South American Fruit Fly Research Articles

Effect of food lures for monitoring of Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Acca sellowiana (Myrtaceae)

The South American fruit fly, Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae) stands out for its polyphagous habit of damaging the production of several fruits in southern Brazil. This study aimed to evaluate the capture efficiency of A. fraterculus using grape juice at different periods of decomposition and aging as well as to test the capture efficiency of the enzymatic hydrolyzed protein Cera Trap® in feijoa crops. The work was conducted in a commercial feijoa orchard in São Joaquim, SC, Brazil during the 2014 growing season. Undiluted Cera Trap®, fresh grape juice and grape juice that had aged for 7 and 14 days were evaluated. All of the treatments with grape juice were used at the recommended concentration of 25 %. McPhail traps were used with 300 mL for each lure. On a weekly basis, the number of adults and the percentage of female fruit flies captured were evaluated, using identification and counting. Cera Trap® was the lure that captured the highest number of fruit flies, with a high percentage of females and with a higher frequency of captures during the season. Cera Trap® also showed the highest number of action thresholds compared to grape juice treatments. The 25 % fresh and aged grape juice showed a low number of captures and a low number of action thresholds. We conclude that fresh and aged grape juice were not effective for capturing and monitoring A. fraterculus in feijoa orchards. The Cera Trap® lure proves to be an alternative to improve monitoring of A. fraterculus in orchards in southern Brazil.

Sequential mate choice in the South American fruit fly: the role of male nutrition, female size and host availability on female remating behaviour

After mating, female sexual receptivity usually decreases and returns, depending on various factors, one of which can be the quality of the first or second male. Here, we tested in the South American fruit fly Anastrepha fraterculus if female remating is conditioned by the quality of the second male, when females encounter sequential mates (under no-choice conditions) and when females have the opportunity to choose between well-nourished and malnourished males, both for mating and for remating. Additionally, we tested if other factors such as female size and the opportunity to oviposit influenced females’ remating propensity. We found that females remate more often when they encounter a male of good nutritional condition, under both choice and no-choice conditions, and when females had access to a host to oviposit. Other traits of the sequential mate, such as male mating status (virgin or mated), male density (one or three males) and female size, had no effect on female remating behaviour. Plasticity in female post-copulatory mating under both choice and no-choice conditions indicates that A. fraterculus females are able to discriminate between males with different nutritional qualities without needing to compare them directly. Females were more choosy when remating, probably as a result of previous sexual experience, yet it remains to be seen which cues females use to distinguish between males. We discuss our results in the context of female pre- and post-copulatory mating decisions.

Evolutionary coincidence of adaptive changes in exuperantia and the emergence of bicoid in Cyclorrhapha (Diptera)

The great radiation in the infraorder Cyclorrhapha involved several morphological and molecular changes, including important changes in anterior egg development. During Drosophila oogenesis, exuperantia (exu) is critical for localizing bicoid (bcd) messenger RNA (mRNA) to the anterior region of the oocyte. Because it is phylogenetically older than bcd, which is exclusive to Cyclorrhapha, we hypothesize that exu has undergone adaptive changes to enable this new function. Although exu has been well studied in Drosophila, there is no functional or transcriptional information about it in any other Diptera. Here, we investigate exu in the South American fruit fly Anastrepha fraterculus, a Cyclorrhapha of great agricultural importance that have lost bcd, aiming to understand the evolution of exu in this infraorder. We assessed its pattern of gene expression in A. fraterculus by analyzing transcriptomes from cephalic and reproductive tissues. A combination of next-generation data with classical sequencing procedures enabled identification of the structure of exu and its alternative transcripts in this species. In addition to the sex-specific isoforms described for Drosophila, we found that not only exu is expressed in heads, but this is mediated by two transcripts with a specific 5′UTR exon—likely a result from usage of a third promoter. Furthermore, we tested the hypothesis that exu is evolving under positive selection in Cyclorrhapha after divergence from lower Diptera. We found evidence of positive selection at two important exu domains, EXO-like and SAM-like, both involved with mRNA binding during bcd mRNA localization in Drosophila, which could reflect its cooptation for the new function of bcd mRNA localization in Cyclorrhapha.

