Anastrepha sororcula
Description
Typical of Anastrepha larvae with the following specific characteristics for the third instar:
Body. Body length 8.5-10.0 mm; width (at A6) 1.0-1.6 mm.
Head. Stomal organ: cylindrical, height 4.3-6.9 um. Number of oral ridges 6-9, posterior margins irregularly serrated, accessory plates present in series of two at ends of most oral ridges.
Cephalopharyngeal skeleton. Mandible: Length from tip of mandible to end of ventral cornu 0.95-1.23 mm; mandible length a 0.21-0.27 mm; length b 0.16‒0.19 mm; height c 0.14‒0.19 mm; ratio a:c 1.5. Primary tooth long and sharp, sometimes with small secondary tooth. Mandible concave ventrally, surface of concavity smooth. Length of hypopharyngeal sclerite 0.14‒0.22 mm, width 0.18‒ 0.23 mm at ventral bridge [measured in squashed preparations]. Epipharyngeal sclerite visible only in dorsal view, with medial lobe directed anteriorly. Labial sclerite short, robust, fairly well sclerotized, horseshoe-shaped in dorsal view.
Dorsal cornu usually with well-defined sclerotized area, ranging 0.35-0.43 in length, but 0.50-0.75 mm when including hyaline area. Dorsal bridge prominently projecting anteriorly from dorsal cornu and slightly sclerotized. Height of dorsal arch 0.20‒0.43 mm. Anterior sclerite irregularly shaped and sclerotized. Length of cornu notch 0.20‒0.29 mm; and cornu notch index 0.6.
Ventral cornu with poorly defined sclerotized area. Pharyngeal filter with weakly sclerotized anterior bar and 8‒9 ridges forming series of grooves along length of ventral cornu. Length of ventral cornu 0.55‒0.75 mm from pharyngeal bar to posterior end of grooves; 1.6‒1.7 times as long as sclerotized area of dorsal cornu.
Spinules and creeping welts. Dorsal spinules always on T1-T2, sometimes on T3; 4-5 spinules on T1, 3-5 on T2, 0-3 on T3. Spinules conical, symmetrical to slightly curved posteriorly, in discontinuous rows of variable length.
Ventral spinules on T1-A8; 7-9 spinules on T1, 4-7 on T2, 4-5 on T3, 5-10 on A1, 10-13 on A2, 11-13 on segments A3-A4, 10-13 on segments A5-A8.
Anterior spiracles. Height of anterior spiracles 119-161 um at midline; basal width 73-114 um (at junction with trachea), distal width 156-216 um. Number of anterior spiracular tubules 9-12, in a single row. Length of tubules ranges 19-28 um; basal width 9-17 um, distal width 14-20 um.
Caudal segment (A8) and anal lobes. Tubercle D1 distinctly anterior to D2. Intermediate tubercles I1 and I2 more strongly developed and associated sensilla weakly developed; I2 lateral and sometimes slightly ventral to I1. L1 and V1 and V2 most very weakly developed. D1 and I1 associated with weakly developed sensilla. Anal lobes surrounded by band of spinules with 3-4 irregular rows anterior and posterior to lobes.
Posterior spiracles. Spiracular openings 71.0‒92.5 mm long; 16.2‒21.7 mm wide; ratio of length / width 4.3‒4.4. Ecdysial scar apparent. Felt chamber oval, 109.4‒139.9 mm in diameter (at junction with trachea). Number of trunks per spiracular process ranges 6-19; number of tips per process ranges 13-48. Spiracular process SP-I with 13‒19 trunks, 36‒48 tips; ratio of tips / trunks 2.7‒ 3.0; basal width 22.3‒37.9 mm; ratio of basal width / length of spiracular opening 0.3‒0.4. SP-II with 6‒9 trunks, 13‒21 tips. SP-III with 9‒12 trunks, 19‒31 tips. SP-IV with 12‒17 trunks, 22‒47 tips; ratio tips / trunks 2.6; basal width 21.3‒32.89 mm; ratio basal width / length of spiracular opening 0.3‒0.4. Average spiracular process length ~0.5 length of spiracular opening.
Dutra et al. (2018) emphasize the following characters as being useful for differentiating A. sororcula from related Anastrepha species:
Abdominal dorsal spinules absent
Same number of ventral spinules on segments A5-A8 (10-13 spinules)
Number of oral ridges 6-9
Cephalopharyngeal skeleton length 0.95-1.23 mm
Mandible length b 0.16‒0.19 mm; height c 0.14‒0.19 mm
Number of anterior spiracle tubules 9-12
Posterior spiracle with 36-48 tips on SP-I, 22-47 tips on SP-IV.
Host plants
| Family | Genus |
| Myrtaceae | Eugenia, Psidium |
| Rubiaceae | Coffea |
Part of plant attacked: fruit.
Biogeographic region and distribution
Neotropical
South America: Ecuador, Paraguay, Brazil (Bahia, Mato Grosso, Sao Paulo)
Adult taxonomy
Anastrepha sororcula Zucchi
Anastrepha sororcula Zucchi 1979: 39.—Brazil. Sao Paulo: Ribeirao Preto. HT ♀️ USP.
References
Dutra, V. S., Ronchi-Teles, B., Steck, G. J., Araujo, E. L., Souza-Filho, M. F., Raga, A., and Silva, J. G. (2018). Description of Larvae of Three Anastrepha Species in the Fraterculus Group (Diptera: Tephritidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, 120(4): 708-724.
White, I. M. and M. M. Elson-Harris. 1992. Fruit Flies of Economic Significance: Their Identification and Bionomics. International Institute of Entomology, London. xii + 601 p.
