Bactrocera zonata (Saunders)

--Its recognition-- (cont.)
by Dr Ian M. White

**Identification of the Bactrocera zonata species group**


Microtrichiae in basal area of cell br	No microtrichiae in basal area of cell br (applies to a very few other species, e.g. B. oleae) B. zonata group

Other features needed to define the B. zonata group

- Scutum with lateral vittae
- Scutum without medial vitta
- Scutellum without basal setae
- Scutum with anterior supra-alar setae
- Male with a pecten

Scutum with lateral vittae

The lateral vittae are the bright yellow stripes either side of the scutum.

B. oleae is an example of a species that lacks these bright stripes

Scutum without a medial vitta

Left: B. cucurbitae, the melon fly, has a medial bright stripe (vitta)

Right: B. zonata

*Scutellum without basal setae*

Setae present - no major pests have this (except rare individuals of B. cucurbitae)	Setae absent as in B. zonata

Scutum with anterior supra-alar setae

B. oleae is an example of a species that lacks these setae

Male with a pecten

All major pest Bactrocera spp. have this

The B. zonata group

- B. affinis - Shevroy Hills, S. India
- B. armillata - Myanmar
- B. correcta - Widespread pest
- B. tuberculata - Myanmar & Thailand
- B. venefica - Myanmar
- B. versicolor - S. India & Sri Lanka
- B. zonata - Widespread pest

Some characters that separate species within the B. zonata group
- Colour of scutum
- Facial spots
- Costal band of wing reduced
- Prescutellar setae
- Aculeus (ovipositor tip) shape

Colour of scutum

Left: B. zonata, B. affinis, B. versicolor

B. armillata, B. correcta, B. tuberculata and B. venefica are black

*Facial spots*

Round spots of B. zonata and others	Transverse lines of B. correcta

*Costal band of wing reduced*
	B. zonata and others e.g. B. correcta
	B. versicolor is similar to this (actually B. dorsalis shown)

*Scutum with prescutellar setae*

	B. affinis lacks these setae

Aculeus (ovipositor tip) shape

Centre: B. zonata aculeus is pointed

Right: A trilobed aculeus similar to B. affinis (B. latifrons actually shown)

Easily confused species (wing pattern also reduced)

Bactrocera oleae
- only in olive
- darker and no stripes on scutum
Dacus ciliatus
- only in Cucurbitaceae
- fused terga of abdomen
B. zonata
- not in above hosts

Bactrocera oleae

- Only attacks Olea spp.
- Similar wing
- No stripes on scutum
- No anterior supra-alar setae
- Males are not attracted to methyl eugenol

Dacus ciliatus

- A pest of Cucurbitaceae
- Costal band complete but narrowed so
superficially like B. zonata
- Fused terga of abdomen
- No anterior supra-alar setae
- No prescutellar setae

Larval identification

Bactrocera maggots in Indian Bael (Aegle marmelos), a fruit heavily attacked by B. zonata in its native south Asia		Bactrocera, 3rd instar larva, lateral view. 1, anterior spiracle. 2, mouth hook. 3, oral ridge. 4, creeping welts. 5, anal lobes. 6, posterior spiracles.
- The only description was made before modern SEM-based studies - Therefore - we simply do not know the important characters!

*Good taxonomy* *can save billions!*
Peach attacked by Bactrocera sp. showing sticky exudate around oviposition hole	A well stocked stall in a southern Indian market, with its proud owners

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Bactrocera zonata (Saunders)

Identification of the Bactrocera zonata species group

Easily confused species (wing pattern also reduced)

Larval identification

**Identification of the Bactrocera zonata species group**