Biopesticide effects on pupae and adult mortality ofAnastrepha fraterculusandCeratitis capitata(Diptera: Tephritidae)

AbstractReliance on broad spectrum insecticides for pest control has led to significant environmental damage, human health problems and rapid evolution of insect resistance. These shortcomings have caused a renewed interest in exploring biologically based pest control methods. Among these, the use of plant essential oils, hydrolates and other natural products offer a promising alternative to broad spectrum pesticides. Here, we explored the effect of several bioproducts on pupal and adult mortality (through contact and ingestion) of the two most important pest species of fruit production in South America, South American fruit fly,Anastrepha fraterculusand Medfly,Ceratitis capitata. Topical application of different bioproducts produced different effects on pupal mortality ofA. fraterculusandC. capitata.Essential oils ofBaccharis dracunculifoliaandPinus elliottii,both containing high proportions of α and β‐pinene and limonene (among other compounds), caused 100% mortality onC. capitatapupae and strongly suppressed adult eclosion ofA. fraterculusin comparison with controls. Extracts ofSolanum granulosumplusRicinus communisalso caused a moderate yet significant reduction in adult eclosion when compared with the control. All other tested products had no effect on adult emergence. Toxicity on adults through ingestion was greatest for extracts ofS. granulosumplusR. communis, followed by Spinosad (Flipper®) andB.dracunculifoliaoil (although in these two cases survival was above 40%), while other tested products had no effect on adult mortality. We discuss future research and the potential use of some of the tested products as a component for rational pest management strategies.

Male sexual enhancement after methoprene treatment in Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae): A sustained response that does not fade away after sexual maturation

The juvenile hormone (JH) of insects triggers physiological changes related to reproduction in adults of both sexes. Methoprene is a sesquiterpene with some effects that are analogous to those of JH. Treatments with methoprene accelerate sexual maturation in males of the South American fruit fly Anastrepha fraterculus, giving young males a mating advantage over non-treated males of the same age. Here, we evaluated the effects of methoprene treatment on A. fraterculus males after the sexual maturation phase and tested whether this compound provides a long-term mating advantage. Moreover, we took the first step to unravel the mechanisms that underlie male sexual enhancement. We treated males 1day or 8days after adult emergence and compared mate choice between recently matured (young) females and females that had been mature for ca. 10days (aged females). We also addressed methoprene treatment effects on male sexual signalling. We found that methoprene treatment enhanced male sexual competitiveness even after the sexual maturation phase, and the effect did not decrease until males were older than 20days. However, when methoprene treatment was carried out close to sexual maturity, the mating enhancement was no longer observed, suggesting a non-immediate effect and excluding the possibility that methoprene acts as a pheromonal compound. Young and aged females tended to mate more frequently with treated-males. This might indicate that in a context of sexual selection, the potential benefits associated with reproductive success would be similar for females of both ages. Treated males released larger amounts of pheromonal compounds than non-treated males, but their courtship behaviour was not altered to the same extent, suggesting that methoprene treatment may accelerate differently the components of male courtship. We discuss potential benefits of using methoprene to increase the efficiency of the sterile insect technique, which is an environmentally safe method to control this important South American fruit pest.

Odorant-binding proteins expression patterns in recently diverged species of Anastrepha fruit flies

We studied two species of closely related South American fruit flies, Anastrepha fraterculus and Anastrepha obliqua which, despite being able to interbreed, still show some ecological and reproductive differences. Because part of these differences, such as host and mate preferences, may be related to olfactory perception, we focused our investigation on the differential expression of Odorant-binding protein (OBP) gene family, which participate in initial steps of the olfactory signal transduction cascade. We investigated patterns of expression of eight OBP genes by qPCR in male and female head tissues of both species. The expression patterns of these OBPs suggest that some OBP genes are more likely involved with the location of food resources, while others seem to be associated with mate and pheromone perception. Furthermore, the expression patterns obtained at different reproductive stages indicate that OBP expression levels changed significantly after mating in males and females of both species. All eight OBP genes analyzed here showed significant levels of differential expression between A. fraterculus and A. obliqua, suggesting that they may hold important roles in their olfactory perception differences, and consequently, may potentially be involved in their differentiation.

