We studied the distribution of wild Mediterranean fruit flies, Ceratias capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) in different environments of trimedlure-baited Jackson traps during high fall season populations in Southern Egypt. We found that 98% of females attracted to within aim radius of standard trimedlure (TML)-baited Jackson traps remained on the surrounding foliage without approaching the trap. Also about 30 % of males aggregated there, calling and competing for matings with approaching females. The closest mating occurred 25 cm from a standard trap. The nearest lek formation away from a trap was observed at a distance of 2 m on the same trap tree. The highest captures of males were recorded in the morning after male calling on the foliage reached its daily peak. Jackson traps baited with both protein hydrolyzate and TML on cotton wicks caught as many males, but significantly more females than traps with TML only.

We studied the behaviour of three Anastrepha spp. (Diptera: Tephritidae) that were attracted to protein hydrolysate in glass McPhail traps, hung on an 8 m tall wild mango tree, Mangifera indica at three different heights. Out of 665 flies that landed on the exterior of the trap only 31 % were caught. Females represented 60.2 % of all flies trapped. The intermediate trap hung at 5m caught the most flies (57.5%). We observed a great deal of feeding activity (on trap, leaves, branches and fruit) including régurgitation and reingestion of liquid food droplets. When not on the trap surface, flies were more commonly seen on leaves than on branches and fruits. Inter- and intraspecific encounters between all Anastrepha spp. and both sexes were commonly recorded. Males were observed calling alone or in leks. All leks were formed on leaves and on two occasions included individuals of two species. Our observations suggested that the McPhail traps attracted different Anastrepha spp. with varying degrees of intensity.