Fruit Fly Species Composition, Distribution and Host Plants with Emphasis on Mango-Infesting Species

Abstract

Mango is the most widely cultivated fruit tree in tropical and sub-tropical Africa. However, the sustainability of this lucrative business is threatened by infestations of fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) that annually inflict heavy economic losses on the industry. The nutritional quality of different fruit species can influence the survival and fecundity of adult fruit flies. This host-insect interaction determines the species composition, distribution and abundance of the major frugivorous tephritids. The economic impact of fruit fly pest species includes direct yield losses and the loss of export markets due to quarantine restrictions implemented to prevent the entry and establishment of exotic fruit fly species in importing countries. The economically important tephritid fruit flies attacking mango in Africa can be divided into two major categories based primarily on their origin, i.e., invasive (Bactrocera dorsalis, Bactrocera zonata and Zeugodacus cucurbitae) and indigenous species (Ceratitis anonae, Ceratitis capitata, Ceratitis catoirii, Ceratitis cosyra, Ceratitis ditissima, Ceratitis fasciventris, Ceratitis quinaria, Ceratitis rosa [recent taxonomic advances have separated C. rosa into two species; C. rosa and C. quilicii], Ceratitis silvestrii, Dacus ciliatus and some unverified records of Ceratitis punctata and Dacus bivittatus). These species are known to have a wide host range and distribution across Africa. Their distribution is also influenced by competitive interactions between native and indigenous species. The host plant status and distribution of fruit fly species is an evolving phenomenon largely due to new invasions, misidentification and identification of hitherto unknown species. For this reason this review provides the current situation but should be updated on a regular basis.