Abstract
True fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) include over 4000 species, many of which constitute enormous threats to fruit and vegetable production worldwide. A number of Tephritidae are lekking species, forming aggregations in which males fight to defend a small territory where they court females and mate. Male-male contests also occur in non-lekking species, characterized by resource defense polygyny. Tephritidae females display agonistic behavior to maintain single oviposition sites and reduce larval competition for food. Here, how, where, when and why aggressive interactions occur in Tephritidae flies is reviewed. A number of neglected issues deserving further research are highlighted, with a special focus on diel periodicity of aggression, cues evoking aggressive behavior, the role of previous experience on fighting success and the evolution of behavioral lateralization of aggressive displays. In the final section, future directions to exploit this knowledge in Integrated Pest Management, with particular emphasis on enhancement of Sterile Insect Technique and interspecific competitive displacement in the field are suggested.
Highlights
Tephritidae (Diptera), known as “true fruit flies”, have over 4000 species, many of which constitute enormous threats to fruit and vegetable production throughout the world, causing both quantitative and qualitative losses [1]
In frugivorous Tephritidae species, female-female contests usually occur on host plant fruits (e.g., A. ludens fights on Citrus spp. [18], B. oleae on olives [21], C. capitata on coffee berries [97], R. indifferens on cherries [47] and R. pomonella on apples [46]), they have been reported on host plant leaves and walls of laboratory cages [18,21,65]
This review highlights a noteworthy variation in aggressive behavior among Tephritidae species, implying that physiological, ecological, and evolutionary issues of species-specific aggressive behavior should be investigated in greater depth
Summary
Tephritidae (Diptera), known as “true fruit flies”, have over 4000 species, many of which constitute enormous threats to fruit and vegetable production throughout the world, causing both quantitative and qualitative losses [1]. Adult female fruit flies can cause direct damage by laying eggs under the skin of fruits and vegetables, the eggs hatch into larvae that feed on the decaying flesh of the crop. Infested fruits and vegetables quickly become inedible or drop to the ground [5]. A number of Tephritidae are lekking species, forming aggregations in which males fight to defend a small territory where they court females and mate. In the final section of the manuscript, I propose future directions and potential implication for research in Integrated Pest Management, with particular emphasis on enhancement of Sterile Insect Technique and dynamics of interspecific competitive displacement in the field
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