Genetic differentiation associated with host plants and geography among six widespread species of South American Blepharoneura fruit flies (Tephritidae).

Tropical herbivorous insects are astonishingly diverse, and many are highly host-specific. Much evidence suggests that herbivorous insect diversity is a function of host plant diversity; yet, the diversity of some lineages exceeds the diversity of plants. Although most species of herbivorous fruit flies in the Neotropical genus Blepharoneura are strongly host-specific (they deposit their eggs in a single host plant species and flower sex), some species are collected from multiple hosts or flowers and these may represent examples of lineages that are diversifying via changes in host use. Here, we investigate patterns of diversification within six geographically widespread Blepharoneura species that have been collected and reared from at least two host plant species or host plant parts. We use microsatellites to (1) test for evidence of local genetic differentiation associated with different sympatric hosts (different plant species or flower sexes) and (2) examine geographic patterns of genetic differentiation across multiple South American collection sites. In four of the six fly species, we find evidence of local genetic differences between flies collected from different hosts. All six species show evidence of geographic structure, with consistent differences between flies collected in the Guiana Shield and flies collected in Amazonia. Continent-wide analyses reveal - in all but one instance - that genetically differentiated flies collected in sympatry from different host species or different sex flowers are not one another's closest relatives, indicating that genetic differences often arise in allopatry before, or at least coincident with, the evolution of novel host use.

Flutuação populacional e estimativa do número de gerações de Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae) em pomar de macieira em Caçador, Santa Catarina, Brasil

RESUMO: Este estudo teve como objetivos avaliar a flutuação populacional e estimar o número de gerações por ano de Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae), com base nas variáveis meteorológicas de Caçador, Santa Catarina, Brasil. O estudo foi conduzido em pomar orgânico de macieira, de outubro de 2009 a abril de 2012. O número de moscas-das-frutas foi aferido semanalmente, com quatro armadilhas do tipo McPhail iscadas com Torula®. A associação entre o número de adultos capturados e as variáveis meteorológicas (temperaturas máxima, mínima e média, precipitação pluviométrica e umidade relativa do ar) foi feita pelo coeficiente de correlação de Pearson (p < 0,05). Para o período de entressafra (maio a setembro), os valores médios diários das variáveis meteorológicas foram calculados pelos testes F ou de Kruskal-Wallis (p < 0,05). O número de gerações/ano foi estimado utilizando-se os dados de temperatura mínima de 2009 até 2012, constante térmica e temperatura basal estabelecidos para A. fraterculus. Verificou-se que a mosca-das-frutas sul-americana ocorreu de novembro a abril, com picos populacionais em janeiro ou fevereiro. Apenas na safra 2010/2011 houve correlação entre o número médio de adultos capturados e as temperaturas máxima, média e mínima. Estimou-se que podem ocorrer em torno de oito gerações de A. fraterculus por ano em Caçador, Santa Catarina.

