Dacus aneuvittatus Drew, 1971

Mille, Christian, 2008, Re-assessment of the fauna of fruit flies (Diptera, Tephritidae) and their host fruits in New Caledonia, Mémoires du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle 197, pp. 251-260 : 254-259

Dacus aneuvittatus Drew, 1971

Originally described as Dacus , this species was transferred to Bactrocera by Drew (1989). This combination was adopted by Norrbom & Contributors (1999b). However, Drew & Hancock (1999) re-transferred it again to Dacus after a careful study of the holotype.

Table 1 summarises the updated species list in alphabetical order, showing the currently known attractants and the geographical location. We can note that 13 species are endemic, six are probably introduced regarding the known distribution. The present known location within the New Caledonian Archipelago is also specified between brackets.

NEW CALEDONIAN TEPHRITIDAE HOST FRUITS

Begun in 1994, this study is virtually completed, with only a few wild fruit species not yet sampled, due to the intermittent nature of the collections. This method enables an evaluation of the economic danger posed by different Tephritidae species, based on their potential to infest commercially grown fruits of various botanical families.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

When close to maturity, both determined and non-determined fruits were collected, remaining in the laboratory during the fructification period. The fruits were placed on latticework frames which were set into basins containing a layer of sawdust at the base, which allowed for the eventual recovery of pupae. When the adults emerged, they were identified and the results were noted. Non-determined fruit specimens were sent to the IRD botanist for plant host identification.

RESULTS

Table 2 summarises fruit hosts species that were attacked by fruit flies. A total of 1254 samples gave some adult fruit flies on a total of 1652 fruit samples. Sixty-nine plant species (28 families) were serving as hosts for Tephritids (Mademba-Sy 1999). Food spectrum is very large, starting with fruit fly species hosted by only one fruit species representing a strict monophagy ( Bactrocera fulvifacies , B. grandistylus and Dacus aneuvittatus ) to highly polyphagous species ( B. tryoni , B. curvipennis and B. psidii ). The economic significance is clearly shown by the number of hostspecies able to offer sufficient food for larval development. Each Fruit Fly species is also reviewed.

Bactrocera tryoni : the Queensland Fruit Fly, is a native of Australian East Coast. This species, accidentally introduced at the end of the 1960’s in infested fruits ( Cochereau 1966; Cochereau 1970), can be found in 53 different host fruits in New Caledonia (Mademba-Sy 1999). White & Elson-Harris (1992) noted 66 cultivated hosts and 60 wild hosts, however 242 host fruits are recorded in Australia (Hancock et al. 2000), making it an extremely polyphagous species. This species is the most frequently caught within the trapping network, the majority being in man-affected regions.

Bactrocera curvipennis : endemic to New Caledonia, this species was declared a Quarantine Species in 1994 by the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. It can infest a large range of fruits; currently a total of 34 host fruits, belonging to 16 botanical families (Mademba-Sy 1999). As this species is now virtually impossible to catch in

TABLE 1. Distribution, economic status and attractants of currently known species. Abbreviations: M-E, Methyl-eugenol; C-L, Cue-lure; *, pest species; **, beneficial species; ***, species of minor or null economic significance ( Amice & Sales 1997; Drew 1989; Drew & Hancock 1995; Drew & Hancock 1999; Drew et al. 1997; Hancock pers. comm. 2006; Hancock & McGuire 2000; Hardy & Foote 1996; Norrbom et al. 1999b; Norrbom & Hancock 2004; White & Elson-Harris 1992).

the trapping network, the ecological emphasis has moved to B. tryoni . To explain this condition, the first point is the ecological displacement of B. curvipennis by B. tryoni since its introduction, the second point could also be a weaker response to cue-lure than during the sixties (Cochereau 1970), observed several times by two technicians of the laboratory with males present in the vinicity of the traps, failing to enter in the traps.

TABLE 2. List of Fruit Fly plant hosts, from fruits collected.Abbreviations: B. t., Bactrocera tryoni ; B. p., B. psidii ; B. c., B. curvipennis ; B. u, B. umbrosa ; B. cal., B. caledoniensis ; B. m., B. mucronis ; B. fu., B. fulvifacies ; B. par., B. paraxanthodes ; Di. p., Dirioxa pornia ; D. an., Dacus aneuvittatus ; B. gr., B. grandistylus .

