A Comparative Study Between the Wolbachia-Infected Males and the Irradiated Males of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly Ceratitis Capitata (Weideman)

Full text follows: The impact of Wolbachia on arthropod hosts, primarily observed through reproductive parasitism, involves the manipulation of host reproduction to enhance symbiont transmission and persistence. While Wolbachia infects approximately half of all insect species, its prevalence varies among different taxa. Although Wolbachia has been documented in species of tephritid fruit flies, such as Drosophila, its presence in established strains of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata, has been minimal. However, a documented case of Wolbachia infection in medfly samples from Brazil suggests potential strain-specific variability. Artificial transfer of Wolbachia often involves injecting cytoplasm from a donor egg into a recipient embryo, impacting host development in various ways. Our aim was to assess the potential of Wolbachia-based strategies in contrast to irradiation-based methods for sustainable and eco-friendly pest management. We worked on two Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly) strains: the 88.6 strain, which is infected with Wolbachia, and the Genetic Sexing Strain Vienna 8. Pupal weight was evaluated for both strains, revealing a significant increase in the pupal weight of the 88.6 strain. This improvement correlated with enhanced mating success among males of the 88.6 strain compared to irradiated Vienna 8 males. Additionally, we assessed egg hatchability and observed a slightly higher egg hatch rate in females mated to Vienna 8 males, likely due to certain constraints. Harnessing this phenomenon for pest control, the Incompatible Insect Technique (IIT), offers an environmentally friendly approach. Integrating the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) with IIT presents advantages, including reduced radiation levels, and minimizing impacts on biological integrity. Our findings support this, indicating high egg hatch rates in irradiated medfly males. Thus, combining SIT with IIT offers a promising strategy to address pest control challenges effectively.