Opius (Bellopius) hirtus Fischer, 1963
Remarks
Wharton studied variation in this species, with particular regard to material reared from different hosts (Wharton 1983).
For additional information, see the Bellopius page.
For additional information, see the Bellopius page.
Taxonomic History / Nomenclature
Opius hirtus Fischer, 1963: 365, 376-378. Holotype female in Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University (original description incorrectly states California Academy of Sciences; corrected by Fischer 1977).
Desmiostoma hirtum: Fischer 1977: 850, 865-867.
Opius hirtus: Wharton 1983: 61 (redescription, variation, and range extension).
Opius (Bellopius) hirtus: Wharton 1997: 28.
Desmiostoma hirtum: Fischer 1977: 850, 865-867.
Opius hirtus: Wharton 1983: 61 (redescription, variation, and range extension).
Opius (Bellopius) hirtus: Wharton 1997: 28.
Description
This species is similar to Opius (Bellopius) bellus but is darker and has a somewhat narrower stigma. It is virtually identical to Desmiostoma caldasanum in color and many other features.
Distribution
Native
Dominican Republic (Fischer, M. 1963.; Ovruski, S.; Aluja, M.; Sivinski, J.; Wharton, R. 2000.)
Veracruz (Fischer, M. 1969.; Lopez, M.; Aluja, M.; Sivinski, J. 1999.; Sivinski, J.; Pinero, J.; Aluja, M. 2000.; Aluja, M.; Rull, J.; Sivinski, J.; Norrbom, A. L.; Wharton, R. A.; Macias-Ordonez, R.; Diaz-Fleischer, R; Lopez, M. 2003.; Sivinski, J.; Vulinec, K.; Aluja, M. 2001.; Hernandez-Ortiz, V.; Perez-Alonso, R.; Wharton, R. A. 1994.)
Biology / Hosts
Opius (Bellopius) hirtus has been reared from various species of Anastrepha as well as the introduced Ceratitis capitata (e. g. Wharton 1983, Aluja et al. 2003).
Biology and Behavior
See Ovruski et al. (2000) for summary of the few publications on this species. Additionally, this species was one of several discussed in terms of relationships between ovipositor length, fruit morphology, and host location by Sivinski et al. (2001) and Sivinski and Aluja (2001).
