Mating Competitiveness of Mediterranean Fruit Flies Marked with Fluorescent Powders

In tests made in Hawaii in outdoor screen cages, the mating competitiveness of laboratory-reared Ceratitis capitala (Wiedemann) was not altered by external marking with orange, yellow, or green Day-glo® fluorescent powders. Also, adults of both sexes marked with red powder had an increased mating response. Most mating occurred in the downwind corners of the cages and on the wooden supports rather than on the screen.