ABSTRACT
Anastrepha fraterculus, the South American fruit fly, is a highly polyphagous neotropical fruit fly species. Anastrepha fraterculus is considered a major pest by apple growers in Brazil because females attack fruits in the differentiation stages, causing malformation and fruit drop, which lead to severe yield losses. Fruit size affects fruit acceptability and host recognition and influences clutch size in tephritid fruit flies. Differences in attack of fruits of the same size can reflect variability in resistance properties or simply differences in fruit appearance in the canopy. Mineral oil was applied at different times and on different branches before the test to induce bud dormancy break and ensure that fruits of all sizes would be available in the canopy.
