Rhagoletis tomatis

Description

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

Body. Medium-sized; body length 7-10 mm.

Head. Stomal region: 2-3 sclerotized stomal guards present; Oral ridges present; number of oral ridges 4–5.

Anterior spiracles. Anterior spiracles appearing bilobed. Number of anterior spiracular tubules 18-22; in a single uniform row, or in a single irregular row, or in two rows.

Spinules and creeping welts. Dorsal spinules on segments with an unusual distribution; on segments T2-A1, sometimes also on A2.

Caudal segment (A8) and anal lobes. Dorsal caudal sensilla obvious, not on papillae or tubercles. Intermediate caudal sensillum I3 obvious, not on a papilla or tubercle. Lateral caudal sensillum obvious, not on a papilla or tubercle. Intermediate caudal sensilla I1a&b on a single papilla or tubercle, not bifid apically. Intermediate caudal sensillum I2 absent or visible only with great difficulty. Ventral caudal sensilla on a papilla or tubercle. Anal lobes either plainly visible (but not protuberant), or indistinct and retracted into anal slit, or absent (scarcely visible).

Posterior spiracles. Slits ~3x longer than wide. Dorsal spiracular processes with fewer trunks. Number of dorsal spiracular processes 6–11. Number of ventral spiracular processes 6–11. Number of lateral spiracular processes 6–11. 

Host plants

Famlly	Genus
Solanaceae	Solanum

Part of plant attacked: fruit.

Biogeographic region and distribution

Neotropical

sw. Peru to n. Chile; cent. Chile?
 

Adult taxonomy

Rhagoletis tomatis Foote
Rhagoletis tomatis Foote 1981: 18.—Chile. Atacama: Copiapo. HT ♀ USNM.
Rhagoletis achraspis Aczel 1954: 77.—missp. Ochraspis Wiedemann.
Rhagoletis ochraspis: Kisliuk and Cooley 1933: 240.—misid. See Foote 1981: 18.

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.