Geographic distribution and host plants of Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Venezuela.
Hernández-Ortiz V., Morales-Valles P.
Author Affiliation: Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Departamento de Entomología, Apartado Postal 63, Km 2.5 carr. antigua a Coatepec # 351, Congr. El Haya, Xalapa, Veracruz 91070, Mexico.
Folia Entomológica Mexicana 43 : 181-189
Abstract : Based on the study of specimens deposited in collections, in addition to information from the literature, we review the distribution and host plants of Anastrepha fraterculus, the South American fruit fly, in Venezuela. We found this species to occur in at least 10 states of Venezuela, at localities ranging from sea level to near 2600-m altitudes. Higher incidence of records were observed at localities over 1000-m altitudes, while records from lower altitudes were very sparse. Regarding the use of host plants, we found that the A. fraterculus populations showed more frequent records in peach, Prunus persica, guava, Psidium guajava, coffee, Coffea arabica and loquat, Eriobotrya japonica, whereas records for Citrus spp. and mango, Mangifera indica, among others, seem to be incidental and must be further investigated to determine their host status for the South American fruit fly in Venezuela. With regard to the genetic differentiation observed among the Venezuelan populations, we discuss the possible differentiation between lowland and highland populations, with respect to their distributional patterns and host preferences.