Identification and differentiation of the cryptic cucurbit fruit fly species Dacus frontalis, Dacus ciliatus and Bactrocera cucurbitae (Diptera: Tephritidae) using PCR–RFLP for quarantine applications

• Published in: International journal of tropical insect science Vol. 42; no. 2; pp. 2041 - 2047
• Main Authors: Harbi, Ahlem, Djebbi, Salma, Naccache, Chahnez, Abbes, Khaled, Chermiti, Brahim, Khemakhem, Maha Mezghani
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.04.2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Bactrocera cucurbitae; Biomedical and Life Sciences; COI protein; Cryptic species; Dacus ciliatus; Dacus frontalis; Decision making; Differentiation; DNA barcoding; Entomology; Fruit flies; Fruits; Host plants; Introduced species; Invasive species; Life Sciences; Mitochondria; Morphology; Pests; Quarantine; Sequence analysis; Short Communication; Invasive species; Cucurbits; mtCOI; PCR–RFLP; Tephritidae; Species identification

Tephritid fruit flies attacking cucurbits are major agricultural pests that cause severe damage to their host plants, and are listed as quarantine pests in many countries. The classical morphological identification of Tephritid species is an arduous task due to presence of cryptic species complexes,...