Demography and esterase polymorphism of brazilian populations of Zaprionus indianus (Diptera: Drosophilidae) from the Brazilian Cerrado localities

Abstract

Zaprionus indianus (fig fly) is a drosophilid of African origin that was recorded in Brazilian territory in 1999, quickly dispersing throughout the country, causing impacts on fig culture, and becoming one of the dominant Drosophilidae species in the Cerrado biome. Due to the fact it is an invasive species and a potential pest in fruit cultivars, it is essential to monitor the variations in the populations of this species aiming to verify its genetic and demographic structure and possible impacts on the drosophilid community. The demography and the genetic data obtained from the Est3 polymorphism of fig fly have been evaluated in six populations of Brazilian Cerrado sampled during the dry season. Multivariate analyses of PCA, UPGMA and landscape genetics were performed. The results have indicated variation in the demography of the sampled populations, the presence of two alleles (Est31 and Est34) in all of them, and a higher isolation degree of the Guaíra (SP) population. Thus, the fig fly is a colonizer of the Brazilian Cerrado, and the polymorphisms of Est3 locus are an appropriate genetic marker to investigate the bioinvasion process.

Geographical and sex‐specific effects of malathion insecticide selection in African fig fly Zaprionus indianus Gupta, 1970 (Diptera: Drosophilidae)

“…One of these species, Zaprionus indianus , native to Africa, was first recorded in Brazil in 1999 (Vilela, 1999), and recently another drosophilid (originally from Africa) species of the same genus, Zaprionus tuberculatus , was registered in the Americas in the Brazilian Cerrado (Cavalcanti et al., 2021). Since the invasion, the species has rapidly spread throughout the country (Commar et al., 2012; Rios et al., 2022) and has become a significant pest in fig crops, causing major economic impacts (Commar et al., 2012; Vieira et al., 2019; Vilela & Goñi, 2000). Other studies have shown that Z. indianus is detrimental to the cultivation of tomato, guava, mango, cherry, and blueberry (Bragard et al., 2022; Khaldi et al., 2021).…”

“…One of these species, Zaprionus indianus, native to Africa, was first recorded in Brazil in 1999 (Vilela, 1999), and recently another drosophilid (originally from Africa) species of the same genus, Zaprionus tuberculatus, was registered in the Americas in the Brazilian Cerrado (Cavalcanti et al, 2021). Since the invasion, the species has rapidly spread throughout the country (Commar et al, 2012;Rios et al, 2022) and has become a significant pest in fig crops, causing major eco-…”