Genetic structure and diversity in Brazilian populations of Anastrepha obliqua (Diptera: Tephritidae).

Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart), the West Indian fruit fly, is one of the most economically important pest species in the Neotropical region. It infests an extensive range of host plants that include over 60 species. The geographic range of A. obliqua is from northern Mexico to southern Brazil and includes the Caribbean Islands. Previous molecular studies have revealed significant genetic structure among populations. We used sequences from a fragment of the mitochondrial protein-coding gene cytochrome c oxidase I to estimate structure and genetic diversity of A. obliqua populations from Brazil. We analyzed a total of 153 specimens from the Amazon Forest, Atlantic Forest, Cerrado, and Caatinga biomes. Our study revealed weak genetic structure among the A. obliqua Brazilian populations sampled. Collections from the Amazon Forest had similar haplotype diversity compared to previously reported estimates for collections from the Caribbean and both populations are also closely related to each other, thus challenging the hypothesis that A. obliqua originated in the Caribbean and then moved to other regions of the Americas. Therefore, further evidence is necessary to draw a definite conclusion about the putative center of origin for A. obliqua. Additionally, we suggest a putative historical migration from the west to the east for the A. obliqua Brazilian populations, which could explain the high genetic diversity for this fly in the Amazon Forest and low genetic diversity in the other Brazilian biomes.

Green lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) associated with melon crop in Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil.

A survey of the green lacewings associated with the melon agroecosystem was carried out with the aim of including lacewings into the integrated management program of melon pests. Three species of this predator were found: Ceraeochrysa cubana (Hagen), Chrysoperla externa (Hagen) and Chrysoperla genanigra Freitas. A key to these species is presented.

Diversity of Anastrepha spp. (Diptera: Tephritidae) and associated braconid parasitoids from native and exotic hosts in southeastern Bahia, Brazil.

We documented fruit fly-host associations and infestation rates over 5 yr in the state of Bahia, Brazil, by systematically collecting native and introduced fruits in backyard and commercial orchards, experimental stations, and patches of native vegetation. Fruit were collected in multiple sites in the southern and southernmost regions of Bahia. A total of 942.22 kg from 27 fruit species in 15 plant families was collected throughout this study. Of these, 15 plant species from six families were infested by Anastrepha species. A total of 11,614 fruit flies was reared from the fruit (5,178 females and 6,436 males). No specimens of Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) were recovered. Eleven Anastrepha species were recovered from the collected fruit: Anastrepha antunesi Lima (0.04%), Anastrepha distincta Greene (0.1%), Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) (53.5%), Anastrepha leptozona Hendel (4.5%), Anastrepha manihoti Lima (0.1%), Anastrepha montei Lima (1.0%), Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart) (33.0%), Anastrepha pickeli Lima (2.0%), Anastrepha serpentina (Wiedemann) (1.0%), Anastrepha sororcula Zucchi (3.0%), and Anastrepha zenildae Zucchi (1.8%). We recovered 1,265 parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from Anastrepha pupae. Three species of braconids were found to parasitize larvae of nine Anastrepha species. The most common parasitoid species recovered was Doryctobracon areolatus (Szépligeti) (81.7%), followed by Utetes anastrephae (Viereck) (12.2%) and Asobara anastrephae (Muesebeck) (6.1%). We report A. fraterculus infesting Malay apple Syzygium malaccense (L.) Merr. & L. M. Perry and A. fraterculus, A. sororcula, and A. zenildae infesting araza Eugenia stipitata McVaugh for the first time in Brazil.

Faunistic analysis of Anastrepha spp. (Diptera: Tephritidae) on a guava orchard under organic management in the municipality of Una, Bahia, Brazil.

We carried out a study to characterize fruit fly populations on an organic guava orchard (Psidium guajava cv. Paluma) in the municipality of Una, southern region of the state of Bahia, Brazil, using faunistic analysis of the adult fruit fly specimens captured in McPhail traps from January 2004 through March 2007. A total of 22,673 specimens of Anastrepha (15,306 females and 7,367 males) were captured. Thirteen species of Anastrepha were recorded. A. fraterculus and A. obliqua were the more frequent and dominant species, accounting for 90.1% of all females captured in the traps. A. fraterculus was the predominant species (more frequent, constant and dominant). The high value of the Simpson index (0.62) and the low values of Shannon-Wiener (0.83) and equitability (0.49) indices indicated the dominance and high frequency of A. fraterculus and A. obliqua on the guava orchard despite the presence of other fruit species as potential hosts of fruit flies.

