Trirhithrum

Description

Body. Larvae small- to medium-sized. Body either slender or stout, elongate, tapering anteriorly. Integument unsclerotized, entirely whitish to yellowish. Caudal ridge present. Mature larvae able to jump.

Head. Head of normal shape. Antenna 2-segmented. Stomal organ: primary lobe small, round. Stomal region: secondary lobes present, short, leaf-like; sclerotized stomal guards absent. Oral ridges present; number of oral ridges ranges 4–9. Elongate, finger-like lobes arising above mandibles absent. Labium broad.

Cephalopharyngeal skeleton. Parastomal bars elongate, free from hypopharyngeal sclerite. Dental sclerites present, posterior to mandibles.

Anterior spiracles. Anterior spiracle convex to flat. Number of anterior spiracular tubules ranges 7–11; in a single uniform row or single irregular row.

Spinules and creeping welts. Dorsal spinules with variable distribution.

Caudal segment (a8) and anal lobes. Sensilla on caudal segment 10 pair, with at least 7 pair visible under dissecting microscope. Ventral caudal sensilla absent or visible only with great difficulty, or obvious, not on a papilla or tubercle. 

Posterior spiracles. Posterior spiracular area not distinctly set off from caudal segment. Area between posterior spiracles smooth.

Host plants

Erythroxylaceae, Myrtaceae, Rubiaceae.

Part of plant attacked: Fruit.

Biogeographic region and distribution

Afrotropical

Adult taxonomy

Trirhithrum Bezzi, 1918

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. International Institute of Entomology, London. xii + 601 p.