Euaresta aequalis
Euaresta aequalis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Tephritidae
Subfamily: Tephritinae
Tribe: Tephritini
Genus: Euaresta
Species:
E. aequalis
Binomial name
Euaresta aequalis
(Loew, 1862)[1]
Synonyms

Euaresta aequalis is a species of fruit fly in the genus Euaresta of the family Tephritidae.[3]

Description

E. aequalis has elaborate markings on its wings, characteristic of the family Tephritidae, and brilliant green eyes. The diagnostic characters for this species are a tan or yellow body with a clear round spot on the wing in cell r4+5, separated from the wing margin by distinct brown band. All North American species of the genus Euaresta except E. aequalis and festiva have a base color of dark brown to black. This species is generally the largest of the North American Euaresta.[4] It is commonly known as the burr-seed fly.

Distribution

E. aequalis is distributed widely across the United States and southern Canada. The species was first observed in Mexico in 1969, in Baja California.[5] It was introduced to Australia in the 1930s in an attempt to control invasive cocklebur.[6]

Behavior

E. aequalis is a specialist—its only known host is the common or rough cocklebur, Xanthium strumarium.[7] Females of this species have large ovipositors for laying eggs inside the hard burr capsule, which is protected by spines.[8] The larva develops inside this capsule, feeding on one of the two seeds found in each burr. E. aequalis is univoltine,[6] and its flight period is generally from mid-July to mid-August.[7]

Use in biological control

A variety of Xanthium known as Noogoora burr was introduced to Australia in the 1920s, likely imported from the southern United States. It quickly became a widespread problem, especially for the wool industry. The burrs would get stuck on sheep as they grazed and were very hard to remove. E. aequalis was identified as a possible candidate for biological control, along with two stem-boring beetles and a tortricid moth. E. aequalis was first released in Queensland in 1932. It was established at low levels and was not effective in controlling the burr, because the larvae typically only attack one of the two seeds in each fruit. Noogoora burr was eventually controlled by an accidentally introduced rust fungus.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 Loew, H. (1862). "Monographs of the Diptera of North America. Part I.". Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections. 6 (1 [= No. 141]): xxiv + 221.
  2. 1 2 Coquillett, D.W. (1909). "Description of a new fruit-fly of the genus Dacus from New South Wales". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 33: 794–795. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  3. ↑ Norrbom, A.L.; Carroll, L.E.; Thompson, F.C.; White, I.M; Freidberg, A. (1999). "Systematic Database of Names. Pp. 65-252. In Thompson, F. C. (ed.), Fruit Fly Expert Identification System and Systematic Information Database". Myia. 9: vii + 524.
  4. ↑ Foote, Richard H.; Blanc, P.L.; Norrbom, Allen L. (1993). Handbook of the Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) of America North of Mexico. New York: Cornell University Press (Comstock Publishing). pp. xii, 571. ISBN 9780801426230.
  5. ↑ Norrbom, A. L. (2002). The status of Euaresta stelligera (Coquillett) (Diptera: Tephritidae). Insecta Mundi,16(1-3), 81-85.
  6. 1 2 3 Cullen, J., Julien, M., & McFadyen, R. (2012). Biological Control of Weeds in Australia. Collingwood: CSIRO Publishing.
  7. 1 2 Jackson, M. D., Marshall, S. A., Hanner, R., & Norrbom, A. L. (2011, May 24). Euaresta aequalis (Loew). Retrieved from https://cjai.biologicalsurvey.ca/jmhn_15/teph98.htm
  8. ↑ Currie, G. A. (1932). Oviposition Stimuli of the Burr-seed Fly, Euaresta aequalis, Loew (Dipt. Trypetidae). Bulletin of Entomological Research,23(02), 191. Retrieved from https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0007485300004089.
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