Families Botanical Names B. t. B. p. B. c. B. u. B. cal. B. m. B. fu. B. pa. Di. p. D. an. B. gr.

Bactrocera psidii : endemic to New Caledonia, this was declared a Quarantine Species. It was reared from 26 fruit species within 12 plant families (Mademba-Sy 1999). In terms of trapping, this species is second in term of number of captured flies in traps, just behind B. tryoni .

Dirioxa pornia : it is native to Australia and was introduced to New Caledonia by the first Europeans trading between the Pacific Islands. The fly has non-economic status, as it only attacks damaged fruits, generally those that have fallen. A total of 14 species of fruit within seven botanical families are host to this fly in New Caledonia (Mademba-Sy 1999).

Bactrocera mucronis : this endemic species attacks six host fruits belonging to five botanical families (Mademba-Sy 1999). Based on the small numbers that have been trapped, it has been classed as a species of minor economic significance.

Bactrocera paraxanthodes : this is an endemic species for which only three hosts are known, all within the family of Araliaceae (Mademba-Sy 1999).

Bactrocera caledoniensis : the known hosts of this endemic species are not economic. They belong to three plant families (Mademba-Sy 1999).

Bactrocera umbrosa : this regional native is a typically oligophagous species, which can only breed in two economically important fruit species of Moraceae , Artocarpus altilis and A. heterophyllus (Breadfruit and Jackfruit respectively).

Dacus aneuvittatus , Bactrocera fulvifacies and Bactrocera grandistylus : they are typically monophagous species, only breeding in one fruit species, which are respectively Tylophora biglandulosa (Apocynaceae) , Olea paniculata (Oleaceae) and Diospyros fasciculosa (Ebenaceae) (Mademba-Sy 1999). These plant species do not have an economic significance.

Bactrocera ebenea and Bactrocera perpusilla : to date, these species have no known host fruits.

Bactrocera trilineola : in Vanuatu, this species is known to breed on a wide host range. It is recorded from 32 fruit species of which 24 commercial fruits including Citrus spp. (Rutaceae) , guava ( Psidium spp. , Myrtaceae ), mango ( Mangifera indica , Anacardiaceae ), papaya ( Carica papaya , Caricaceae ), Syzygium spp. (Myrtaceae) and soursoap ( Annona muricata , Annonaceae ), from 18 plant families (SPC & Contributors 2002). This species has not been reared from any fruit yet in New Caledonia.

CONCLUSION

With the paper by Norrbom & Hancock (2004), the New Caledonian Tephritidae fauna increased from 14 to 27 described species, as well as three species that are currently undescribed. This paper also is recording for the first time Bactrocera trilineola from New Caledonia. So far it was only known from Vanuatu. Presenting this revised list of Diptera has both updated the Quarantine and the knowledge of biodiversity.

Much work remains to be done, as there is still an important lack of information, notably on the hosts of certain species, which remain unknown. It is probable that there are several species to be discovered and described (Norrbom & Hancock 2004), borne out by the example of Bactrocera grandistylus , which is restricted to Maré Island. In addition, some Tephritini in the subfamily Tephritinae are still underrepresented, probably because some improved collecting techniques would need to be experimented (Merz pers. comm. 2007).

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

My sincere thanks go first to IAC Technicians and Laboratory Observers, Mister David Paulaud, Madam Sylvie Cazères, Misters José Brinon and Jean-Pierre Kataoui, for their assistance and availability. My thanks also go to Dr David Hancock ( Australia) especially for the identification of Bactrocera trilineola and for his assistance in creating a legible paper and providing updated information. I also warmly thank Dr Bernhard Merz ( Switzerland) who suggested me essential corrections on the manuscript to create an updated paper on the Tephritidae New Caledonian fauna. Thanks also to Dr Hervé Jourdan (IRD, Centre de Nouméa) for reviewing and giving important suggestions. Acknowledgements are also addressed to Dr JérÔme Munzinger, botanist (IRD, Centre de Nouméa), for identifications of host fruits. Finally, I would like to thank Madam Jane Jore for the translation into English.

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