A checklist of the Dacinae (Diptera: Tephritidae) of South Africa
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17159/2254-8854/2026/a24629Keywords:
distribution, diversity, surveysAbstract
South Africa has a diverse assemblage of true fruit flies in the subfamily Dacinae (Diptera: Tephritidae). Amongst its members are species with significant agricultural and ecological importance, yet this is the first comprehensive checklist available for this group in South Africa. This account was compiled using verified specimen lists, which are maintained by the Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA) database and includes material from 30 global museum collections. To supplement the database and obtain detailed information on pest status, distribution and known host plant records, additional literature records were sourced. In total, 105 species belonging to ten genera are documented. Of the species recorded, several include key pests of cultivated fruit and vegetables in South Africa, while most are non-pest species restricted to native host plants. In addition to known pest status and host range within South Africa, the observed distribution patterns on a continental and national scale, and the known attractants used for trapping fruit fly specimens are also briefly reported. This resource combines information into a single document and provides support to taxonomic, ecological and applied studies of dacine fruit flies in South Africa, as well as pest risk assessments of relevance to South Africa’s fruit exports.
Downloads
References
Aluja M, Mangan RL. 2008. Fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) host status determination: critical conceptual, methodological, and regulatory considerations. Annual Review of Entomology. 53: 473–502. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ento.53.103106.093350 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ento.53.103106.093350
Bezzi M. 1908. 6. Simuliidae, Bombyliidae, Empididae, Syrphidae, Tachinidae, Muscidae, Phycodromidae, Borboridae, Trypetidae, Ephydridae, Drosophilidae, Geomyzidae, Agromyzidae, Conopidae. In: Schultze L (editor), Zoologische und anthropologische Ergebnisse einer Forschungsreise im westlichen und zentralen Südafrika ausgefuhrt in den Jahren 1903–1905 mit Unterstutzung der Kgl. Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin. Erster Band: Systematik und Tiergeographie. IV. Insecta (Erste Serie). D. Diptera (1). Denkschriften der Medicinisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Gesellschaft zu Jena. Jena: Verlag von Gustav Fischer. Pp. 179–201.
Bezzi M. 1915. On the Ethiopian fruit-flies of the genus Dacus. Bulletin of Entomological Research. 6: 85–101. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007485300044369 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007485300044369
Bezzi M. 1917. New Ethiopian fruit-flies of the genus Dacus. Bulletin of Entomological Research. 8: 63–71. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007485300036518 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007485300036518
Bezzi M. 1922. Due nuovi Tripaneidi (Dipt.) infestante frutti di Olea nell’ Africa del Sud. Bollettino del Laboratorio di Zoologia Generale e Agraria della Regia Scuola Superiore d’Agricoltura, Portici. 15: 293–301.
Burgess N, D’Amico Hales J, Underwood E, Dinerstein E, Olson D, Illanga I, Schipper H, Ricketts T, Newman K. 2004. Terrestrial Ecoregions of Africa and Madagascar: A Conservation Assessment. Washington: Island Press.
Copeland RS, Okeka W, Freidberg A, Merz B, White IM, De Meyer M, Luke Q. 2005. Fruit flies (Diptera, Tephritidae) of Kakamega Forest, Kenya. Journal of East African Natural History. 94: 247–278. https://doi.org/10.2982/0012-8317(2005)94[247:FFDTOK]2.0.CO;2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2982/0012-8317(2005)94[247:FFDTOK]2.0.CO;2
Copeland RS, Wharton RA, Luke Q, De Meyer M, Lux S, Zenz N, Machera P, Okumu M. 2006. Geographic distribution, host fruits, and parasitoids of African fruit fly pests Ceratitis anonae, Ceratitis cosyra, Ceratitis fasciventris, and Ceratitis rosa (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Kenya. Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 99: 261–278. https://doi.org/10.1603/0013-8746(2006)099[0261:GDHFAP]2.0.CO;2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1603/0013-8746(2006)099[0261:GDHFAP]2.0.CO;2
Daiber KC. 1992. Injurious insects and nematodes on cucurbits in Southern Africa – A research review / Schadinsekten und Nematoden an Kürbis und verwandten Kulturen im südlichen Afrika – Ein Forschungsüberblick. Zeitschrift für Pflanzenkrankheiten und Pflanzenschutz. 99: 657–666.
