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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #173103
Title: DO WING MARKINGS IN FRUIT FLIES (DIPTERA: TEPHRITIDAE) HAVE SEXUAL SIGNIFICANCE?

Author
item Sivinski, John
item PEREIRA, RUI - ENT & NEM UF GAINESVILLE

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Research Notes
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/15/2005
Publication Date: 9/20/2005
Citation: Sivinski, J.M., Pereira, R. 2005. Do wing markings in fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) have sexual significance? Florida Entomologist 88:321-324.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The patterned wings of tephritid fruit flies are often moved in complex manners during sexual encounters. However, there are few cases of sexual dimorphism and wing movements may also occur in non-sexual contexts. There was no evidence that enhancing or obliterating the patterns on the wings of male Caribbean fruit flies, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew), had any effect on their sexual success. There is convergence in wing patterns with another Dipteran family, the distantly related Bombyliidae. Additional studies of mating systems with this family might illuminate the significance of similar wing patterns in the tephritids.