Wolbachia strains in cryptic species of the Anastrepha fraterculus complex (Diptera, Tephritidae) along the Neotropical Region

Infection by Wolbachia was described previously in eleven species of Anastrepha fruit flies some of which are important pests of fruticulture. One such species is the nominal Anastrepha fraterculus, the South American fruit fly, which actually comprises a complex of cryptic species. The suggestions of using Wolbachia for the control of these pest species, make imperative a more precise characterization of the existing strains of the bacteria. In this study, population samples of the A. fraterculus complex from Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Guatemala and Mexico were analyzed for Wolbachia infection. The bacteria were genotyped by the MLST and WSP Typing methodologies. All samples were infected with Wolbachia of supergroup “A”. For each of the five MLST genes, unique as well as already known alleles were detected. Nineteen sequence types for the concatenated sequences of the five MLST genes, and twenty wsp alleles were found in the samples. Host-specific haplotypes, shared strains among distinct hosts, and more than one strain of Wolbachia were found in some population samples. Recombination among the MLST genes and intragenic recombination between wsp haplotypes was rare. Phylogenetic analysis showed a great similarity among the Wolbachia strains in the A. fraterculus complex. However, some strains of Wolbachia are found throughout the Neotropical Region and there are specific strains in determined geographical areas.

Suscetibilidade de bagas de genótipos de videira pela infestação por Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae)

Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a suscetibilidade de genótipos de videira à drosófila-da-asa- manchada, Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae), em bagas de uva intactas e em bagas infestadas após a ocorrência de puncturas, causadas pela oviposição da mosca-das-frutas sul-americana [Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae)] ou por danos mecânicos (alfinetes). Os experimentos foram realizados em laboratório, a 22±1°C, umidade relativa de 65±10% e fotófase de 12 horas. A suscetibilidade foi avaliada para 18 genótipos de videira, em bagas intactas submetidas às fêmeas de D. suzukii. O potencial de interação foi verificado em bagas de uva 'Italia', cuja epiderme foi danificada por puncturas de A. fraterculus ou por alfinete, em comparação a frutos de morango 'Albion'. As cultivares de Vitis labrusca 'Niagara Rosada' e 'Concord' não foram infestadas por D. suzukii, e cinco dos oito genótipos que foram infestados são cultivares melhoradas. A infestação de D. suzukii em bagas de uva 'Italia' com danos mecânicos, feitos com um alfinete ou pela oviposição de A. fraterculus, foi semelhante à de bagas íntegras. Há baixa adequação hospedeira de videiras a D. suzukii, mesmo com a presença de danos. As cultivares 'Benitaka', 'BRS Vitória' e 'BRS Morena' são as mais suscetíveis a D. suzukii.

The male ejaculate as inhibitor of female remating in two tephritid flies

The inhibition of female receptivity after copulation is usually related to the quality of the first mating. Males are able to modulate female receptivity through various mechanisms. Among these is the transfer of the ejaculate composed mainly by sperm and accessory gland proteins (AGPs). Here we used the South American fruit fly Anastrepha fraterculus (where AGP injections inhibit female receptivity) and the Mexican fruit fly Anastrepha ludens (where injection of AGPs failed to inhibit receptivity) as study organisms to test which mechanisms are used by males to prevent remating. In both species, neither the act of copulation without ejaculate transfer nor sperm stored inhibited female receptivity. Moreover, using multiply mated sterile and wild males in Mex flies we showed that the number of sperm stored by females varied according to male fertility status and number of previous matings, while female remating did not. We suggest female receptivity in both flies is inhibited by the mechanical and/or physiological effect of the full ejaculate. This finding brings us closer to understanding the mechanisms through which female receptivity can be modulated.

Control of the South American fruit fly in pear with natural-based products

This study aimed to assess, in laboratory conditions, the effect of andiroba oil (2L 100L-1), kaolin (7.5Kg 100L-1), azadirachtin (2.5L 100L-1), metidationa (100mL 100L-1) and distilled water (control) on the oviposition and mortality of adults of A.fraterculus in no-choice and free-choice tests. The experimental design was randomized with five treatments and 20 replicatesfor the no-choice test; and 15 replicates for the free-choice test. Fruits were immersed in each treatment solution, dried at room temperature and placed in pots with two couples of A. fraterculus (no-choice test) and in arenas with four couples along with a fruit that was previously immersed in water (free-choice test).Twenty-five days after infestation, fruits were dissecated and the number of larvae was recorded as well the number of pupae and adults. Only methidathion was effective on adults with mortality of 91.3% (P<0.05). There was no larval emergence and, consequently, pupae and adult development in fruits treated with andiroba oil and methidathion in both tests. Azadirachtin and kaolin did not present any effect on A. fraterculus. Andiroba oil was effective on the reduction of the infestation of pear fruits by A. fraterculus.

