Integrative approach reveals the identity of Brazilian specimens previously recognized as Anastrepha dissimilis Stone, 1942 (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Abstract

Anastrepha dissimilis is currently considered to be widely distributed in Brazil, occurring in 20 of 27 states. However, morphological differences between the holotype (from Plaisance, Haiti) and a paratype (from Pernambuco, Brazil) suggest that the Brazilian specimens are not A. dissimilis, because their aculeus tip is similar to the paratype not to the holotype. Therefore, considering the importance of integrative taxonomy for species delimitation, we used geometric and linear morphometrics and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I sequences integrated with the morphology of the aculeus tip to clarify the identity of populations previously identified as A. dissimilis from multiple Brazilian localities. Morphological data show a uniform pattern among the Brazilian populations, with some variation among specimens from the south and northeast. In addition, the geometric and linear morphometrics suggest considerable geographic variation among these populations, suggesting the existence of at least two morphs. The molecular analysis revealed that specimens from Brazil previously identified as A. dissimilis belong to Anastrepha chiclayae Greene, with a genetic distance ranging from 0.00 to 0.015%. According to our integrative analyses, specimens from Brazil formerly identified as A. dissimilis actually are A. chiclayae. Therefore, this is the first record of A. chiclayae in Brazil, and we also report that A. dissimilis does not occur in Brazil.

Frugivorous flies (Diptera: Tephritidae; Lonchaeidae) associated with guava tree: species diversity, parasitoids and population fluctuation in the Espírito Santo state, Brazil

“…The occurrence of Anastrepha chiclayae Greene in guava fruits in Brazil was verified for the first time in this study. Anastrepha chiclayae had its identity recently clarified in Brazil: morphological, morphometric and molecular studies (integrative analysis) have shown that specimens previously misidentified as A. dissimilis in Brazil are A. chiclayae (Araújo et al 2023). This species is distributed in all the Brazilian geographic regions, with plant hosts including Passiflora caerulea L., Passiflora edulis Sims and Passiflora elegans Mart.…”

“…(Sapotaceae) and Sarcomphalus joazeiro (Mart.) Hauenschild (Rhamnaceae) (Zucchi & Moraes 2022a, Araújo et al 2023). Anastrepha dissimilis is not known to occur in Brazil (Araújo et al 2023).…”