Zeugodacus cucumis

Description

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

Body. Medium to large-sized; body length 9-12 mm. Integument rarely with sclerotization (and when present, only in mature larvae).

Head. Cephalic lobes moderately or well-developed.

Stomal organ: primary lobe with 2 or 3 peg sensilla.

Stomal region: 6-8 large preoral lobes, resembling short oral ridges. Number of oral ridges 14-20, margins scalloped (with large, deeply serrated bluntly rounded teeth). Accessory plates elongate, large, interlocking with outer edges of oral ridges.

Cephalopharyngeal skeleton. Mandibles: subapical teeth present, much smaller than apical tooth, and delicate.

Anterior spiracles. Number of anterior spiracular tubules 13-19.

Posterior spiracles. Number of dorsal spiracular processes 9-15; number of ventral processes 9-15; number of lateral processes 4-16.

Host plants

Family	Genus
Caricaceae	Carica
Cucurbitaceae	Cucumis, Cucurbita, Diplocyclos, Luffa, Momordica, Trichosanthes
Euphorbiaceae	Glochidion
Passifloraceae	Passiflora
Solanaceae	Solanum

Biogeographic region and distribution

Australasian

Australia (NT, Qld., NSW).

Adult taxonomy

Zeugodacus (Austrodacus) cucumis (French)

Dacus tryoni var. cucumis French 1907: 307.—Australia. Queensland: Bowen. ST A MVMA ♂ Type data (Drew 1989: 185).

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.