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Rhagoletotrypeta morgantei Norrbom

Recognition
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Rhagoletotrypeta morgantei closely resembles R. annulata and R. intermedia in wing pattern and body markings, but differs in having tergites 3 and 4 entirely dark brown.

Description
Head: Mostly yellow or orange. Occiput and postgena dark brown except anterior margin. 3 frontal setae (left side with 1 small additional seta). 2 orbital setae close together. Ocellar seta strong, almost as large as anterior orbital seta. Antennal first flagellomere moderate brown (perhaps discolored), 3.30 times as long as wide (lateral view), slightly tapered, with minute dorsoapical point. Thorax: Dark brown except following white areas: postpronotal lobe; entire dorsal margin and dorsal three-fourths of posterior margin of anepisternum; medial scutal stripe, from level of postpronotal seta to posterior margin; scutellum except disc basal to basal seta. Thorax entirely microtrichose. Scutum with 2 moderately broad paired stripes of denser microtrichia; submedial and lateral stripes separated by greater than [recheck] width of submedial stripe; submedial stripe extended to posterior margin, but less distinct posteriorly. Dorsocentral seta aligned with postsutural supra-alar seta. Wing: Length of vein M from BM-Cu to R-M/ length from BM-Cu to DM-Cu 0.50. Wingbands brown, slender, their width less than length of R-M. Subbasal band slender, bordered by large hyaline basal and apical areas in cell bm, extended to apex vein A₁+Cu₂. Discal and subapical bands strongly divergent anteriorly, fused at posterior margin to form V. Accessory costal band faint, extended to vein R₁. Abdomen: Tergites dark brown except for white bands on posterior margins of syntergite 1+2 and tergite 5. Male terminalia: Epandrium brown with narrow yellow dorsomedial stripe. Lateral surstylus with mesal lobe broad, not sharply delimited. Glans in lateral view relatively slender, cylindrical.

Classification and Evolutionary Relationships
Order: Diptera. Family: Tephritidae. Subfamily: Trypetinae. Genus: Rhagoletotrypeta. Species: morgantei. Author: Norrbom.
Relationships among the species of Rhagoletotrypeta were analyzed by Norrbom (1994). Click here for more detailed discussion of Rhagoletotrypeta phylogeny. Rhagoletotrypeta morgantei belongs to the annulata species group. It appears to be most closely related to R. annulata and R. argentinensis.

Names Used for this Species
Rhagoletotrypeta morgantei Norrbom 1994: 55.
Click here to link to fly names database

Type Data
Holotype - Male (USP), BRAZIL: São Paulo: Rib. Preto, Guatapará, Jan 1945, Barretto.

Distribution
Rhagoletotrypeta morgantei is known only from Brazil (São Paulo).
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Specimen data
BRAZIL: São Paulo: Rib. Preto, Guatapará, Jan 1945, Barretto, 1m holotype (USP).

Biology
The biology of Rhagoletotrypeta morgantei is very poorly known. No host plants are recorded, but like other species of Rhagoletotrypeta it probably breeds in fruit of a species of Celtis (Ulmaceae).

Economic Significance
Rhagoletotrypeta morgantei is not considered economically important.

Comments
This species was named in honor of Prof. João Morgante (Universidade de São Paulo), whose research and training of students has greatly advanced the study of Neotropical fruit flies.

References
Click here to access fruit fly literature database
Norrbom, A. L. 1994. New species and phylogenetic analysis of Cryptodacus, Haywardina, and Rhagoletotrypeta (Diptera: Tephritidae). Insecta Mundi 8: 37-65. [p. 55, description, phylogenetic relationships]
Norrbom, A. L., L. E. Carroll, F. C. Thompson, I. M. White & A. Freidberg. 1999. Systematic database of names, pp. 65-251. In F. C. Thompson (ed.), Fruit Fly Expert Identification System and Systematic Information Database. Myia (1998) 9, vii + 524 pp. & Diptera Data Dissemination Disk (CD-ROM) (1998) 1. [p.   , in catalog]

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