[Measurement of the aculeus for the characterization of five Anastrepha species of the fraterculus group (Diptera: Tephritidae)]. / Medidas do acúleo na caracterização de cinco espécies de Anastrepha do grupo fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae).

Species identification of the genus Anastrepha Schiner is based mostly on the shape of the aculeus apex. In some species groups, such as fraterculus, species are separated by subtle differences in the aculeus apex, namely Anastrepha fraterculus (Wied.), A. obliqua (Macquart), A. sororcula Zucchi, A. zenildae Zucchi and A. turpiniae Stone. In order to help the identification, the aculei of these five species from 25 localities of 17 Brazilian states were measured. The aculeus and apex lengths of these species vary along geographical distribution and even from specimens reared from same host. For this reason and due to superimposition, these Anastrepha species cannot be separated based on the two measures exclusively.

Green lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) associated with Melon Crop in Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil

A survey of the green lacewings associated with the melon agroecosystem was carried out with the aim of including lacewings into the integrated management program of melon pests. Three species of this predator were found: Ceraeochrysa cubana (Hagen), Chrysoperla externa (Hagen) and Chrysoperla genanigra Freitas. A key to these species is presented.

Faunistic analysis of Anastrepha spp. (Diptera: Tephritidae) on a guava orchard under organic management in the municipality of Una, Bahia, Brazil / Análise faunística de Anastrepha spp. (Diptera: Tephritidae) em um pomar de goiaba sob manejo orgânico, no município de Una, BA

We carried out a study to characterize fruit fly populations on an organic guava orchard (Psidium guajava cv. Paluma) in the municipality of Una, southern region of the state of Bahia, Brazil, using faunistic analysis of the adult fruit fly specimens captured in McPhail traps from January 2004 through March 2007. A total of 22,673 specimens of Anastrepha (15,306 females and 7,367 males) were captured. Thirteen species of Anastrepha were recorded. A. fraterculus and A. obliqua were the more frequent and dominant species, accounting for 90.1 percent of all females captured in the traps. A. fraterculus was the predominant species (more frequent, constant and dominant). The high value of the Simpson index (0.62) and the low values of Shannon-Wiener (0.83) and equitability (0.49) indices indicated the dominance and high frequency of A. fraterculus and A. obliqua on the guava orchard despite the presence of other fruit species as potential hosts of fruit flies.

Foi realizado estudo para caracterizar as populações de moscas-das-frutas em pomar orgânico de goiaba (Psidium guajava cv. Paluma) no município de Una, Sul da Bahia, por meio da análise faunística dos espécimes capturados em armadilhas McPhail de janeiro de 2004 a março de 2007. Foram capturados 22.673 espécimes de Anastrepha (15.306 fêmeas e 7.367 machos). Treze espécies de Anastrepha foram registradas. A. fraterculus e A. obliqua foram as mais frequentes e dominantes, perfazendo 90,1 por cento de todos as fêmeas capturadas nas armadilhas. A. fraterculus foi a espécie predominante (mais frequente, constante e dominante). O alto valor do índice de Simpson (0,62) e os baixos valores dos índices de Shannon-Wiener (0,83) e equitabilidade (0,49) indicaram a dominância e a alta frequência de A. fraterculus e A. obliqua no pomar de goiaba, mesmo na presença de outras espécies frutíferas potencialmente hospedeiras de moscas-das-frutas.

Medidas do acúleo na caracterização de cinco espécies de Anastrepha do grupo fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae) / Measurement of the aculeus for the characterization of five Anastrepha species of the fraterculus group (Diptera: Tephritidae)

A identificação das espécies de Anastrepha Schiner é baseada principalmente no formato e nas características do ápice do acúleo. Em alguns grupos de espécies, como fraterculus, as espécies são separadas por diferenças sutis no ápice do acúleo, como em Anastrepha fraterculus (Wied.), A. obliqua (Macquart), A. sororcula Zucchi, A. zenildae Zucchi e A. turpiniae Stone. Assim, para auxiliar a identificação, foram medidos os acúleos dessas cinco espécies, provenientes de 25 localidades de 17 estados brasileiros. As medidas do acúleo (total e do ápice) dessas espécies variam ao longo da distribuição geográfica e também entre os exemplares obtidos em um mesmo hospedeiro. Por esse motivo e pela sobreposição das medidas entre as espécies, esses valores não podem ser tomados isoladamente na caracterização das espécies.

