| Euaresta aequalis | |
|---|---|
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| Euaresta aequalis | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Tephritidae |
| Subfamily: | Tephritinae |
| Tribe: | Tephritini |
| Genus: | Euaresta |
| Species: | E. aequalis |
| Binomial name | |
| Euaresta aequalis | |
| Synonyms | |
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Euaresta aequalis is a species of fruit fly in the genus Euaresta of the family Tephritidae. [3]
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.
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]
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]
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]
The Tephritidae are one of two fly families referred to as fruit flies, the other family being the Drosophilidae. The family Tephritidae does not include the biological model organisms of the genus Drosophila, which is often called the "common fruit fly". Nearly 5,000 described species of tephritid fruit fly are categorized in almost 500 genera of the Tephritidae. Description, recategorization, and genetic analyses are constantly changing the taxonomy of this family. To distinguish them from the Drosophilidae, the Tephritidae are sometimes called peacock flies, in reference to their elaborate and colorful markings. The name comes from the Greek τεφρος, tephros, meaning "ash grey". They are found in all the biogeographic realms.
Paracantha is a genus of fruit flies in the family Tephritidae. There are about 10 described species in Paracantha.
Campiglossa is a genus of fruit flies in the family Tephritidae. There are at least 190 described species in Campiglossa.
Icterica is a genus of fruit flies in the family Tephritidae. There are at least two described species in Icterica.
Anastrepha is the most diverse genus in the American tropics and subtropics. Currently, it comprises more than 300 described species, including nine major pest species, such as the Mexican fruit fly, the South American fruit fly, the West Indian fruit fly, the sapote fruit fly, the Caribbean fruit fly, the American guava fruit fly, and the pumpkin fruit fly, as well as the papaya fruit fly. As some of their names suggest, these pest species cause damage in commercial fruits such as citrus, mango, guava, and papaya.
Chaetostomella is a genus of fruit flies in the family Tephritidae. There are about 16 described species in Chaetostomella.
Parastenopa is a genus of fruit flies in the family Tephritidae. There are about 10 described species in Parastenopa.
Euaresta is a genus of flies in the family Tephritidae that live in plants of the closely related genera Ambrosia, Xanthium, and Dicoria, and feed on their flowers and seeds.
Oxyna is a genus of fruit flies in the family Tephritidae. There are at least 20 described species in Oxyna.
Rhynencina is a genus of fruit flies in the family Tephritidae. There are about five described species in Rhynencina.
Euaresta bella is a species of tephritid or fruit flies in the genus Euaresta of the family Tephritidae.
Euaresta bellula is a species of tephritid or fruit flies in the genus Euaresta of the family Tephritidae.
Euaresta festiva is a species of fruit fly in the family Tephritidae.
Euaresta jonesi is a species of fruit fly in the genus Euaresta of the family Tephritidae.
Euaresta stelligera is a species of fruit fly in the genus Euaresta of the family Tephritidae.
Euaresta stigmatica is a species of fruit fly in the genus Euaresta of the family Tephritidae.
Euaresta tapetis is a species of fruit fly in the genus Euaresta of the family Tephritidae.
Acinia picturata, the sourbush seed fly, is a species of fruit fly in the family Tephritidae.
Tephritini is a tribe of fruit flies in the family Tephritidae. There are about 12 genera and at least 40 described species in Tephritini.
Campiglossa clathrata is a species of fruit fly in the family Tephritidae.
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