DNA barcode variability and host plant usage of fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Thailand

The objectives of this study were to examine the genetic variation in fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Thailand and to test the efficiency of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) barcoding region for species-level identification. Twelve fruit fly species were collected from 24 host plant species of 13 families. The number of host plant species for each fruit fly species ranged between 1 and 11, with Bactrocera correcta found in the most diverse host plants. A total of 123 COI sequences were obtained from these fruit fly species. Sequences from the NCBI database were also included, for a total of 17 species analyzed. DNA barcoding identification analysis based on the best close match method revealed a good performance, with 94.4% of specimens correctly identified. However, many specimens (3.6%) had ambiguous identification, mostly due to intra- and interspecific overlap between members of the B. dorsalis complex. A phylogenetic tree based on the mitochondrial barcode sequences indicated that all species, except for the members of the B. dorsalis complex, were monophyletic with strong support. Our work supports recent calls for synonymization of these species. Divergent lineages were observed within B. correcta and B. tuberculata, and this suggested that these species need further taxonomic reexamination.

Download Full-text

Host plant ranges of fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Madagascar

Bulletin of Entomological Research ◽

10.1017/s0007485321000511 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

H. Rasolofoarivao ◽

L. H. Raveloson Ravaomanarivo ◽

H. Delatte

Keyword(s):

Gross Domestic Product ◽

Host Plant ◽

Plant Species ◽

Host Plants ◽

Fruit Fly ◽

Fruit Flies ◽

Control Measures ◽

Bactrocera Dorsalis ◽

Few Data ◽

Large Survey

Abstract Agriculture is one of the major farming activities, representing 32% of the gross domestic product of Madagascar and 74.3% of the population is involved in this activity. Fruit flies of the Tephritidae family are considered as the most destructive pests for agriculture in the country, nevertheless, few data exist on host plants and distribution of those pests. In the present study, we address those questions by conducting a large survey between November 2016 and July 2018 across the six agroecological regions of Madagascar. Fruit and vegetable were sampled from 198 plant species (wild and cultivated) and represented 37,965 fruits from all regions of Madagascar. The infestation index ranged from 0.06 to 538.46 pupae/kg, the infestation percentage was up to 54.84% in some samples, 63 plant species were considered as host of Tephritidae. Twelve fruit fly species were identified, seven of which were previously described as endemic, five species could be considered as widespread (altitudinal gradients between 1 and 1634 m asl) and major pests in Madagascar: Ceratitis malgassa (23 plant species from 12 families), Neoceratitis cyanescens (16 plant species from one family), Bactrocera dorsalis (18 plant species from 12 families), Dacus demmerezi (ten plant species from one family), Dacus vertebratus (six species from one family). Those results are of importance for implementation of control measures.

Download Full-text

The Mayan Tropical Rainforest: An Uncharted Reservoir of Tritrophic Host-Fruit Fly-Parasitoid Interactions

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects11080495 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 495 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Maurilio López-Ortega ◽

Francisco Díaz-Fleischer ◽

Jaime C. Piñero ◽

José René Valdez-Lazalde ◽

Manuel Hernández-Ortiz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Host Plant ◽

