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Rhagoletotrypeta (Diptera: Tephritidae) Phylogeny

Rhagoletotrypeta belongs to the tribe Carpomyini, whose phylogenetic relationships were discussed by Smith & Bush (1999).  The relationship of Rhagoletotrypeta among other carpomyine genera is not fully resolved, but several other American genera, namely Haywardina, Cryptodacus, and Zonosemata may be its closest relatives. Norrbom (1994) noted that all four genera have a medial white scutal spot or vitta, which is a possible synapomorphy. Morphological analyses (Norrbom 1994, Jenkins 1996) and several molecular studies (McPheron & Han 1997, Han & McPheron 1997) have generally clustered these genera, although sometimes also with some Neotropical, Solanaceae-breeding species of Rhagoletis, and with limited support. The molecular analyses have included only a few representative species.

Norrbom (1994) analyzed relationships within Cryptodacus, Haywardina, and Rhagoletotrypeta, and concluded that Rhagoletotrypeta may be a monophyletic group (click here to access the full results of that study). Rhagoletotrypeta includes two well defined monophyletic species groups, whose relationship to each other is suggested mainly by the short medial surstylus, a character that also occurs in Zonosemata. The fact that species of both species groups breed in Celtis species (Ulmaceae), a host taxon not known to be attacked by any other Carpomyina, also suggests their relationship. 

The xanthogastra species group includes R. parallela, R. pastranai, and R. xanthogastra. Its monophyly is indicated by at least three synapomorphies: aculeus with lateral barbs; aculeus tip deeply trilobed; and 3 spermathecae present. The shape of the apex of the lateral surstylus, which is unknown in R. parallela, and the abdominal color pattern, which varies in R. pastranai, may be additional ones. The relationships among these three species are not well resolved.

The annulata species group includes R. annulata, R. argentinensis, R. intermedia, R. morgantei, R. rohweri, and R. uniformis. Synapomorphies for this group include: male sternite 6 with a medial lobe; lateral surstylus with mesal lobe not sharply differentiated; and aculeus tip length more than half the length of the aculeus. The absence of the lateral scutal stripe, also absent in Cryptodacus obliquus and Rhagoletis, may be another synapomorphy. Within the annulata group, R. intermedia is the sister group of R. morgantei + R. annulata + R. argentinensis. The shape of the aculeus tip, flattened in the sagittal plane and trilobed in lateral view, may be a synapomorphy of R. annulata and R. argentinensis, but this character is unknown in R. morgantei, so it could be a synapomorphy of all three species. The relationships of R. uniformis and R. rohweri are not well resolved.

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