Contribution of Terminalia catappa L. to the survival of Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Bujumbura city, Burundi

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Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel, 1912) is an invasive species abundant in western Burundi. It is a polyphagous pest species, and is of a specific interest to vegetable and fruit crops of economic importance. However, the development of this fruit fly species is also made possible by non-commercial hosts fruit crops. In order to show the contribution of Terminalia catappa to the survival of B. dorsalis, a study based on fruit flies incubation was done in Bujumbura city from June to September 2017. B. dorsalis was collected from incubated fruits infested by flies. Fruits were collected in neighbourhoods according to the population and fruit trees density. Results show that neighbourhoods with low population density and high number of fruit trees have higher infestation rates than those with high population density and few number of fruit trees. This study showed that T. catappa contributes significantly to the survival of populations of B. dorsalis in Bujumbura city as the latter uses its fruits as hosts especially in the dry season. T. catappa can be considered as an alternative host plant for B. dorsalis used in the absence of its preferred host plants.