Anastrepha obliqua
Common name
West Indian fruit flyDescription
Typical of Anastrepha larvae with the following specific characteristics for the third instar:
Body. Body length 6.8–11.2mm.
Head. Cephalic lobes moderately developed. Stomal organ: Number of peg sensilla two (?), or three; peg sensilla unbranched; other peg-sensilla-like structures absent. Stomal region: sclerotized stomal guards absent (?). Number of oral ridges 6–11; margins occasionally incised. Accessory plates present (small); number of accessory plates 3–7; margins unserrated or serrated.
Spinules and creeping welts. Dorsal spinules on segments T1-T2, or T1-T3.
Anterior spiracles. Anterior spiracle convex to flat (?), or concave medially, appearing bilobed. Anterior spiracular tubules 9–18.
Caudal segment (a8) and anal lobes. Anal lobes plainly visible, but not protuberant; simple.
Posterior spiracles. Slits 3–4.5x longer than wide. Dorsal spiracular processes with numerous trunks arising from a short or semicircular base (long processes). Number of dorsal spiracular processes 10–16. Number of ventral spiracular processes 10–16. Number of lateral spiracular processes 3–6.
Host plants
Highly polyphagous, infesting at least the following families and genera:*
| Family | Genus |
| Anacardiaceae | Anacardium, Mangifera, Spondias, Tapirira |
| Apocynaceae | Couma |
| Asteraceae | Vernonia |
| Boraginaceae | Cordia |
| Celastraceae | Salacia |
| Chrysobalanaceae | Chrysobalanus |
| Combretaceae | Terminalia |
| Ebenaceae | Diospyros |
| Euphorbiaceae | Alchornea |
| Fabaceae | Inga |
| Malpighiaceae | Malpighia |
| Malvaceae | Quararibea |
| Melastomataceae | Bellucia, Mouriri |
| Moraceae | Brosimum |
| Myrtaceae | Campomanesia, Eugenia, Myrcia, Myrciaria, Plinia, Psidium, Syzygium |
| Oxalidaceae | Averrhoa |
| Rosaceae | Crataegus, Eriobotrya, Prunus, Pyrus |
| Rubiaceae | Coffea |
| Rutaceae | Citrus |
| Sapotaceae | Manilkara, Pouteria |
| Ulmaceae | Ampelocera |
*See Liquido et al. (2017)
Part of plant attacked: fruit.
Biogeographic region and distribution
NeotropicalCaribbean: Greater and Lesser Antilles.
Mexico (southern Sinaloa, Aguascalientes and northern Veracruz), south through
Central America, south through
South America to Argentina.
Status of knowledge
Steck et al. (1990)Carroll et al. (2004+)
Adult taxonomy
Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart)
Tephritis obliqua Macquart 1835: 464.—Cuba. LT ♀ MNHNP. Lectotype designation by inference of holotype by Steyskal 1975: 357.
Anastrepha fraterculus var. mombinpraeoptans Sein 1933: 187.—Puerto Rico. Rio Piedras. HT ♀ USNM.
Anastrepha fraterculus var . ligata Lima 1934: 552.—Brazil. Rio de Janeiro. ST ♂ ♀ CPARJ?
Anastrepha trinidadensis Greene 1934: 161.—Trinidad. Tabaquite.HT ♀ USNM. Type data (Stone 1942: 69).
Anastrepha fraterculus var. mombinpraeoptera Phillips 1946: 106.—missp. mombinpraeoptans Sein.
Anastrepha mombimpreoptans Mena 1965: 13.—missp. mombinpraeoptans Sein.
Anastrepha ethalea: Greene 1934: 161.—misid. See Stone 1942: 68.
Anastrepha acidusa: Greene 1934: 162.—misid. See Stone 1942: 68.
References
Carroll, L. E., A. L. Norrbom, M. J. Dallwitz, and F. C. Thompson. 2004 onwards. Pest fruit flies of the world – larvae. Version: 8th December 2006. http://delta-intkey.com.Liquido, N. J., A. A. Norrbom, M. A. Hanlin, A. P. K. Tateno, A. L. Birnbaum, S. A. Marnell, and A. J. Ching. 2017. A review of recorded host plants of West Indian fruit fly, Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart) (Diptera: Tephritidae), Version 1.0. Available online at: USDA Compendium of Fruit Fly Host Information (CoFFHI), Edition 3.0, https://coffhi.cphst.org/.
Steck, G. J., L. E. Carroll, H. Celedonio H. & J. C. Guillen A. 1990. Methods for identification of Anastrepha larvae (Diptera: Tephritidae), and key to 13 species. Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash. 92: 333-346.
