Diversity of fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) species in French Guiana: their main host plants and associated parasitoids during the period 1994-2003 and prospects for management

Introduction. This study was carried out in French Guiana, over ten years (1994–2003) by three institutions (SPV, FDGPC and CIRAD); it updates the current state of knowledge of Tephritidae (both Dacini and Toxotrypanini tribes) species present in this country. Materials and methods. The work was mainly conducted in inhabited areas (from the Brazilian border to the Surinamese border) where cultivated fruit crops are located. Specimens were obtained by adult trapping and fruit sampling in nearby orchards and at the edge of the rainforest. Trapping was done consistently for 10 years, while fruit sampling was a discontinuous activity. We present only the results for fruit sampling from three consecutive years (2001–2003) in which a total of 880 kg from 45 fruit species in 22 plant families were collected. Results. Twenty-nine plant species from fourteen plant families were found to be hosts of twenty-one Anastrepha species and one Bactrocera species, Bactrocera carambolae Drew and Hancock. During this period, no specimen of Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) was collected in traps or fruit samples. We registered the main fruit trees which were hosts for B. carambolae and Anastrepha spp. Five hymenopterous parasitoid species were identified. Among them, Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) is an exotic species and was introduced into French Guiana in collaboration with Brazilian authorities (EMBRAPA) in 2000 and 2001 within the framework of a classical biological control program. Conclusion. Our data provide baseline information about the tephritid species of economic importance present in French Guiana and assist in developing potential future control programs of both the B. carambolae and Anastrepha species in the Amazon Basin. These preliminary results are discussed in the light of their implication for rainforest conservation efforts and also evolutionary relationships between fruit flies and their hosts. (Résumé d'auteur

Composition of Anastrepha species (Diptera: Tephritidae) in habitats with different levels of anthropogenic activity

We collected Anastrepha species in three areas (urban, research station, agricultural) and compared communities by faunal indices (dominance, abundance, frequency, and constancy). Species diversity was estimated using the Q-statistic and by calculating Shannon, Margalef Pielou and Berger-Parker indices. Similarity among areas was based on Sørensen and Bray-Curtis coefficients. The urban and research station areas presented greater diversity and similarity of Anastrepha species. Species composition differed between areas, with predominance of A. fraterculus (Wiedemann, 1830) in the three areas. Distribution patterns did not differ after adjusting the geometric series. The agricultural area was the least diverse and more closely resembled the urban area in terms of abundance. The urban area and research station were the most diverse, and were similar in composition of Anastrepha species. Despite being subject to different levels of human disturbance, these results suggest that the abundance and distribution pattern of Anastrepha species are similar in all three areas

Host Plant Record for the Fruit Flies, Anastrepha fumipennis and A. nascimentoi (Diptera, Tephritidae)

The first host plant record for Anastrepha fumipennis Lima (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Geissospermum laeve (Vell.) Baill (Apocynaceae) and for A. nascimentoi Zucchi found in Cathedra bahiensis Sleumer (Olacaceae) was determined in a host plant survey of fruit flies undertaken at the “Reserva Natural da Companhia Vale do Rio Doce”. This reserve is located in an Atlantic Rain Forest remnant area, in Linhares county, state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. The phylogenetic relationships of Anastrepha species and their hosts are discussed. The occurrence of these fruit fly species in relation to the distribution range of their host plants is also discussed

Frugivorous flies (Diptera: Tephritidae; Lonchaeidae) associated with guava tree: species diversity, parasitoids and population fluctuation in the Espírito Santo state, Brazil

