Utetes anastrephae (Viereck, 1913)

Remarks
See comments under Utetes anastrephae species group on the Utetes page.

There is some evidence that Utetes anastrephae may actually be a complex of closely related species. It is a widespread, color-variable species (note variation in black markings on mesonotum and abdomen in Figs 2-7 of the Description section below) and the only species of Utetes recorded repeatedly from different species of Anastrepha. It is also the only species of this species group known from continental US (Florida).

Taxonomic History / Nomenclature
This species was originally described as Opius anastrephae by Viereck (1913). It was subsequently transferred to the genus Bracanastrepha by Fischer (1977) and finally to the genus Utetes by Wharton (1988).
Bracanastrepha argentina Brèthes, 1924, the type species of Bracanastrepha, is a synonym (Wharton and Marsh 1978).
Opius mombinpraeoptantis Fischer, 1966 is also a synonym (Wharton and Marsh 1978).
Description
The absence of an occipital carina is characteristic of the Utetes anastrephae species group.
3116_mximage
1. U. anastrephae habitus: latera...
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2. U. anastrephae body: dorsal obliq...
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3. U. anastrephae body: dorsal oblique...
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4. U. anastrephae thorax: d...
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5. U. anastrephae thorax:...
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6. U. anastrephae thorax: ...
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7. U. anastrephae thora...
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8. U. anastrep...
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9. U. anastrephae hind ...
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10. U. anastrephae carin...
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11.U. anastrephae fore and hind wing
 
Distribution
This species is found throughout the Neotropical Region
Distribution
Native
Nicaragua (Fischer, M. 1980.)
Introduced
Hawaii (. 0.)
Biology / Hosts
This species has been recorded from several pests in the genus Anastrepha (Wharton and Gilstrap 1983) as well as some non-pest species. It is also known from Ceratitis capitata in Argentina (Nasca 1973). Additional information on this species can be found in Ovruski et al. (2000). Aguiar-Menezes and Menezes (2001) provide information on hosts and host plants in a section of Brazil.
Biology and Behavior
Spatial and temporal distribution: Sivinski et al. (1997); Sivinski et al. (1998); Sivinski et al. (1999); Sivinski et al. (2000).

Relationships between ovipositor length, fruit morphology, competition, and host location: Sivinski et al. (2001); Sivinski and Aluja (2001); Paranhos et al. (2013).

Biological Control
Utetes anastrephae has been successfully introduced to Florida (Baranowski et al. 1993, Eitam et al. 2004).