De Graaf J. 2009. Host status of avocado (‘Hass’) to Ceratitis capitata, Ceratitis rosa, and Ceratitis cosyra (Diptera: Tephritidae) in south Africa. Journal of Economic Entomology. 102: 1448–1459. https://doi.org/10.1603/029.102.0408 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1603/029.102.0408
De Meyer M. 2006. A systematic revision of the African fruit fly genus Carpophthoromyia (Diptera, Tephritidae). Zootaxa. 1235: 1–48. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1235.1.1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1235.1.1
De Meyer M. 2009. Taxonomic revision of the fruit fly genus Perilampsis Bezzi (Diptera, Tephritidae). Journal of Natural History. 43: 2425–2463. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222930903207868 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222930903207868
De Meyer M, Freidberg A. 2005. Revision of the fruit fly genus Capparimyia (Diptera, Tephritidae). Zoologica Scripta. 34: 279–303. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1463-6409.2005.00195.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1463-6409.2005.00195.x
De Meyer M, Freidberg A. 2012. Taxonomic revision of the fruit fly genus Neoceratitis Hendel (Diptera: Tephritidae). Zootaxa. 3223: 24–39. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3223.1.2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3223.1.2
De Meyer M, Copeland RS, Lux S, Mansell M, Wharton R, White IM, Zenz N. 2002. Annotated check list of host plants for Afrotropical fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) of the genus Ceratitis. Zoologische Documentatie Koninklijk Museum voor Midden Afrika. 27: 1–92.
De Meyer M, Majubwa RO, Biyusa AK, Vandenbosch M, Virgilio M, Mwatawala M. 2023. A first checklist of the dacine fruit flies (Diptera, Tephritidae, Dacinae) of Tanzania. Journal of East African Natural History. 112: 1–19. https://doi.org/10.2982/028.112.0101 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2982/028.112.0101
De Meyer M, White IM, Goodger KFM. 2013. Notes on the frugivorous fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) fauna of western Africa, with description of a new Dacus species. European Journal of Taxonomy. 50: 1–17. https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2013.50 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2013.50
De Meyer M, Bota L, Daniel B, Mussumbi M, Vandenbosch M, Canhanga L, Cambula E, Mansell M, Cugala D, Virgilio M. 2023. A checklist of the dacine fruit flies (Diptera, Tephritidae, Dacinae) of Mozambique. African Entomology. 31: e15585. https://doi.org/10.17159/2254-8854/2023/a15585 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17159/2254-8854/2023/a15585
Doorenweerd C, Leblanc L, Norrbom AL, San Jose M, Rubinoff D. 2018. A global checklist of the 932 fruit fly species in the tribe Dacini (Diptera, Tephritidae). ZooKeys. 730: 19–54. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.730.21786 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.730.21786
Drew RAI, Yuval B. 1999. The evolution of fruit fly feeding behavior. In: Aluja M, Norrbom AL, editors. Fruit files (Tephritidae): Phylogeny and Evolution of Behavior. Boca Raton, USA: CRC Press; p. 731–750. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781420074468.ch27 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1201/9781420074468.ch27
EFSA. 2020. Pest categorization of non-EU Tephritidae. EFSA Journal. 18(1): 5931. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2020.5931
Erbout N, Virgilio M, Lens L, Barr N, De Meyer M. 2011. Discrepancies between subgeneric classification and molecular phylogeny of Ceratitis (Diptera: Tephritidae), can the evolution of host use provide some clues? Molecular Phylogeny and Evolution. 60: 259–264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2011.04.004 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2011.04.004
Giunti G, Benelli G, Campolo O, Canale A, Kapranas A, Liedo P, De Meyer M, Nestel D, Ruiu L, Scolari F, Wang X, Papadopoulos N. 2023a. Management of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata: past, present and future. Entomologia Generalis. 43: 1241–1263. https://doi.org/10.1127/entomologia/2023/2136 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1127/entomologia/2023/2136
Giunti G, Benelli G, Campolo O, Canale A, Kapranas A, Liedo P, De Meyer M, Nestel D, Ruiu L, Scolari F, Wang X, Papadopoulos N. 2023b. Biology, ecology and invasiness of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata: a review. Entomologia Generalis. 43: 1221–1239. https://doi.org/10.1127/entomologia/2023/2135 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1127/entomologia/2023/2135
