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Euphranta (Rhacochlaena) mexicana  Norrbom

Recognition
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Euphranta mexicana can be recognized from E. canadensis by the following characters: Wing with radial-medial band (band across R-M) interrupted in cell r₂₊₃, its anterior part equidistant from its posterior part and subapical band (band across DM-Cu); apical band not connected to radial-medial band along costa, not extended into cell r₁; radial-medial and subapical bands broadly connected posteriorly, no hyaline space between them in cell cu₁; scutum mostly dark brown or bluish gray; and by its wider apical spot in cell r₄₊₅, and by its shorter medial surstylus and phallus. Although the female of E. mexicana is unknown, its oviscape probably is shorter than that of E. canadensis, because the length of that structure is usually correlated with that of the phallus. Of the nine Palearctic species of the subgenus Rhacochlaena, E. toxoneura (Loew), E. licenti Zia, E. japonica (Ito), and E. transmontana (Ito) have wing patterns most similar to E. mexicana, with the radial-medial band interrupted and the subapical band not extended anteriorly through cell r₂₊₃. They differ from E. mexicana in that the apical band is extended into cell r₁, and the radial-medial and subapical bands are separated posteriorly. Also, in some of these species, the subbasal band is interrupted in cells r₁ and r₂₊₃.

Names Used for this Species
Euphranta (Rhacochlaena) mexicana Norrbom 1993: 190.
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Type data
Holotype - Male (UNAM), MEXICO: Morelos: Lagunas de Zempoala, reared ex. fruits of Ribes pringlei Rose (89M13) collected 10-11 Aug 1989, emerged 5 Oct 1989, A. L. Norrbom.

Distribution
Euphranta mexicana is known only from the type locality in Mexico (Morelos).
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Biology
Ribes pringlei Rose (Grossulariaceae) is the only known host. The larvae breed in the fruit. Ribes pringlei is a shrub or understory tree at Lagunas de Zempoala, the type locality, which is at approximately 3,000 m. altitude. The sample of larvae from which the holotype was reared were heavily parasitized by a braconid wasp (Biosteres n. sp. near sanguineus (Ashmead), det. R.Wharton); 50 wasp adults, but only two adults of E. mexicana, emerged (Norrbom 1993).

Economic Significance
Euphranta mexicana is not considered an economically significant species.

References
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Norrbom, A. L. 1993. New synonymy of Epochra with Euphranta (Rhacochlaena Loew) (Diptera: Tephritidae) and description of a new species from Mexico. Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash. 95: 189-194.