was monitored using delta type traps in the gardens in Başköy, Duraliler, Odabaşı and Kızıllı neighborhoods in Kepez district. The traps in question were checked weekly, starting from the date the citrus fruit was hung, and the captured Mediterranean fruit fly adults were recorded. Pheromones were renewed every 8 weeks. Weekly controls were continued until the end of the harvest period of the gardens where the studies were carried out, and population monitoring continued throughout the year. The lowest temperature value was measured in August 2022 (29.83°C) and the highest in July 2023 (32.72°C). In this context, in all years, the Mediterranean fruit fly appeared in orange orchards earlier than in pomegranate orchards, and precautions should be taken beforehand. According to the census results in all years, when the weekly average and annual total Mediterranean fruit fly numbers in orange and pomegranate orchards are examined, the numbers were higher in pomegranate in the first four years, while the opposite situation occurred in the last two years. The opposite situation occurred in orange orchards and there has been an increase in the number of Mediterranean fruit flies in the last two years.