Biological Journal of the Linnean Society (2011) 102, 346-354

Diego F. Segura, M. Teresa Vera, Juan Rull, Viwat Wornoayporn, Amirul Islam and Alan S. Robinson (2011)
Assortative mating among Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae) hybrids as a possible route to radiation of the fraterculus cryptic species complex
Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 102 (2), 346-354
Abstract: Reproductive isolation among populations of Anastrepha fraterculus has been found acting at the pre- and post-zygotic levels. Differences in timing of sexual activity and male sexual pheromone composition among populations could partially account for prezygotic isolation. Hybrid males were found to produce a novel pheromone, which is a mix of parental pheromones. In the present study, we found that the hybrid females showed a significant preference to mate with hybrid males than with parental males. Male location during pheromone emission is associated with its reproductive success and, thus, differences in the location of males during courtship could also play a role in isolation. We found evidence that reproductive isolation is also related to the location of males during courtship. Hybrid male behaviour regarding location during pheromone release was found to be influenced by the maternal lineage. If these populations hybridized in the field, the hybrid females would tend to mate with hybrid males probably leading to the formation of a new entity within the A. fraterculus complex. This simple and fast process could be one reason explaining the high number of taxonomic entities within this complex. Further studies on other members of the fraterculus species group may reveal whether this can be considered as an example of homoploid hybrid speciation.
(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): Diego Segura, M. Teresa Vera

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Anastrepha fraterculus