The scutum is the largest sclerite of the mesonotum. In Tephritidae most of the thorax visible in dorsal view is the scutum (the only other parts directly visible in dorsal view are the postpronotal lobes, notopleura, scutellum, and occasionally the postnotum). The scutum is more or less rectangular and includes pre- and postsutural areas incompletely divided by the transverse suture. It is bordered posteriorly by the scutellum. This character refers to the presence of elongate brown vittae (longitudinal stripes). Specimens with only a posterior spot or short mark (e.g., as in A. dentata and A. punctata) should be scored absent.