Tephritidae
Paracantha cultaris
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Diptera Suborder: Brachycera Section: Schizophora Subsection: Acalyptratae Superfamily: Tephritoidea Family: Tephritidae
Diversity
500 genera, about 5,000 species
Genera
Bactrocera Ceratitis Paracantha Rhagoletis Tephritis Urophora Euaresta hundreds more Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Binomial name (Coquillet, 1894) Synonyms Carphotricha culta Paracantha culturis Trypeta cultaris Paracantha cultaris is a species of tephritid fruit fly found in western North America, as far south as Costa Rica. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is a method by which biologists group and categorize species of organisms. ... For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ... Subphyla and Classes Subphylum Trilobitomorpha Trilobita - trilobites (extinct) Subphylum Chelicerata Arachnida - spiders,scorpions, etc. ... Orders Subclass Apterygota Archaeognatha (bristletails) Thysanura (silverfish) Monura - extinct Subclass Pterygota Infraclass Paleoptera (may be paraphyletic) Ephemeroptera (mayflies) Palaeodictyoptera - extinct Megasecoptera - extinct Archodonata - extinct Diaphanopterodea - extinct Protodonata - extinct Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) Infraclass Neoptera Superorder Exopterygota Caloneurodea - extinct Titanoptera - extinct Protorthoptera - extinct Grylloblattodea (ice-crawlers) Mantophasmatodea (gladiators) Plecoptera (stoneflies) Embioptera... Suborders Nematocera (includes Eudiptera) Brachycera Wikispecies has information related to: Diptera True flies are insects of the Order Diptera (Greek: di = two, and pteron = wing), possessing a single pair of wings on the mesothorax and a pair of halteres, derived from the hind wings, on the metathorax. ... Infraorder Orthorrhapha Cyclorrhapha Muscomorpha Brachycera is a suborder of Diptera. ... Subsections Acalyptratae Calyptratae Schizophora is a section of true flies containing 78 families. ... Superfamilies Carnoidea Conopoidea Diopsoidea Ephydroidea Lauxanioidea Nerioidea Opomyzoidea Sciomyzoidea Sphaeroceroidea Tephritoidea Acalyptratae is a subsection of Schizophora, commonly referred to as the acalyptrate muscoids (or simply acalpytrates). ... Category: ... For other uses, see Genus (disambiguation). ... Diversity 549 species Species B. correcta B. dorsalis B. oleae B. tryoni Hundreds more Bactrocera is a large genus of tephritid fruit flies, with more than 500 species currently described. ... Diversity 79 species Species See text. ... Diversity 10 species Species See text. ... Diversity ca. ...

Tephritidae is one of two fly families referred to as "fruit flies." Tephritidae does not include the biological model organisms of the genus Drosophila, which is often called the "common fruit fly". Drosophila is, instead, the type genus of the second "fruit fly" family, Drosophilidae. There are nearly 5,000 described species of tephritid fruit fly, categorized in almost 500 genera. Description, recategorization, and genetic analysis are constantly changing the taxonomy of the fruit fly family. Suborders Nematocera (includes Eudiptera) Brachycera Diptera (di - two, ptera - wings), or true flies, is the order of insects possessing only a single pair of wings on the mesothorax; the metathorax bears a pair of drumstick like structures called the halteres, the remnants of the hind wings. ... The hierarchy of scientific classification In biological classification, family (Latin: familia, plural familiae) is a rank, or a taxon in that rank. ... A model organism is a species that is extensively studied to understand particular biological phenomena, with the expectation that discoveries made in the organism model will provide insight into the workings of other organisms. ... For other uses, see Genus (disambiguation). ... Type species Drosophila funebris (Fabricius, 1787) Drosophila is a genus of small flies, belonging to the family Drosophilidae, whose members are often called fruit flies, or more appropriately vinegar flies, wine flies, pomace flies, grape flies, and picked fruit-flies, a reference to the characteristic of many species to linger... Type specimens When a new species is discovered, more important than creating a new and unique name for the species is developing a reasonably detailed description. ... Subfamily Drosophilinae Steganinae Wikispecies has information related to: Drosophilidae Drosophilidae is a diverse, cosmopolitan family of flies, including the genus Drosophila, which includes fruit flies, vinegar flies, wine flies, pomace flies, grape flies, and picked fruit-flies. ...