Virulence of nematodes against larvae of the south-American fruit fly in laboratory using soil from Porto Amazonas, Paraná, Brazil, as substrate

ABSTRACT: Anastrepha fraterculus is an important orchard pest. Its management has been based in chemical sprays, but biological control is a growing demand. The objective of this work was to evaluate, under laboratory conditions, the virulence of eight nematode isolates to A. fraterculus in a soil collected in Porto Amazonas, Paraná, Brazil, and to estimate lethal doses (LD50 and LD90) for the more virulent isolate. Steinernema carpocapsae CB 02, three Heterorhabditis sp., two H. amazonensis and two Oscheius sp. isolates were tested in laboratory against A. fraterculus third-instar larvae using as substrate a loam Cambisol collected in an apple orchard. S. carpocapsae CB 02 isolate caused the higher percent mortality of A. fraterculus. Heterorhabditis sp. isolates and LAMIP 9 (Oscheius sp.) isolates were intermediate, while LAMIP 92 (Oscheius sp.) didn't differ from the control. S. carpocapsae CB 02 is able to kill 50% and 90% of A. fraterculus population with 96.3 and 314.7 infective juveniles per larva, respectively, in that soil. As a conclusion, CB 02 is the most virulent to A. fraterculus when the substrate is Porto Amazonas' apple orchard soil and it is able to kill 50 and 90% larval population with 96.3 and 314.7 infective juveniles per larva, respectively.

Morphometric study of third-instar larvae from five morphotypes of the Anastrepha fraterculus cryptic species complex (Diptera, Tephritidae)

The occurrence of cryptic species among economically important fruit flies strongly affects the development of management tactics for these pests. Tools for studying cryptic species not only facilitate evolutionary and systematic studies, but they also provide support for fruit fly management and quarantine activities. Previous studies have shown that the South American fruit fly, Anastrepha fraterculus, is a complex of cryptic species, but few studies have been performed on the morphology of its immature stages. An analysis of mandible shape and linear morphometric variability was applied to third-instar larvae of five morphotypes of the Anastrepha fraterculus complex: Mexican, Andean, Ecuadorian, Peruvian and Brazilian-1. Outline geometric morphometry was used to study the mouth hook shape and linear morphometry analysis was performed using 24 linear measurements of the body, cephalopharyngeal skeleton, mouth hook and hypopharyngeal sclerite. Different morphotypes were grouped accurately using canonical discriminant analyses of both the geometric and linear morphometry. The shape of the mandible differed among the morphotypes, and the anterior spiracle length, number of tubules of the anterior spiracle, length and height of the mouth hook and length of the cephalopharyngeal skeleton were the most significant variables in the linear morphometric analysis. Third-instar larvae provide useful characters for studies of cryptic species in the Anastrepha fraterculus complex.

Oviposition behaviour and larval development of Anastrepha fraterculus from Argentina in citrus

AbstractCitrus peel physicochemical attributes are considered the main components conferring partial or even total resistance to fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) infestation. Fruit fly females adapt their ovipositional strategies to overcome such resistance. Here, we explored the effects of citrus species (Rutaceae) on the ovipositional behaviour of the South American fruit fly, Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann), and on its immature development. Particularly, we investigated the effects of (1) citrus species on oviposition behaviour and immature development, (2) citrus species on oviposition preference and on the location of the eggs at different depth in the citrus peel, and (3) harvest season and post‐harvest storage time on oviposition behaviour and immature development in lemon. Citrus species influenced ovipositional behaviour and affected survival of immature stages. Females laid eggs in lemon [Citrus limon (L.) Burm.], orange [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck], and grapefruit (Citrus paradisi Macfadyen). In orange and lemon, larvae were found dead close to the oviposition areas, suggesting chemically mediated resistance mechanisms. Under choice conditions, females preferred grapefruit over lemon and bigger clutches were found in the layers where embryonic development is favoured. Unsuitability of lemon as a medium to complete development was neither affected by harvest season nor by storage time of the fruit after harvest. The physical and chemical characteristics of the peel were distinctive to each citrus species and may have affected the specific levels of resistance of these citrus species to infestation by A. fraterculus.

