OPIINE PARASITOIDS (HYMENOPTERA: BRACONIDAE) OF RHAGOLETIS POMONELLA AND R. ZEPHYRIA (DIPTERA: TEPHRITIDAE) IN THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY, OREGON

1985 ◽  
Vol 117 (2) ◽  
pp. 163-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. T. AliNiazee
Keyword(s):  
Host Shift ◽  
Apple Fruit ◽  
Rhagoletis Pomonella ◽  
Willamette Valley ◽  
Introduced Populations ◽  
Rhagoletis Zephyria

AbstractTwo species of opiine (Braconidae) parasitoids, Opius lectoides Gahan and O. downesi Gahan parasitized Rhagoletis zephyria Snow and R. pomonella (Walsh) in the Willamette Valley, OR. Almost equal numbers of O. lectoides and O. downesi were recorded from R. zephyria, whereas about 91% of the opiines associated with R. pomonella were O. downesi. In general, percent parasitization of R. pomonella was variable from sample to sample, but substantially higher on hawthorn than on apple fruit. It appears that both the opiine species have made a rapid host shift from R. zephyria to newly introduced populations of R. pomonella.

scholarly journals Connecting neuromodulation, brain development, and life history timing associated with ecological speciation in Rhagoletis pomonella

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hinal B Kharva ◽  
Jeffery L Feder ◽  
Daniel Hahn ◽  
Shannon B Olsson
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Brain Development ◽  
Biogenic Amines ◽  
Ecological Speciation ◽  
Host Shift ◽  
Apple Fruit ◽  
Adult Brain ◽  
Rhagoletis Pomonella ◽  
Host Race ◽  
Insect Biodiversity

Host shifts are considered a key generator of insect biodiversity, yet how insects synchronize life history timing and preference for new hosts is not well understood. Neurochemicals such as biogenic amines play key roles in both development and behavior, and therefore provide a potential source for such synchronization. Here, we correlated life history timing, brain development, and corresponding levels of 14 neurochemicals in Rhagoletis pomonella (Diptera: Tephritidae), a species undergoing ecological speciation through an ongoing host shift from hawthorn to apple fruit. We found that adult brain differentiation in both host races was initiated only after pupal diapause ended, and at this stage the titers of precursors for several neurotransmitter pathways also increased significantly. Conversely, neurotransmitter product titres generally increased at later stages up to adult fly sexual maturation. Further analysis showed that the apple host race exhibited adult brain differentiation three weeks earlier than the hawthorn host race, which correlated with significantly lower titers of several neurochemicals, particularly biogenic amines, in the earlier developing apple race as compared to the hawthorn race. We thus propose that these neurotransmitter levels could influence the differences in life history timing and host preference observed in these two races, promoting their ongoing speciation.

An introduced pentastomid parasite (Raillietiella frenata) infects native cane toads (Rhinella marina) in Panama

Parasitology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 142 (5) ◽  
pp. 675-679 ◽  
Author(s):  
CRYSTAL KELEHEAR ◽  
KRISTIN SALTONSTALL ◽  
MARK E. TORCHIN
Keyword(s):  
Central America ◽  
First Record ◽  
Host Shift ◽  
Native Range ◽  
Host Switch ◽  
Rhinella Marina ◽  
Introduced Populations ◽  
A Site ◽  
Hemidactylus Frenatus

SUMMARYThe pentastomid parasite, Raillietiella frenata, is native to Asia where it infects the Asian House gecko, Hemidactylus frenatus. This gecko has been widely introduced and recently R. frenata was found in introduced populations of cane toads (Rhinella marina) in Australia, indicating a host-switch from introduced geckos to toads. Here we report non-native adult R. frenata infecting the lungs of native cane toads in Panama. Eight of 64 toads were infected (median = 2·5, range = 1–80 pentastomids/toad) and pentastomid prevalence was positively associated with the number of buildings at a site, though further sampling is needed to confirm this pattern. We postulate that this pattern is likely due to a host shift of this parasite from an urban-associated introduced gecko. This is the first record of this parasite infecting cane toads in their native range, and the first instance of this parasite occurring in Central America.

scholarly journals Distinct Adult Eclosion Traits of Sibling Species Rhagoletis pomonella and Rhagoletis zephyria (Diptera: Tephritidae) Under Laboratory Conditions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wee L Yee ◽  
Robert B Goughnour ◽  
Jeffrey L Feder
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
North America ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Washington State ◽  
Phytophagous Insects ◽  
Rhagoletis Pomonella ◽  
Western North America ◽  
Adult Eclosion ◽  
Key Features ◽  
Rhagoletis Zephyria

Abstract Closely related phytophagous insects that specialize on different host plants may have divergent responses to environmental factors. Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) and Rhagoletis zephyria Snow (Diptera: Tephritidae) are sibling, sympatric fly species found in western North America that attack and mate on plants of Rosaceae (~60 taxa) and Caprifoliaceae (three taxa), respectively, likely contributing to partial reproductive isolation. Rhagoletis zephyria evolved from R. pomonella and is native to western North America, whereas R. pomonella was introduced there. Given that key features of the flies’ ecology, breeding compatibility, and evolution differ, we predicted that adult eclosion patterns of the two flies from Washington State, USA are also distinct. When puparia were chilled, eclosion of apple- and black hawthorn-origin R. pomonella was significantly more dispersed, with less pronounced peaks, than of snowberry-origin R. zephyria within sympatric and nonsympatric site comparisons. Percentages of chilled puparia that produced adults were ≥67% for both species. However, when puparia were not chilled, from 13.5 to 21.9% of apple-origin R. pomonella versus only 1.2% to 1.9% of R. zephyria eclosed. The distinct differences in eclosion traits of R. pomonella and R. zephyria could be due to greater genetic variation in R. pomonella, associated with its use of a wider range of host plants than R. zephyria.

Mating frequencies and production of hybrids by Rhagoletis pomonella and Rhagoletis zephyria (Diptera: Tephritidae) in the laboratory

2011 ◽  
Vol 143 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wee L. Yee ◽  
Robert B. Goughnour
Keyword(s):  
Sibling Species ◽  
Mating Frequency ◽  
Rhagoletis Pomonella ◽  
Hybrid Offspring ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Rhagoletis Zephyria

AbstractEvidence indicates low levels of hybridization in nature between the apple maggot (AM), Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh), and snowberry maggot (SB), Rhagoletis zephyria Snow, sibling species in the R. pomonella complex. We determined the effects of AM and SB pairings on mating frequencies and production of hybrid offspring in the laboratory. Mating frequency was lowest in SB female × AM male pairings, higher in AM female × SB male and AM female × AM male pairings, and highest in SB female × SB male pairings. A greater percentage of AM female × AM male pairs produced offspring (puparia) than did AM female × SB male and SB female × AM male pairs, and a greater percentage of AM female × SB male pairs produced puparia than did SB female × AM male pairs. Male or female F1 hybrids backcrossed with AM males and with other F1 hybrids were fertile. Results suggest most R. pomonella × R. zephyria hybrids found in nature are the result of R. zephyria males mating with R. pomonella females, with few from reciprocal matings. If true, this asymmetry could lower the incidence of hybridization in nature.

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