Morphometric analysis of Mexican and South American populations of the Anastrepha fraterculus complex (Diptera: Tephritidae) and recognition of a distinct Mexican morphotype

Abstract

Discriminant function and cluster analyses were performed on 19 morphometric variables of the aculeus, wing and mesonotum to determine whether populations of Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) from different parts of Mexico could be distinguished from populations from South America. Samples were collected from seven localities across Mexico, two from Brazil, and one each from Colombia and Argentina. Results showed there were statistically significant differences between Mexican and South American populations with respect to the aculeus (tip length, length of serrated section, mean number of teeth) and wing (width of S-band and connection between S- and V-bands). The degree of morphological variation observed among Mexican populations was extremely low, and as a consequence, the Mexican populations were identified as a single morphotype by discriminant analysis. The 'Andean morphotype'consisting of the Colombian population, and the 'Brazilian morphotype'consisting of the two Brazilian populations plus the single Argentinian population were also distinguished. It was concluded that the macro-geographical morphotypes from Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil plus Argentina correspond to three distinct taxonomic entities. Comparisons of results with those obtained from behavioural, karyotypic, isozyme and DNA studies suggest that sufficient evidence now exists to name a new Mexican species from within the A. fraterculus complex. This will be done in a separate publication. A provisional key to the morphotypes of A. fraterculus studied is provided.

Diversity and seasonality of fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae and Lonchaeidae) and their parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae and Figitidae) in orchards of guava, loquat and peach

“…Fly identifications were based on Zucchi (2000) for Anastrepha species and on McAlpine and Steyskal (1982) for Neosilba species. As fraterculus complex is formed by several cryptic species (Hernández-Ortiz et al, 2004;Selivon et al, 2005), the name A. fraterculus is being used herein in its sensu lato. Parasitoid identifications were based on Canal and Zucchi (2000) for braconids and on Guimarães et al (2000Guimarães et al ( , 2003 for figitids.…”

Cytological characterization of sex chromosomes and ribosomal DNA location in <i>Anastrepha</i> species (Diptera, Tephritidae)

“…status issues, as in the Anastrepha fraterculus complex of cryptic species (Hernández-Ortiz et al, 2004;Selivon et al, 2004Selivon et al, , 2005a. Moreover, the evolutionary relationships among the species are still poorly understood (McPheron et al, 1999;Norrbom et al, 1999;Smith-Caldas et al, 2001).…”

Phylogenetic relationships of Andean-Ecuadorian populations ofAnastrepha fraterculus(Wiedemann 1830) (Diptera: Tephritidae) inferred from COI and COII gene sequences

“…Studies regarding morphology (Stone 1942;Baker et al 1944;Hernández Ortiz et al 2004), molecular characters (Morgante et al 1980;Morgante & Malavasi 1985;Steck 1991;Steck & Sheppard 1993;MacPheron et al 1999;Alberti et al 1999Alberti et al , 2002Alberti et al , 2008Smith-Caldas et al 2001;Barr et al 2005;Ruiz et al 2007) and cytogenetics (Bush 1962;Solferini & Morgante, 1987;Morgante et al 1993;Basso & Manso 1998;Basso et al 2003;Morales & Cevallos 2003;Selivon et al 2005;Cáceres et al 2009) show a high variation within this fruit fl y. Several authors suggest that under A. fraterculus name, a species complex is involved (Steck 1991;MacPheron et al 1999;Smith-Caldas et al 2001;Alberti et al 2008;Cáceres et al 2009 (Selivon & Perondini 1997Selivon et al 2005).…”