Foraging patterns for protein baits by South African fruit fly pests

The folder contains datasets used for statistical analyses in the dissertation titled, "Foraging patterns for protein baits by South African fruit fly pests (Diptera: Tephritidae)".

The following variables were investigated for the first data chapter of the dissertation: Species (C. capitata, B. dorsalis and C. cosyra), Sex (Male and Female), Fly Age (1-day and 10-days old), Fly Diet (Sugar and Sugar + hydrolyzed yeast), Bait location (Ground, Lower canopy, Middle canopy and Upper canopy), Temperature, Relative humidity. Responders indicate the number of flies which respond to protein bait and non-responders indicate the number of non-responsive flies. The first experiment of the first data chapter investigated the effects of species, age, sex, diet, protein bait location, and weather on the magnitude of response. The data for the experiment is found on the field experiment data sheet.

The second experiment of the first data chapter evaluated the effects of species, sex, diet, body weight on the protein and lipid content of the flies and effect of body protein and lipid content on their likelihood of response to the protein bait. Responders are scored a value of 1 while the non-responders are scored a value of 0 on the datasheet nutrient assays.

The third experiment for the second data chapter established the response of C. capitata, B. dorsalis and C. cosyra to protein baits applied at two densities. The following variables were investigated for the second data chapter: Species (C. capitata, B. dorsalis and C. cosyra), and two bait densities (1 trap of 2000µL and 10 traps of 200µL). Responders indicate the number of flies responding to the applied protein bait densities and non-responders is the number of non-responsive flies to the applied protein bait densities.

The data is in folders that are partitioned into first and second objective, the first objective folder consists of both the data collected from the field (field experiment) and laboratory based experiments (nutrient assays). The second folder consists of data for the second experiment.