Other Common Names

None Listed

Scientific Synonyms

• Acrotoxa ludens Loew
• Anastrepha lathana Stone
• Trypeta ludens (Loew)

Host Types

• Citrus
• Fresh Fruit
• Pome fruits

Distribution - Regions

• Central and South America
• USA and Canada

Distribution - Notes

The Mexican fruit fly is indigenous to Mexico and much of Central America (Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua) as far south as Costa Rica. It has spread also into the cultivated citrus sections of the west coast of Mexico and northward toward Texas, Arizona and California, resulting in continual detection, survey, and eradication campaigns in these areas.

Source:

http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/fruit/tropical/mexican_fruit_fly.htm

Accessed 15 July 2005

 

Diagnostic Characters:

Mostly yellowish-brown in colour; A. ludens, is typical in appearance to other members of the genus Anastrepha, but notable for the female's long ovipositor and sheath relative to its body size -the ovipositor is 3.35-4.7 mm long; wing band colour pale yellow, width of S-band narrow apically, not extending to medial vein, and colour of thoracic setae uniformly pale.

Source:

http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/fruit/tropical/mexican_fruit_fly.htm

Accessed 15 July 2005

 

Broad Sweep

• Horticulture

Commodity

• Citrus
• Fresh Fruit
• Pome fruits

Specifics

All varieties of citrus except lemons and sour limes are attacked. Grapefruit is the preferred host, with oranges second. Pear, peach, and apple are preferred among the deciduous hosts, and white sapote and mango are preferred among the subtropical fruits. Avocado, while not a preferred host, is attacked. Other hosts include pomegranate, quince, rose apple, cherimoya, custard apple, jinicuil, mamey, and yellow chapote.

Source:

http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/fruit/tropical/mexican_fruit_fly.htm

Accessed 15 July 2005

 

Specimen Contact Point

infozone@museum.vic.gov.au

Name

Museum Victoria

Web links

• Adults images and larval traits
• EPPO Distribution Map
• Fruit Fly Host Plant Database
• Invasive Species Database
• Larval DELTA key description
• Overview Information
• Pest Fruit Flies of the World
• Pest Tracker
• Reproduction phenology
• USDA Fact Sheet

Padil links

None Listed

References

• Aluja M. 1994. Bionomics and management of Anastrepha. Annual Review of Entomology 39: 155-178.
• Berg GH. 1979. Pictorial key to fruit fly larvae of the family Tephritidae. San Salvador: Organ. Internac. Regional Sanidad. Agropec. 36 p.
• Carroll LE, and Wharton RA. 1989. Morphology of the immature stages of Anastrepha ludens (Diptera: Tephritidae). Annuals of the Entomological Society of America 82: 201-214.
• Clark RA, Steck GJ, Weems Jr HW. 1996. Detection, quarantine, and eradication of exotic fruit flies in Florida, pp. 29-54. In D.L. Rosen (ed.), Pest Management in the subtropics: Integrated pest management - a Florida perspective. Intercept Ltd. Andover UK.
• Dickens JC, Solis E, Hart WG. 1982. Sexual development and mating behavior of the Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens (Loew). The Southwestern Entomologist 7: 9-15.
• Ebeling W. 1959. Subtropical fruit pests. University of California, Division of Agricultural Science 436 p.
• Hernandez-Ortiz V. 1992. El genero Anastrepha Schiner en Mexico (Diptera: Tephritidae), Taxonomia, distribucion y sus plantas huespedes. Instituto de Ecologia, Xalapa Mexico. 162 p.
• Greene CT. 1929. Characters of the larvae and pupae of certain fruit flies. Journal of Agricultural Research 38: 489-504.
• Ibrahim RB. 1980. Fruit flies of Florida (Diptera: Tephritidae). Gainesville: University of Florida. 355 p. Doctoral dissertation.
• Jiron LF, Soto-Manitiu J, Norrbom AL. 1988. A preliminary list of the fruit flies of the genus Anastrepha (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Costa Rica. Florida Entomologist 71:130-137.
• Phillips VT. 1946. The biology and identification of trypetid larvae (Diptera: Trypetidae). Memoirs of the American Entomological Society 12:161.
• Pruitt JH. 1953. Identification of fruit fly larvae frequently intercepted at ports of entry of the United States. Masters thesis. University of Florida, Gainesville. 69 p.
• Robacher D, Magan RL. 1993. ARS Program on Anastrepha species to meet APHIS Plant Quarantine requirements. University of Florida seminar.
• Steck GJ, Carroll LE, Celedonio-H H, Guillen-A J. 1990. Methods for identification of Anastrepha larvae (Diptera: Tephritidae), and key to 13 species. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 92: 356-369.
• Stone A. 1942. The fruitflies of the genus Anastrepha. USDA Miscellaneous Publications No. 439, Washington, DC. 112 p.
• White IM, Elson-Harris MM. 1994. Fruit Flies of Economic Significance: Their Identification and Bionomics. CAB International. Oxon, UK. 601 p.

Acknowledgements

USDA Fruit fly facility Edinburg, Texas, U.S.A.

Citation

Walker, K. (2007) Mexican fruit fly (Anastrepha ludens) Pest and Diseases Image Library. Updated on 12/28/2007 7:27:03 AM. Available online: http://www.padil.gov.au

Last Updated

12/28/2007 7:27:03 AM

Diagnostic Images

Overview Images

Other Images

Full size images available at http://www.padil.gov.au.