Grové T, De Jager K, De Beer MS. 2017. Indigenous hosts of economically important fruit fly species (Diptera: Tephritidae) in South Africa. Journal of Applied Entomology. 141: 817–824. https://doi.org/10.1111/jen.12381 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jen.12381
Grové T, De Jager K, Theledi ML. 2019. Fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) and Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: tortricidae) associated with fruit of the family Myrtaceae Juss in South Africa. Crop Protection. 116: 24–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2018.10.008 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2018.10.008
Grové T, Hannweg K, De Jager K, Hofmeyr M. 2020. Fruit flies associated with the pepper-bark tree (Warburgia salutaris (G.Bertol.) Chiov.) in Mpumalanga province, South Africa. Fruits. 75: 267–272. https://doi.org/10.17660/th2020/75.6.3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17660/th2020/75.6.3
Hancock DL. 1999. Grass-breeding fruit flies and their allies of Africa and Asia (Diptera: Tephritidae: Ceratitidinae). Journal of Natural History. 33: 911–948. https://doi.org/10.1080/002229399300155 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/002229399300155
Hancock, DL. 2003. An annotated checklist of the Tephritidae of Zimbabwe (Diptera: Schizophora), with a key to subgenera of Dacus Fabricius. Cimbebasia. 19: 111–148
Hancock DL, Kirk-Spriggs AH. Marais E. 2001. An annotated checklist and provisional atlas of Namibian Tephritidae (Diptera: Schizophora). Cimbebasia. 17: 41–72.
Hancock DL, Kirk-Spriggs AH. Marais E. 2003. New records of Namibian Tephritidae (Diptera: Schizophora), with notes on the classification of subfamily Tephritinae. Cimbebasia. 18: 49–70.
Hancock DL, Freidberg A, Friedman ALL. 2021. Tephritidae 71 (true fruit flies). In: Kirk-Spriggs AH, Sinclair BJ (editors), Manual of Afrotropical Diptera, Vol. 3: SANBI Pretoria; p. 1511–1575.
Kirk-Spriggs AH. 2017. Introduction and brief history of Afrotropical Dipterology 1. In: Kirk-Spriggs AH, Sinclair BJ (editors), Manual of Afrotropical Diptera, Vol. 1. Pretoria: SANBI. pp. 1–67.
Kirk-Spriggs AH, Muller BS. 2017. Biogeography of Diptera 9. In: Kirk-Spriggs AH, Sinclair BJ (editors), Manual of Afrotropical Diptera, Vol. 1. Pretoria: SANBI. pp. 203–238.
Korneyev VA. 1999. Phylogenetic relationships among higher groups of Tephritidae. In: Aluja M, Norrbom AL (editors), Fruit files (Tephritidae): Phylogeny and Evolution of Behavior. Boca Raton, USA: CRC Press. pp. 73–113. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781420074468.sec2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1201/9781420074468.sec2
Loew H. 1862. Bidrag till kannedomen om Afrikas Diptera. Ofversigt af Finska Vetenskaps–Sociététens Forhandlingar. Afd. A. Matematik och Naturvetenskaper (Helsingfors). 19: 3–14.
Manrakhan A, Daneel J, Beck R, Theron C, Weldon CW, Moore S, Hattingh V. 2018. Non-host status of commercial export grade lemon fruit (Citrus limon (L.) Burman f. cv. Eureka) for Ceratitis capitata, Ceratitis rosa, Ceratitis quilicii and Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae) in South Africa. African Entomology. 26: 202–214. https://doi.org/10.4001/003.026.0202 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4001/003.026.0202
Manrakhan A, Grout T, Grové T, Daneel J, Stephen P, Weldon C, De Meyer M, Carstens E, Hattingh V. 2020. A survey of Ceratitis quinaria (Bezzi)(Diptera: Tephritidae) in citrus production areas in South Africa. African Entomology. 28: 35–43. https://doi.org/10.4001/003.028.0035 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4001/003.028.0035
Mkize N, Hoelmer KA, Villet MH. 2008. A survey of fruit-feeding insects and their parasitoids occurring on wild olives, Olea europaea ssp. cuspidata, in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Biocontrol Science and Technology. 18: 991–1004. https://doi.org/10.1080/09583150802450154. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09583150802450154
Moquet L, Payet J, Glenac S, Delatte H. 2021. Niche shift of tephritid species after the Oriental frtui fly (Bactrocera dorsalis) invasion in La Réunion. Diversity and Distributions. 27: 109–129. https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13172 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13172
Muatinte BL, Cugala DR. 2014. Infestation and abundance of Ceratitis cosyra (Walker) (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Warburgia salutaris (Canellaceae) in Maputo, Mozambique. Revista Científica da Universidade Eduardo Mondlane: Série Ciências Agronômicas, Florestais e Veterinárias. 1: 4–12.
