Trirhithrum coffeae

Description

Typical of Trirhithrum larvae with the following specific characteristics for the third instar:

Head. Cephalic lobes slightly developed. Stomal organ: primary lobe with one or two unbranched peg sensilla; other peg-sensilla-like structures absent. Stomal region: One or two secondary lobes president (subtending lobe is fused with primary lobe); at least one lobe with serrate margins; number of oral ridges 7–9; margins entire, or serrate. 3 or 4 accessory plates present. Median oral lobe absent or not protruding.

Anterior spiracles. Anterior spiracular tubules in a single uniform row.

Caudal segment (a8) and anal lobes. Anal lobes simple; plainly visible but not protuberant.

Posterior spiracles. Dorsal spiracular processes medium-sized, with fewer trunks radiating from a short or semicircular base. Number of dorsal spiracular processes ~13. Number of ventral spiracular processes ~7. Number of lateral spiracular processes 1–4. Dorsal and ventral spiracular processes: ratio of number of tips to number of trunks ~1.7.

Host plants

Famlly	Genus
Rubiaceae	Coffea

Part of plant attacked: fruit.

Biogeographic region and distribution

Afrotropical

Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania.
 

Adult taxonomy

Trirhithrum coffeae Bezzi
Trirhithrum nigerrimum var. coffeae Bezzi 1918: 241.—Ghana. Aburi. ST ♂♀ BMNH.
Trirhithrum inscriptum: Bezzi 1924: 106.—misid. See Munro 1934: 485.

 

References

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