Taxonomy
Valid name:
Bactrocera (
Bactrocera)
melanotus (Coquillett, 1909)
Preferred common name: None
Synonyms:
Dacus melanotus (original combination in Coquillett, 1909)
Bactrocera melanota (subsequent combination in White & Elson-Harris, 1992)
Chaetodacu melanotus (subsequent combination in Bezzi, 1928)
Strumeta melanotus (subsequent combination in Perkins, 1939)
Dacus rarotongae Froggatt, 1911 (junior synonym)
Morphology-based identification
Bactrocera melanotus can be identified using morphological characters. Spot characters include the lack of yellow markings on the scutum and abdomen, and a completely black scutellum.
Molecular identification
There are no molecular reference data available for
B. melanotus.
Distribution
Bactrocera melanotus is only known from the Cook Islands in the South Pacific, which is its presumed native range.
Further information
Bactrocera melanotus is reported as a "category B" pest in
Vargas et al. (2015)Vargas et al. (2015):
Vargas RI, Pinero JC, Leblanc L, 2015. An overview of pest species of Bactrocera fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) and the integration of biopesticides with other biological approaches for their management with a focus on the pacific region. Insects 6: 297–318. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects6020297. A category B pest is there defined as "polyphagous fruit pests or destructive specialists more restricted in distribution, but at elevated risk of spreading to new locations".
Bactrocera melanotus feeds on common commercial fruits such as papaya, citrus, mango, and guava (
Leblanc et al. 2012Leblanc et al. 2012:
Leblanc L, Vueti ET, Allwood AJ, 2012. Host plant records for fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae: Dacini) in the pacific Islands. Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society 44: 11–53. http://hdl.handle.net/10125/25459).