Plant Species ◽

Host Plants ◽

Species Conservation ◽

Fruit Fly ◽

Anastrepha Ludens ◽

Parasitoid Species ◽

Important Species ◽

Host Group ◽

Host Plant Species

Over a two–year period, we surveyed natural areas of the Mayan rainforest in Quintana Roo, Mexico. We found 11 species of Anastrepha Schiner (Diptera: Tephritidae) infesting 25 species of fruits belonging to ten plant families. We report the first records of 10 host plant species of the genus Anastrepha, which include the first report of a plant family (Putranjivaceae) serving as host of Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) infesting Drypetes lateriflora (Sw.) Krug and Urb. (Putranjivaceae). Pouteria reticulata (Engl.) Eyma (Sapotaceae) was found, for the first time, to be infested by Anastrepha serpentina (Wiedemann) and by a new undescribed species of Anastrepha. We also report Casimiroa microcarpa Lundell (Rutaceae) as a possible ancestral host for the Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens (Loew), in Central America. The family Sapotaceae was the best-represented host group with three fruit fly species recovered: A. serpentina, an economically-important species, found in eight host plants, and A. hamata and A. sp. (new species). We recorded six species of koinobiont parasitoids: Doryctobracon areolatus Szepligeti, Utetes (Bracanastrepha) anastrephae Viereck, Opius hirtus Fisher, and Doryctobracon zeteki Musebeck, (all Braconidae), and Aganaspis pelleranoi (Brethés) and Odontosema anastrephae Borgmeier, (both Figitidae). All these parasitoid species represent at least a new report for their host plants. Of the whole parasitoid community, D. areolatus was the most important parasitoid species with 52.7% of presence in 12 host plant species, parasitizing six fruit fly species. The interaction between fruit flies and their parasitoids with host plants depends on fruit availability, which is crucial for the survival of each of these species. Conserving the landscape of the Mayan rainforest is important not only for species conservation, but also for the maintenance of fruit fly host plants in orchard agroecosystems in southeastern Mexico.

Download Full-text

Effect of host plant on the life history of the carnation tortrix moth Cacoecimorpha pronubana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Bulletin of Entomological Research ◽

10.1017/s0007485321000493 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Marcin W. Zielonka ◽

Tom W. Pope ◽

Simon R. Leather

Keyword(s):

Life History ◽

Host Plant ◽

Plant Species ◽

Host Plants ◽

Crop Protection ◽

Plant Production ◽

Pupal Weight ◽

Production Environment ◽

Host Plant Species ◽

The Uk

Abstract The carnation tortrix moth, Cacoecimorpha pronubana (Hübner, [1799]) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is one of the most economically important insect species affecting the horticultural industry in the UK. The larvae consume foliage, flowers or fruits, and/or rolls leaves together with silken threads, negatively affecting the growth and/or aesthetics of the crop. In order to understand the polyphagous behaviour of this species within an ornamental crop habitat, we hypothesized that different host plant species affect its life history traits differently. This study investigated the effects of the host plant species on larval and pupal durations and sizes, and fecundity (the number of eggs and the number and size of egg clutches). At 20°C, 60% RH and a 16L:8D photoperiod larvae developed 10, 14, 20 and 36 days faster when reared on Christmas berry, Photinia (Rosaceae), than on cherry laurel, Prunus laurocerasus (Rosaceae), New Zealand broadleaf, Griselinia littoralis (Griseliniaceae), Mexican orange, Choisya ternata (Rutaceae), and firethorn, Pyracantha angustifolia (Rosaceae), respectively. Female pupae were 23.8 mg heavier than male pupae, and pupal weight was significantly correlated with the duration of larval development. The lowest and the highest mean numbers of eggs were produced by females reared on Pyracantha (41) and Photinia (202), respectively. Clutch size differed significantly among moths reared on different host plants, although the total number of eggs did not differ. This study showed that different ornamental host plants affect the development of C. pronubana differently. Improved understanding of the influence of host plant on the moth's life history parameters measured here will help in determining the economic impact that this species may have within the ornamental plant production environment, and may be used in developing more accurate crop protection methodologies within integrated pest management of this insect.