Tephritid fruit flies are of major importance in agriculture. Some have negative effects, some positive. Various species of fruit fly cause damage to fruit and other plant crops. The genus Bactrocera is of worldwide notoriety for its destructive impact on agriculture. The olive fruit fly (B. oleae), for example, feeds on only one plant: the wild or commercially cultivated olive. It has the capacity to ruin 100% of an olive crop by damaging the fruit. On the other hand, some fruit flies are used as agents of biological control, thereby reducing the populations of pest species. Several species of the fruit fly genus Urophora have been shown to be effective agents against rangeland-destroying noxious weeds such as starthistles and knapweeds. Diversity 549 species Species B. correcta B. dorsalis B. oleae B. tryoni Hundreds more Bactrocera is a large genus of tephritid fruit flies, with more than 500 species currently described. ... Binomial name Gmelin, 1790 The olive fruit fly (Bactrocera oleae) is a species of fruit fly. ... Binomial name L. 19th century illustration The Olive (Olea europaea) is a species of small tree in the family Oleaceae, native to coastal areas of the eastern Mediterranean region, from Lebanon and the maritime parts of Asia Minor and northern Iran at the south end of the Caspian Sea. ... Predatory Polistes wasp looking for bollworms or other caterpillars on a cotton plant Biological control of pests and diseases is a method of controlling pests (including weeds and diseases) in agriculture that relies on natural predation, parasitism or other natural mechanism, rather than introduced chemicals. ... Lantana invasion of abandoned citrus plantation; Moshav Sdey Hemed, Israel The term invasive species refers to a subset of introduced species or non-indigenous species that are rapidly expanding outside of their native range. ... Species Around 350-500 species; see text. ...

Most fruit flies lay their eggs in plant tissues, where the larvae find their first food upon emerging. The adults usually have a very short lifespan. Some live for less than a week. A larval insect A larva (Latin; plural larvae) is a juvenile form of animal with indirect development, undergoing metamorphosis (for example, insects or amphibians). ...

Fruit flies use an open circulatory system as their cardiovascular system. An open circulatory system is an arrangement of internal transport in which blood bathes the organs directly and there is no distinction between blood and interstitial fluid. ... The circulatory system or cardiovascular system is the organ system which circulates blood around the body of most animals. ...

Their behavioral ecology is of great interest to biologists. Some fruit flies have extensive mating rituals or territorial displays. Many are brightly colored and visually showy. Some fruit flies show Batesian mimicry, bearing the colors and markings of dangerous insects such as wasps because it helps the fruit flies to avoid predators; the flies, of course, lack stingers. Behavioral ecology is the study of the ecological and evolutionary basis for animal behavior, and the roles of behavior in enabling an animal to adapt to its environment (both intrinsic and extrinsic). ... A mimic is any species that has evolved to appear similar to another successful species in order to dupe predators into avoiding the mimic, or dupe prey into approaching the mimic. ...

Systematics

The Tephritidae are grouped into several subfamilies:^[1]

• Blepharoneurinae (5 genera, 34 species)
• Dacinae (41 genera, 1066 species)
• Phytalmiinae (957 genera, 331 species)
• Tachiniscinae genera, 1859 species)
• Trypetinae (118 genera, 1012 species)

Three genera with 32 species are not included in any subfamily (incertae sedis). Diversity 5 genera, 34 species Genera see text. ... Diversity 41 genera, ca. ... Diversity 95 genera, ca. ... Diversity 8 genera, 18 species Genera see text. ... Diversity 118 genera, ca. ... Incertae sedis—of uncertain position (seat)—is a term used to define a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. ...

Fruit Fly Euaresta aequalis
Photo: Bruce Marlin

Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 698 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 698 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ...

References

1. ^ The Diptera Site: Tephritidae Phylogeny

External links

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  Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

  Category:Tephritidae
• Fruit Fly Euaresta aequalis Large format diagnostic photos including courtship ritual
• Diptera.info images
• Tephritidae Information
• Pest Fruit Flies of the World
• Biological Control of Tephritidae
• Tephritid Workers Database (TWD)
• Tephritid Workers of Europe Africa and the Middle East (TEAM)
• Insect Pest Control Sub program (IPC)