Anastrepha fraterculus
| Literature database |
|---|
| 266 articles sorted by: |
| • year (descending) |
| • research topics |
| • countries/regions |
| • host plants |
| • list of natural enemies |
Author(s): Taina Litwak, ARS, USDA
Source: IPM Images
Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann, 1830) - (South American fruit fly)
This fruit fly is a serious pest of fruits in Central and South America. It is highly polyphagous and has nearly 100 host plants. Attacked fruits include for example guava, mango, citrus, peach and rose-apple (Syzygium jambos).
Infestations can result in almost complete fruit losses if control measures are not adopted. It further poses a considerable quarantine risk to other subtropical regions and there are few external signs on infested fruits. The loss of export markets for fruits is usually the main economic damage in the affected countries.
| Vernacular names | |
|---|---|
| • Deutsch: | südamerikanische Fruchtfliege |
| • English: | South American fruit fly |
| • Español: | mosca sudamericana de la fruta |
| • Français: | mouche des fruits sud-américaine |
| • Português: | mosca-das-frutas sul-americana mosca-sul-americana |
The development from egg to mature adult lasts around 6 weeks. Like in many other fruit flies, mature larvae leave the fruits and pupate in the ground. It disperses mainly through infested fruits, but the adults is also able to fly for many kilometers. For control, insecticide treated baits are used which are sprayed on the fruits. In addition, it is important to remove infested fruits fallen to the ground.
The adult has a wing length of 5-7 mm and a pattern of yellowish to darker brown. It is similar in appearance to Anastrepha obliqua. For identification, the wing pattern and structure of the female ovipositor are important (see images below). For a taxonomical description of this species see Norrbom et al. (USDA).
- Other images of Anastrepha fraterculus (Open Media, IPM Images and PaDIL - click to enlarge)
interacting (competing) females
lateral view
details of head
wing
female tip of abdomen
female aculeus (tip at right)
male genitalia (epandrium and surstyli)
