Species‐specific enhancement of oviposition of female oriental fruit flies, melon flies, and mediterranean fruit flies when mated with normal males or with males sexually sterilized by tepa or gamma irradiation

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Abstract
Laboratory-reared virgin females of 3 spp. of Tephritidae oviposited significantly fewer eggs than similar previously mated females. Melon flies, Dacus cucurbitae Coquillett, were most affected (3.0X more eggs for mated females); Mediterranean fruit flies, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) were least affected; oriental fruit flies, D. dorsalis Hendel, were moderately affected. Numbers of eggs laid by females mated with males treated either with tepa in drinking water or with .gamma.-irradiation were not significantly different from those laid by females mated with untreated males. Mating was important in enhancing oviposition regardless of the fertility of the males.