The commercial cultivation of guava tree (Psidium guajava L.) occurs in all Brazilian regions, where fruit flies cause direct losses to production and affect fresh fruit exports due to quarantine restrictions. This study aimed to determine the incidence, diversity and population fluctuations of frugivorous fly species that infest guava trees, as well as to survey their associated parasitoids, in the Espírito santo state, Brazil. Fruits and flies captured in traps were sampled in three guava-producing regions. Anastrepha fraterculus (Wied.) was the main species associated with guava trees, particularly in the coastal region. Anastrepha chiclayae was recorded for the first time associated with guava trees in Brazil. Medfly was not considered an important species. Neosilba zadolicha was the most common Lonchaeidae species collected, but with low importance. Higher populations of frugivorous flies were found in hot and humid areas. Two population peaks of A. fraterculus were observed during October (spring) and from March to April (summer-autumn). Tephritid flies occurred in all surveyed regions, with higher infestations in the coastal area, followed by the northern and mountain regions, respectively. Doryctobracon areolatusand Aganaspis pelleranoi were the most common species of parasitoids; however, the natural biological control of frugivorous flies in guava trees was very low and had little impact on fruit fly populations

Fruit flies (Diptera, Tephritidae) diversity in papaya commercial orchards and in remnant areas of the Atlantic Rain Forest and their association with native host plants, in Linhares county, Espírito Santo state, Brazil

Este estudo foi conduzido em áreas remanescentes da Mata Atlântica, Reserva Natural da Companhia Vale do Rio Doce e Floresta Natural de Goytacazes (áreas preservadas), e em pomares comerciais de papaia (áreas alteradas), no município de Linhares, Estado do Espírito Santo. Os principais objetivos foram analisar comparativamente a diversidade, a abundância e o padrão de distribuição das espécies de moscas-das-frutas nesses dois hábitats (alterados e preservados), observando o impacto da mudança ambiental em relação à diversidade de espécies, além disso, verificar a associação das espécies de moscas-das-frutas com as plantas hospedeiras nativas. As moscas-das-frutas foram coletadas em armadilhas plásticas tipo McPhail com atrativo alimentar (proteína hidrolisada) por um período de cinco anos (outubro/2001 a setembro/2006). Nos remanescentes da Mata Atlântica, foram capturados 14 exemplares (machos e fêmeas) de Ceratitis capitata e 6.281 fêmeas de Anastrepha, sendo identificadas 22 espécies, além de cinco espécies possivelmente não-descritas. Nos pomares comerciais de papaia, foram capturados 30 exemplares (machos e fêmeas) de C. capitata e apenas 330 fêmeas de Anastrepha, pertencentes a 14 espécies. A diferença nos valores dos dois parâmetros (riqueza de espécies e abundância) refletiu nos valores do índice de diversidade de Margalef, que diferiram estatisticamente nos dois hábitats. Os resultados sugerem que as mudanças na vegetação nativa para uma área de cultivo provocaram impacto na diversidade, na abundância e na distribuição das comunidades de moscas-das-frutas. O levantamento de plantas hospedeiras de moscas-das-frutas foi realizado na Reserva Natural da Vale do Rio Doce, durante três anos e cinco meses (fevereiro/2003 a julho/2006). Foram coletadas 330 amostras de frutos de plantas nativas, representando 253 espécies de 51 famílias. Myrtaceae foi a família mais diversificada com 55 espécies amostradas. Vinte e oito espécies, pertencentes a dez famílias, foram hospedeiras de dez espécies de Anastrepha e de C. capitata. Entre 33 associações observadas entre moscas-das-frutas e plantas hospedeiras, 23 foram registros inéditos. Além disso, foram detectadas pela primeira vez as plantas hospedeiras de A. fumipennis Lima e de A. nascimentoi Zucchi.The study was undertaken in the Natural Reserve of Vale do Rio Doce and the Natural Reserve of Goytacazes, remnants of the Atlantic Rain Forest (preserved areas), and in three papaya commercial orchards (disturbed areas), all areas located in Linhares county in the state of Espírito Santo. The main objectives of this study were to compare the diversity, abundance and distribution pattern of fruit fly species in these habitats (preserved and disturbed), observing the impact of environmental modifications in relation to species diversity, besides to find out fruit fly-native host plant associations. Fruit flies were collected with plastic McPhail traps baited with hydrolised protein over a five-year period (October/2001 to September/2006). Fourteen specimens of Ceratitis capitata (males and females) and 6,281 females of Anastrepha belonging to 22 species, besides five probably undescribed ones, were captured in the remnants of the Atlantic Rain Forest. In the papaya commercial orchards, 30 specimens of C. capitata (males and females) and only 330 females of Anastrepha were captured. The difference of the two parameter values, species richness and abundance, reflects on Margalef's index values, which were statistically different in both habitats. Results suggest that modifications of native vegetation in an agricultural area can cause impact on both the diversity and distribution of fruit fly assemblages. An approximately three and a half years' host survey (February/ 2003 to July/ 2006) was undertaken in the Natural Reserve of Vale do Rio Doce. A total of 330 samples of native plant fruits, representing 253 species from 51 plant families was collected. Myrtaceae was the most diversified plant family with 55 species sampled. Twenty eight plant species from ten plant families were found as host-plants of ten species of Anastrepha as well as of C. capitata. Among these 33 associations, 23 were new records. Furthermore, the first records of a host plant for A. fumipennis Lima and A. nascimentoi Zucchi were detected

