Biological Invasions (2021) 23, 3529-3543

Pablo Deschepper, Terrance N. Todd, Massimiliano Virgilio, Marc De Meyer, Norman B. Barr and Raul Ruiz-Arce (2021)
Looking at the big picture: worldwide population structure and range expansion of the cosmopolitan pest Ceratitis capitata (Diptera, Tephritidae)
Biological Invasions 23 (11), 3529-3543
Abstract: The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Weidemann), is considered one of the most significant tephritid pest species worldwide and is an exotic species in most of its range. Here, we investigated polymorphism at 14 microsatellite loci for a total of 126 populations of C. capitata from six geographical regions, applying network theory and cluster analyses. Analyses revealed nine distinct modules for the Central American region and one in each of the remaining five regions. Bayesian cluster analysis revealed that the highest level of genetic partitioning corresponds with the presence of 3 well-defined genetic clusters. Our results confirm the African origin for Mediterranean populations based on genetic diversity and suggest a direct invasion of C. capitata from the Mediterranean to Central-America. South American populations show links with Central-America, but also exhibit indications of direct admixture with the European cluster. Additionally, the network analysis proposes a South American origin for the Madeiran and Hawaiian flies. Cluster analysis corroborates the hypothesis of a Mediterranean origin for Australian samples. Our work provides novel insights regarding the migration history of Medfly worldwide.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Raul Ruiz-Arce

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
molecular biology - genes

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Ceratitis capitata		Spain (continental)
	Ceratitis capitata		U.S.A. (Hawaii)
	Ceratitis capitata		Portugal (Madeira)
	Ceratitis capitata		Australia (Western)