Reproductive isolation between Urophora affinis and U. quadrifasciata (Diptera: Tephritidae) in British Columbia
Observations were made of the reproductive behavior of free-ranging Urophora affinis and U. quadrifasciata on their host plant, Centaurea diffusa, near Kamloops, British Columbia. The behavior of both species is similar. Courting males of both species do not distinguish between conspecific males and females until attempted copulation. Males do discriminate between conspecific and non-conspecific females. Species recognition by males occurs at the time of prospective mate selection of during precopulatory displays. Recognition is apparently based on morphological and subtle behavioral differences between the two species. Some males did attempt copulation with non-conspecific females, and these were consistently rejected by the females. Differences in the male genitalia are probably important in female recognition of males. The behavior of these two species is discussed in relation to theoretical models of the evolution of reproductive strategies.