Effect of soil class and moisture on the depth of pupation and pupal viability of Bactrocera carambolae Drew & Hancock (1994)

Abstract Bactrocera carambolae is a quarantine pest present in Brazil and today represents the main phytosanitary barrier to the export of the fresh fruits produced in the country. The effect of soil classes and moisture on the pupation depth and pupal viability of this insect was evaluated. Soils with three textural classes (sandy, sandy clay loam and clay loam) and four moisture levels (0%, 30%, 60% and 90% of field capacity of each soil) were used, for a total of 12 treatments with six repetitions. The pupation depths varied from the surface to 5 cm. The soil class was the most significant variable regarding the pupal development of B. carambolae. The moisture level did not have a significant effect on the pupation depth or pupal emergence, but there was a strong effect of the interaction of soil texture and moisture on the pupal viability, with an increase in emergence with higher moisture in the clay loam and sandy clay loam soils.