Egg-stage desiccation reduces developmental success and reveals line-dependent Wolbachia-associated costs in the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata.
The Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly), Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann, 1824) is a major agricultural pest, and egg desiccation is a critical constraint during handling and mass-rearing, as even short periods without moisture may compromise developmental success and downstream adult performance. The Wolbachia-medfly symbi...