Adaptation Process of Wild Population of Olive Fruit Fly ( Bactrocera Oleae ( Rossi ) ( Diptera : Tepritidae ) ) into the Laboratory

Wild population of the olive fruit fly (Bactrocera oleae (Rossi.)) was adapted to the laboratory conditions feeding on both olive fruits and an artificial diet. Infested fruits were brought to the laboratory and emerged adults used as the initial generation of the laboratory colony. After eggs were laid into the fruits, they were dissected and first instars were transferred to an artificial diet. Viability of immature stages and adult emergence were determined. The results indicated that larval survival varied depending of the food used as olives and/or artificial diet. When the wild larvae were fed on artificial diet, their survival decreases drastically compare to the larvae fed on olive fruits as control. After four generations of continuous rearing on diet, wild population of olive fruit fly has adapted to the laboratory conditions by showing population recovery. Keywords—Bactrocera oleae, adaptation, Olive fruit fly, Survivorship