Rhagoletis fausta

Common name  

black cherry fruit fly

Description

Typical of Rhagoletis larvae with the following specific characteristics for the 3rd instar:

Head. Cephalic lobes moderately developed. 

Stomal region: Number of sclerotized stomal guards 2 (large). Oral ridges present; number of oral ridges 3-6; margins entire. Accessory plates absent.

Cephalopharyngeal skeleton. Mandibles: subapical teeth present; tooth smaller than apical tooth, and very stout; with a single lateral tooth.

Anterior spiracles. Anterior spiracles convex to flat. Anterior spiracular tubules usually 16–19; in a single irregular row, or in two rows.

Spinules and creeping welts. Dorsal spinules on segments T1-A7, sometimes also on A8.

Caudal segment (A8) and anal lobes. Anal lobes very protuberant, or plainly visible but not protuberant.

Posterior spiracles. Slits 3-4x longer than wide. Dorsal spiracular processes with numerous trunks (long processes). Number of dorsal spiracular processes ~10. Number of ventral spiracular processes ~10. Number of lateral spiracular processes 6–8.

Host plants

Family	Genus
Rosaceae	Prunus

Part of plant attacked: fruit.

Biogeographic region and distribution

Nearctic

Canada and USA (British Columbia and Montana south to California, Manitoba and New Brunswick south to Michigan and Pennsylvania).

Adult taxonomy

Rhagoletis fausta (Osten Sacken)
Trypeta fausta Osten Sacken 1877: 346.—USA. New Hampshire: Mt. Washington, alpine region. LT ♀ MCZ. Lectotype designated by Bush 1966: 518.
Rhagoletis intrudens Aldrich 1909: 70.—Canada. British Columbia: Victoria. HT ♀ USNM.
 

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.

White, I. M., and M. M. Elson-Harris. 1992. Fruit flies of economic significance: their identification and bionomics. CAB International; Wallingford, UK. 601 p.