Biodiversity of anastrepha fruit flies (dip., tephritidae) on the luizde queirozcampus, Piracicaba, São Paulo.

Este trabalho foi conduzido na área abrangida pelo campus Luiz de Queiroz/Universidade de São Paulo, no município de Piracicaba, Estado de São Paulo. Teve como objetivos, determinar a composição do gênero Anastrepha Schiner, sua distribuição e a análise quantitativa da população. Além disso, verificou-se a relação da flutuação populacional com variáveis bióticas e abióticas e a associação das espécies de plantas hospedeiras, estabelecidas na área, com as espécies de Anastrepha.Foram examinadas 23.263 fêmeas de Anastrepha coletadas em armadilhas McPhail e 18 espécies pertencentes a 9 grupos infragenéricos foram assinaladas. A distribuição das fêmeas por armadilha foi fortemente agregada, com 5 armadilhas (6%) capturando 50% do total de fêmeas. Apenas A. fraterculus (Wiedemann) e A. obliqua (Macquart) foram dominantes. A. fraterculus foi a espécie mais freqüente, representando 80,2% do total de fêmeas capturadas no campus e a mais constante ocorrendo em 98,04% das amostras. Em ordem decrescente de freqüência, seguiram-se A. obliqua (12,6%), A. pseudoparallela (Loew) (3,1%) e A. bistrigata Bezzi (2,1%). As demais espécies apresentaram freqüência menor que 1%. O valor elevado do índice de Simpson (0,66) e os valores baixos do índice de Shannon (0,7521) e de eqüitatividade (0,459) resultaram da alta freqüência de A. fraterculus. Um aumento no nível populacional das espécies de Anastrepha ocorreu de agosto a novembro com um pico máximo em setembro. A disponibilidade de frutos hospedeiros foi mais determinante na variação do tamanho da população das espécies mais abundantes de Anastrepha que as variáveis climáticas. Um total de 565 amostras de frutos pertencentes a 11 famílias e, pelo menos, 25 espécies botânicas foi coletado em 47 estações de capturas. Foram identificadas 10.290 fêmeas e das 18 espécies de Anastrepha capturadas em armadilhas somente 6 emergiram das amostras de frutos: A. bistrigata Bezzi, A. fraterculus (Wiedemann), A. obliqua (Macquart), A. pseudoparallela (Loew), A. serpentina (Wiedemann) e A. sororcula Zucchi. A. fraterculus foi a espécie que infestou maior diversidade de frutos. Os hospedeiros preferidos de A. obliqua foram as espécies da família Anacardiaceae. A. pseudoparallela e A. serpentina infestaram exclusivamente Passifloraceae e Sapotaceae, respectivamente. Uma nova associação de mosca-das-frutas com planta hospedeira foi constatada: A. fraterculus em Syagrus romanzoffiana (Cham.) Glassman (coquinho). Foi reportado o primeiro registro da associação de A. fraterculus em Manilkara zapota L. (sapoti) no Brasil.This study was conducted in the Luiz de Queiroz campus of the Universidade de São Paulo, in Piracicaba, state of São Paulo. The aim of this study was to determine the number of species in the genus Anastrepha Schiner on campus, their distribution and the quantitative analysis of the population. Moreover, this study correlated populational fluctuations with biotic and abiotic factors as well as the association between host plant species and the Anastrepha species in that area. A total of 23,263 females of Anastrepha collected in MacPhail traps was examined, and 18 species belonging to nine infrageneric groups were registered. The distribution of females per trap was strongly clustered, with 5 traps (6%) capturing 50% of the total of females. Only A. fraterculus (Wiedemann) and A. obliqua (Macquart) were considered dominant species. A. fraterculus was by far the most frequent species, representing 80.2% of the total of females captured on campus, and the most constant, occurring in 98.04% of the analyzed samples. In decreasing order of frequency, A. obliqua (12.6%), A. pseudoparallela (Loew) (3.1%), and A. bistrigata Bezzi (2.1%) comprised the other major species. The remaining species showed frequency lower than 1%. The high value of the Simpsons index (0.66) as wel as the low values of Shannons index (0.7521) and the equitability index (0.459) resulted from the high frequency of A. fraterculus. The populational level of Anastrepha increased from August to November with the highest peak in September. The availability of host fruit, more than climatic parameters determined most of the variation of population size in the most abundant species of Anastrepha. A total of 565 fruit samples representing at least 25 plant species from 11 families was collected in 47 capture sites. 10,290 females were identified. Of the 18 Anastrepha species captured in traps, only 6 also emerged from fruit samples: A. bistrigata Bezzi, A. fraterculus (Wiedemann), A. obliqua (Macquart), A. pseudoparallela (Loew), A. serpentina (Wiedemann) e A. sororcula Zucchi. A. fraterculus infested the greatest diversity of hosts. The preferred hosts of A. obliqua were plant species in the family Anacardiaceae. A. pseudoparallela and A. serpentina infested only species in the families Passifloraceae and Sapotaceae, respectively. A new fruit fly and host plant association was registered: A. fraterculus with Syagrus romanzoffiana (Cham.) Glassman (queen palm). The association of A. fraterculus with Manilkara zapota L. (sapodilla) was reported here for the first time in Brazil

