ABSTRACT
An understanding of demography is fundamental to the development of sound management strategies. This chapter analyzes the information available on fruit fly demographic parameters and some of the factors that have been found to influence these parameters. The standard life table framework and laboratory procedures used by several fruit fly workers during the past decade allow us to make some interspecific comparisons. One role of demographic research consists in making statements on the effect of one of these factors on the population attributes, keeping all other factors relatively constant or with a minimum effect. Mass-rearing conditions have been shown to be important factors affecting fruit fly demographic trends and parameters. The demographic information available on a number of fruit fly species provides insight into comparative life histories among species and allows us to better understand the biology of these insects.