Download Full-text

The effects of host plant species and larval density on immune function in the polyphagous moth Spodoptera littoralis

Ecology and Evolution ◽

10.1002/ece3.7802 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Kristina Karlsson Green

Keyword(s):

Immune Function ◽

Host Plant ◽

Plant Species ◽

Spodoptera Littoralis ◽

Larval Density ◽

Host Plant Species

Download Full-text

The relationship among host plant species, egg clutch size, and level of parasitism for the sharpshooter Tapajosa rubromarginata

Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata ◽

10.1111/eea.12988 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 168 (12) ◽

pp. 900-910

Author(s):

Eduardo G. Virla ◽

María B. Aguirre ◽

Guido A. Van Nieuwenhove ◽

Erica B. Luft Albarracin ◽

Guillermo A. Logarzo

Keyword(s):

Host Plant ◽

Clutch Size ◽

Plant Species ◽

Host Plant Species ◽

The Relationship

Download Full-text

Influence of prey size and environmental factors on predation by Podisus maculiventris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on viburnum leaf beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

The Canadian Entomologist ◽

10.4039/n07-021 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 140 (2) ◽

pp. 192-202 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Gaylord A. Desurmont ◽

Paul A. Weston

Keyword(s):

Host Plant ◽

Plant Species ◽

Biological Control Agent ◽

Handling Time ◽

Leaf Beetle ◽

Podisus Maculiventris ◽

Viburnum Opulus ◽

Host Plant Species ◽

Search Area ◽

Rate Of Increase

AbstractExperiments were conducted under laboratory conditions to determine the influence of the relative sizes of predator and prey, temperature, presence of refugia, size of the search area, and host-plant species on the predation performance of Podisus maculiventris (Say) nymphs against viburnum leaf beetle, Pyrrhalta viburni (Paykull), a new landscape pest in North America that feeds on the foliage of species of Viburnum L. (Caprifoliaceae). Predator handling time was positively correlated with body mass of the prey for all instars of P. maculiventris, but the rate of increase of handling time relative to prey mass decreased as predator age increased. Temperature was positively correlated with predation rates, but the presence of refugia did not have an impact on predation. The influence of host-plant species and size of the search area was tested on southern arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum L.) and American cranberrybush (Viburnum opulus L. var. americanum Aiton). There was a significant interaction between plant species and size of the search area, the species effect becoming significant as leaf surface area increased. In the case of southern arrowwood a negative correlation between size of the search area and predation rate was also detected. The identification of these factors adds valuable knowledge for using P. maculiventris as a biological-control agent against P. viburni.

Download Full-text

Species composition and host range of fruit-infesting flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in northern Ghana

International Journal of Tropical Insect Science ◽

10.1017/s1742758415000090 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 35 (03) ◽

pp. 137-151 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

K.B. Badii ◽

M.K. Billah ◽

K. Afreh-Nuamah ◽

D. Obeng-Ofori

Keyword(s):

Host Range ◽

Plant Species ◽

Host Plants ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Fruit Fly ◽

Fruit Flies ◽

Northern Ghana ◽

Accurate Information ◽

Wild Host ◽

Fruit Samples

An important aspect of fruit fly management is accurate information on the species and their host spectrum. Studies were conducted between October 2011 and September 2013 to determine the host range and species diversity of pest fruit flies in the northern savannah ecology of Ghana. Fruit samples from 80 potential host plants (wild and cultivated) were collected and incubated for fly emergence; 65 (81.5%) of the plant species were positive to fruit flies. From records in Africa, 11 plant species were reported to be new hosts to the African invader fly,Bactrocera invadens(Drew, Tsuruta and White, 2005). This study documented the first records ofDacus ciliatus(Loew) andTrirhithrum nigerrimum(Bezzi) in northern Ghana although both species have been previously reported in other parts of the country. Infestation byB. invadenswas higher in the cultivated fruits;Ceratitis cosyradominated in most wild fruits. Cucurbitaceae were mainly infested by three species ofDacusandBactroceracucurbitae, a specialized cucurbit feeder. Among the commercial fruit species, the highest infestations were observed in mango, tomato, sweet pepper and watermelon, whereas marula plum, soursop, tropical almond, sycamore fig, African peach, shea nut, persimmon, icacina and albarillo dominated the wild host flora. The widespread availability of host plants and the incidence of diverse fly species in the ecology call for particular attention to their impact on commercial fruits and the development of sustainable management strategies against these economically important pests in Ghana.

Download Full-text