Regulatory mechanisms for the expression and activity of platelet-derived growth factor receptor.

PDGF is one of the most potent serum mitogens, and the signalling mechanism by way of its receptor tyrosine-kinase has been extensively studied since its first purification in 1979. The identification of homology between the simian sarcoma virus oncogene, v-sis, and the B-chain of PDGF, as well as the frequent over-expression of both the ligands and receptors in various tumours and stroma led to the proposal of the PDGF-mediated autocrine and paracrine hypothesis. Consistent with the important roles of PDGF in the growth and survival of cells, the expression and activity of PDGF receptors are tightly controlled by both positive and negative feedback mechanisms at different levels. The deregulation of the control system can result in serious pathological conditions such as chronic inflammation and tumours. Understanding the molecular mechanisms for the regulatory system and the signalling pathway of PDGF is essential in order to find effective therapies in the diseases where PDGF is involved

New species of Anastrepha Schiner (Diptera, Tephritidae) from remnant area of the Atlantic Rain Forest and surroundings in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil

Uramoto, Keiko, Zucchi, Roberto Antonio (2010): New species of Anastrepha Schiner (Diptera, Tephritidae) from remnant area of the Atlantic Rain Forest and surroundings in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. Zootaxa 2535: 49-60, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.29391

Redescription of three species of Anastrepha (Diptera, Tephritidae) rediscovered in Brazil, with the establishment of a new synonym

Uramoto, Keiko, Zucchi, Roberto A., Norrbom, Allen L. (2015): Redescription of three species of Anastrepha (Diptera, Tephritidae) rediscovered in Brazil, with the establishment of a new synonym. Zootaxa 3911 (3): 411-423, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3911.3.