Random mating and reproductive compatibility among Argentinean and southern Brazilian populations of Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae)

JUAN RULL; ABRAHAM, SOLANA; KOVALESKI, A; DF SEGURA; A ISLAM; V WORNOAYPORN; T. DAMMALAGE; U.S. TOMAS; MT VERA

BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH

CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS

Lugar: Cambridge; Año: 2012

0007-4853

As a prerequisite for area-wide application of the sterile insect technique in an area 19 encompassing northern Argentina and southern Brazil, prezygotic and postzygotic 20 reproductive compatibility among three geographically distant populations in the 21 area was tested. In field cages, sexually mature adults of each population were found 22 to be sexually compatible, mating duration was not affected by fly origin and there 23 was no clear evidence of spatial partition of mating location. In the laboratory, 24 homotypic and heterotypic crosses for all possible combinations displayed similar 25 levels of fertility and yielded F1 adults without distortion of the sex ratio. Finally, F1 26 hybrid and parental adults produced equally viable F2 eggs. Put together, our results 27 and those from earlier studies suggest that a large area, ranging from Buenos Aires to 28 the surroundings of São Paulo, could be managed using a single A. fraterculus mass- 29 reared strain. At the northern margin of this area, two A. fraterculus morphotypes 30 appear to coexist in sympatry. We delineate future research to further delimit the 31 distribution of the aff1 morphotype (Argentina-southern Brazil) and to gain insight 32 into evolutionary patterns producing divergence and radiation of tropical fruit fly 33 species.