Phenology of the Western Cherry Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Utah and Washington

Vincent P. Jones, University of Hawaii
Diane G. Alston, Utah State University
Jay F. Brunner, Washington State University
Donald W. Davis, Utah State University
Mark D. Shelton, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

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Abstract

The flight period of the western cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis indifferens Curran, was investigated in Utah tart cherry, Prunus cerasus L., orchards from 1983 to 1989 and in Washington sweet cherry, Prunus avium L., orchards between 1982 and 1988. In Utah, flies were first detected on 31 May 1989, but the average time of first detection was 9 June across nine site-years. In Washington, the first fly was detected on 23 May 1988, with an average first detection time of 1 June in the three site-years. On a degree-day (DD) scale (lower threshold of 5°C and no upper threshold), detection of the first fly averaged 573 ± 19.0 DD (x̄ ± SEM) in Utah and 592 ± 42.1 DD in Washington. A degree-day model using the combined data for Utah and Washington consistently predicted emergence for all but one Utah site without synchronization of the model based on capture of the first fly.