Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Chemistry Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #297221
Title: Volatile chemicals released by Tephritid flies as a tool to understanding species diversity

Author
item Teal, Peter

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/24/2013
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: It is clear that the Tephritids are a wonderfully diverse group of flies. However, as is evident from the current Coordinated Research Project many times clear species identifications are next to impossible using common systematic methods. Excellent examples of cryptic species are documented among members of the Bactrocera dorsalis complex and the Anastrepha fraterculus complex. In collaboration with the IAEA/FAO and research groups from around the world we have analyzed volatile chemicals released by males of several groups from both complexes. Chemical data show a good correlation between the blends of chemicals males release when signaling for mates and data supporting the complexes being composed of several reproductively isolated species. Indeed, there is good evidence that pheromones released by males are a primary method of reproductive isolation for these species. There is a not only a need to identify male produced volatiles from these cryptic species but also to determine the impact of pheromones on reproductive isolation among these groups.