Efeito de Iscas Tóxicas sobre Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Uma alternativa para a supressão populacional de Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) é o emprego de iscas tóxicas. Nesse estudo, foi avaliado em laboratório o efeito de ingestão de formulações de iscas tóxicas sobre adultos de A. fraterculus bem como o efeito da precipitação pluvial sobre a eficiência das iscas. As formulações avaliadas foram: a) ANAMED® (SPLAT® 40,00% + atrativo 24,20% + espinosade 0,10%); b) Success* 0,02 CB® – (atrativos + espinosade 0,02%); c) proteína hidrolisada (Biofruit® 3%) + Malathion 1000 CE (0,15%) e d) Testemunha – água destilada. A mortalidade proporcionada pelas formulações contendo espinosade (ANAMED® e Success* 0,02 CB®) foi equivalente à formulação Biofruit® + Malathion 16 horas após a aplicação dos tratamentos (HAT). Na ausência de chuva, as três formulações foram eficazes (mortalidade superior a 90%) até 21 dias após a aplicação dos tratamentos (DAT). As formulações ANAMED® + espinosade e Success* 0,02 CB® promoveram elevada mortalidade (60,0 e 64,0%, respectivamente) até 28 DAT. Com chuva simulada de 20 e 50 mm, a mortalidade promovida pela formulação ANAMED® foi de 69,2 e 41,0%, respectivente, diferindo das demais formulações. A isca tóxica Biofruit® + Malathion apresentou o menor TL (tempo letal) 50 com 8,71 horas, seguida de ANAMED® e Success* 0,02 CB® com 11,78 e 12,61 horas, respectivamente. As formulações Success* 0,02 CB® e ANAMED® + espinosade apresentaram alta eficiência no controle de adultos de A. fraterculus na ausência de chuva. Sob lâminas de 20 e 50 mm de chuva simulada., ANAMED® apresenta maior eficiência no controle de adultos de A. fraterculus que as formulações Success* 0,02 CB® e Biofruit® + Malathion.

Current Sperm Competition Determines Sperm Allocation in a Tephritid Fruit Fly

Sperm competition (SC) occurs when the sperm of two or more males compete for the same set of ova. Theoretical models and experimental observations indicate that the presence of rival males causes focal males to adjust sperm allocation in a given copulation. Males allocate more sperm when they perceive the presence of one rival male (SC risk), either before or during mating, or when they perceive the presence of multiple rival males before mating (previous SC intensity). Conversely, males are expected to allocate fewer sperm when they perceive the presence of rival males during mating (current SC intensity). Here, we varied male perception of SC by manipulating the number of rival males, both before mating (from emergence to mating) and during mating (at the time of mating) to examine their effects on mating latency, copulation duration, and sperm allocation in the South American fruit fly Anastrepha fraterculus. We showed that exposure to rival males at the time of mating decreased mating latency. However, in contrast to the theory, exposure to multiple rivals at the time of mating increased sperm allocation. Female and male size were significant predictors of mating latency, copulation duration, and sperm allocation. Our results showed that there is a plastic response of males to the level of perceived SC through the number of rival males. Current levels of SC intensity are important in shaping male responses to SC, although the patterns in this species are opposite to predictions from the existing theory. We propose that female preference for males forming leks could explain lower sperm counts when encountering only one or two males.

