Parasitoids of Fruit-Infesting Tephritidae

Fopius desideratus (Bridwell, 1919)

See comments under the Fopius desideratus species group on the Fopius page.

Originally described in the genus Hedylus (Bridwell 1919). Prior to 1987, most of the species of Fopius, including this one, were placed either in Opius or Biosteres. Formally transferred to Fopius by Wharton (1997).

As in other members of the desideratus species group, the ovipositor is characterized by the presence of two distinct subapical nodes and the setae on the ovipositor sheath are very sparse; the frons has transverse, somewhat curved striae.

A tabular summary of morphological features that facilitates comparison of the known species of Fopius is provided by Wharton (1999). See also Wharton and Gilstrap (1983).

Native

Cameroon (Clausen, C. P.; Clancy, D. W.; Chock, Q. C. 1965.; Papp, J. 1985.; Gilstrap, F. E. and Hart, W. G. 1987.; Steck, G. J.; Gilstrap, F. E.; Wharton, R. A.; Hart, W. G. 1986.)

Congo (Clausen, C. P.; Clancy, D. W.; Chock, Q. C. 1965.; Gilstrap, F. E. and Hart, W. G. 1987.)

Nigeria (Bridwell, J. C. 1919.; Brues, C. T. 1926.; Thompson, W. R. 1953.; Fischer, M. 1963.; Papp, J. 1985.; Narayanan, E. S. and Chawla, S. S. 1962.)

Togo (Steck, G. J.; Gilstrap, F. E.; Wharton, R. A.; Hart, W. G. 1986.)

Uganda (Papp, J. 1985.)

Introduced

Hawaii (. 0.)

Orginally reared from samples containing Ceratitis anonae Graham and undetermined species of Dacus (Bridwell 1919).

Other than the original host records, almost nothing is known about the biology of this species.

Lab reared on medfly, Ceratitis capitata (Clausen et al. 1965).

Shipped to Hawaii on at least two occasions but possibly not released and certainly never recovered from release sites.