Species identification of the genus Anastrepha Schiner is based mostly on the shape of the aculeus apex. In some species groups, such as fraterculus, species are separated by subtle differences in the aculeus apex, namely Anastrepha fraterculus (Wied.), A. obliqua (Macquart), A. sororcula Zucchi, A. zenildae Zucchi and A. turpiniae Stone. In order to help the identification, the aculei of these five species from 25 localities of 17 Brazilian states were measured. The aculeus and apex lengths of these species vary along geographical distribution and even from specimens reared from same host. For this reason and due to superimposition, these Anastrepha species cannot be separated based on the two measures exclusively.

Novos registros de espécies de Neosilba (Diptera: Lonchaeidae) na Bahia / New records of Neosilba species (Diptera: Lonchaeidae) in Bahia State, Brazil

Quatro espécies de Neosilba são registradas na Bahia: Neosilba pendula (Bezzi), Neosilba certa (Walker), Neosilba parva (Hennig) e Neosilba glaberrima (Wiedemann).

Moscas-das-frutas (Diptera: Tephritidae) no Semi-Arido do Rio Grande do Norte: plantas hospedeiras e índices de infestação / Fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in the Semi-Arid Region of the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil: host plants and infestation indices

Foram realizadas coletas de moscas-das-frutas em armadilhas e frutos na região semi-árida do Rio Grande do Norte, de janeiro/1999 a dezembro/2000. Dez espécies foram capturadas: Anastrepha alveata Stone, A. dissimilis Stone, A. distincta Greene, A. montei Lima, A. obliqua (Macquart), A. pickeli Lima, A. sororcula Zucchi, A. zenildae Zucchi, Anastrepha sp. aff. pickeli e Ceratitis capitata (Wied). Das 41 espécies de fruteiras amostradas, os frutos de 17 espécies estavam infestados por pelo menos uma espécie de moscas-das-frutas. Os novos registros de hospedeiros são: A. sororcula em cajarana (Spondias sp.), A. zenildae em cajarana, acerola (Malpighia emarginata DC.) e kunquat (Fortunella sp.), Anastrepha sp. aff. pickeli em maniçoba (Manihot glaziovii Muell.) e C. capitata em umbu (Spondias tuberosa Arruda), trapia (Crateva tapia L.) e juá (Ziziphus joazeiro Mart.).Os principais hospedeiros de Anastrepha spp. foram juá, cajarana e goiaba (Psidium guajava L.) e de C. capitata foi a serigüela (Spondias purpurea L.). O hospedeiro mais infestado pelas espécies de Anastrepha foi o juá (67,7 pupários/kg) e por C. capitata foi o kunquat [Fortunella japonica (Thunb.) (159,1 pupários/kg)].

Fruit flies were collected in traps and also reared from fruits in the semi-arid of the State of Rio Grande do Norte, from January 1999 to December 2000. Ten fruit fly species were obtained: Anastrepha alveata Stone, A. dissimilis Stone, A. distincta Greene, A. montei Lima, A. obliqua (Macquart), A. pickeli Lima, A. sororcula Zucchi, A. zenildae Zucchi, Anastrepha sp. aff. pickeli, and Ceratitis capitata (Wied.). Seventeen out of the 41 fruit tree species sampled were infested at least by one fruit fly species. New host records are: A. sororcula from Spondias sp., A. zenildae from Spondias sp., West Indian cherry (Malpighia emarginata DC.) and kumquat (Fortunella sp.), Anastrepha sp. aff. pickeli from Manihot glaziovii Muell. and C. capitata from Spondias tuberosa Arruda, Crateva tapia L.and Ziziphus joazeiro Mart. The main host plants for Anastrepha spp. were Z. joazeiro, Spondias sp. and guava (Psidium guajava L.) and for C. capitata was red coat plum (Spondias purpurea L.). The most infested host plant of Anastrepha spp. was Z. joazeiro (67.7 puparia/kg) and by C. capitata was kumquat [Fortunella japonica (Thunb.) (159.1 puparia/kg)].