Identification of male-borne attractants in Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae)

The South American fruit fly is one of the most destructive polyphagous pests in South America. In this species, males gathered in aggregations emit volatiles that attract females; however, the compounds involved in this task remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the chemical composition of the volatile blend emitted by males aiming to identify the specific compounds within this blend that elicit behavioral responses in conspecific females. For this purpose, we performed chemical and electrophysiological analyses and bioassays. The chemical analyses revealed the presence of 29 compounds in head- space samples of A. fraterculus males, of which six compounds, i.e. a-pinene, limonene, (Z)-3-nonen-1-ol, (E,Z)-3,6-nonadien-1-ol, a-farnesene and (S,S)-(-)-epi- anastrephin, triggered antennal depolarization in conspecific females. In laboratory bioassays, five out of eight synthetic compounds tested individually elicited more behavioral responses than a hexane control, but only the synthetic mixture composed of all EAD-active com- pounds triggered behavioral responses in females similar to the responses to the headspace samples of conspecific males. In an experiment under semi-natural conditions, the synthetic mixture was more attractive to females than a hexane control and equally attractive to headspace extracts of males. This study reports the identification of male volatile compounds that act as attractant for A. fraterculus females, which may be useful for the control of this pest in infested orchards.

Microsatellite markers from the 'South American fruit fly' Anastrepha fraterculus: a valuable tool for population genetic analysis and SIT applications.

BackgroundAnastrepha fraterculus Wiedemann is a horticultural pest which causes significant economic losses in the fruit-producing areas of the American continent and limits the access of products to international markets. The use of environmentally friendly control strategies against this pest is constrained due to the limited knowledge of its population structure.ResultsWe developed microsatellite markers for A. fraterculus from four genomic libraries, which were enriched in CA, CAA, GA and CAT microsatellite motifs. Fifty microsatellite regions were evaluated and 14 loci were selected for population genetics studies. Genotypes of 122 individuals sampled from four A. fraterculus populations were analyzed. The level of polymorphism ranged from three to 13 alleles per locus and the mean expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.60 to 0.64. Comparison between allelic and genotypic frequencies showed significant differences among all pairs of populations.ConclusionsThis novel set of microsatellite markers provides valuable information for the description of genetic variability and population structure of wild populations and laboratory strains of A. fraterculus. This information will be used to identify and characterize candidate strains suitable to implement effective pest control strategies and might represent a first step towards having a more comprehensive knowledge about the genetics of this pest.

Genetics and biology of Anastrepha fraterculus: research supporting the use of the sterile insect technique (SIT) to control this pest in Argentina.

Two species of true fruit flies (taxonomic family Tephritidae) are considered pests of fruit and vegetable production in Argentina: the cosmopolitan Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann) and the new world South American fruit fly (Anastrepha fraterculus Wiedemann). The distribution of these two species in Argentina overlaps north of the capital, Buenos Aires. Regarding the control of these two pests, the varied geographical fruit producing regions in Argentina are in different fly control situations. One part is under a programme using the sterile insect technique (SIT) for the eradication of C. capitata, because A. fraterculus is not present in this area. The application of the SIT to control C. capitata north of the present line with the possibility of A. fraterculus occupying the niche left vacant by C. capitata becomes a cause of much concern. Only initial steps have been taken to investigate the genetics and biology of A. fraterculus. Consequently, only fragmentary information has been recorded in the literature regarding the use of SIT to control this species. For these reasons, the research to develop a SIT protocol to control A. fraterculus is greatly needed. In recent years, research groups have been building a network in Argentina in order to address particular aspects of the development of the SIT for Anastrepha fraterculus. The problems being addressed by these groups include improvement of artificial diets, facilitation of insect mass rearing, radiation doses and conditions for insect sterilisation, basic knowledge supporting the development of males-only strains, reduction of male maturation time to facilitate releases, identification and isolation of chemical communication signals, and a good deal of population genetic studies. This paper is the product of a concerted effort to gather all this knowledge scattered in numerous and often hard-to-access reports and papers and summarize their basic conclusions in a single publication.