Hidrotermal treatment in orange fruits (Citrus sinensis) Var. &lsquo;Valencia&rsquo; fruits with hot water to control eggs and larvae of (<em>Ceratitis capitata</em>) (Wied., 1824) (<em>Diptera: Tephritidae</em>)

Abstract

Recently harvested orange fruits of the cultivar ‘Valencia’ were submitted to treatment with hot water viewing the control of eggs and larvae of Ceratitis capitata . The effects of this procedure on the chemical properties of the fruits were also evaluated. Fruits showing eggs and larvae of the first/second and third ínstars were submitted to water at 44 and 46 °C for 5, 30, 60, 90, and 20 minutes, and the fruits thus treated compared to fruits which received no treatment. The hot water treatments did not cause any harmful effect on the fruit chemical properties. At the temperature of 46 °C a 90 minute period of exposition resulted in a eggs and larvae mortality of 00%. Water at 44 °C was less efficient. Calculations showed that a period of 84.8 minutes of fruit exposition to water at 46 °C would suffice to rid them of Ceratitis capitata eggs and larvae. Additional Keywords : fruit fly, citrus, quarantine treatment, thermal treatment