Abstract
Tests conducted during 1963 at Brownsville, Texas, showed that continuous feeding of both sexually immature and mature adult Mexican fruit flies, Anastrepha Ludens (Loew), on reserpine at concentrations of 0.5-4.0% in food resulted in loss of reproductive capacity in females, when reserpine was removed from the diet, ovaries did not completely recover ability to produce eggs. Gonads of treated males remained functional and no morphological aberrations were apparent. Mating frequency was normal and mortality negligible. Short-period feedings (14 days or less) on 2% reserpine followed by a return to standard diet did not permanently suppress the reproductive capacity of either sex. Feeding response of flies to reserpine treated food was 15.3 to 22.6% less than that on the standard diet.

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