Mukhawana MB, Kanyerere T, Kahler D. 2023. Review of in-situ and remote sensing-based indices and their applicability for integrated drought monitoring in South Africa. Water 15: 240. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15020240 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/w15020240
Munro HK. 1925. Biological notes on South African Trypaneidae (fruit-flies) – I. Union of South Africa Department of Agriculture Entomology Memoirs. 3: 41–67.
Munro HK. 1926. Biological notes on the South African Trypaneidae (Trypetidae: fruit-flies). II. Union of South Africa Department of Agriculture Entomology Memoirs. 5: 17–40.
Munro HK. 1929. Biological notes on the South African Trypetidae (fruit-flies. Diptera) III. Union of South Africa Department of Agriculture Entomology Memoirs. 6: 9–17.
Munro HK. 1935. Biological and systematic notes and records of South African Trypetidae (fruit-flies, Diptera) with descriptions of new species. Union of South Africa Department of Agriculture Entomology Memoirs. 9: 18–59.
Munro HK. 1984. A taxonomic treatise on the Dacidae (Tephritoidea, Diptera) of Africa. Entomology Memoir. 61: 1–313.
Mwatawala MW, Mziray H, Malebo H, De Meyer M. 2015. Guiding farmers’ choice for an integrated pest management program against the invasive Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel (Diptera: Tephritidae) in mango orchards in Tanzania. Crop Protection. 76: 103–107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2015.07.001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2015.07.001
Norrbom AL, Carroll LE, Thompson FC, White IM, Freidberg A. 1999. Systematic Database of names. Myia. 9: 65–299.
Pont AC.1995. The dipterist C.R.W. Wiedemann (1770–1840). His life, work and collections. Steenstrupia 21: 125–154.
Prinsloo GL. Uys VM. 2015. Insects of cultivated plants and natural pastures in Southern Africa. Entomological Society of Southern Africa, Hatfield.
Rasolofoarivao H, De Meyer M, Delatte H. 2022a. Diptera: Tephritidae, fruit flies, laliboankazo. In: Goodman SM. Editor: The New Natural History of Madagascar: Princeton University Press; pp. 1080–1085. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv2ks6tbb.140
Rasolofoarivao H, Raveloson Ravaomanarivo LH, Delatte H. 2022b. Host plant ranges of fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Madagascar. Bulletin of Entomological Research. 112: 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007485321000511 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007485321000511
Rutherford CM, Mucina L, Powrie LW. 2006. Biomes and Bioregions of South Africa. Strelitzia. 19: 30–51.
Schutze MK, Mahmood K, Pavasovic A, Bo W, Newman J, Clarke AR, Krosch MN, Cameron SL. 2014. One and the same: integrative taxonomic evidence that Bactrocera invadens (Diptera: Tephritidae) is the same species as the Oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis. Systematic Entomology 40: 472–486. https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12114 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12114
Shelly T, Epsky N, Jang EB, Reyes-Flores J, Vargas R (editors) 2015. Trapping and the Detection, Control, and Regulation of Tephritid Fruit Flies – Lures, Area-Wide Programs, and Trade Implications. Dordrecht, the Netherlands: Springer; 638 pp. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9193-9
Starkie ML, Cameron SL, Krosch MN, Phillips MJ, Royer JE, Schutze MK, Strutt F, Sweet AD, Zalucki MP, Clarke AR. 2022. A comprehensive phylogeny helps clarify the evolutionary history of host breadth and lure response in the Australian dacini fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 172: 107481. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107481 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107481
Theron CD, Manrakhan A, Weldon CW 2017 Host use of the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae), in South Africa. Journal of Applied Entomology. 141: 810–816. https://doi.org/10.1111/jen.12400 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jen.12400
Tsatsu SK, Sutton GF, Serfontein L, Addison P, De Meyer M, Virgilio M, Manrakhan A. 2024. Distribution and host ranges of Ceratitis rosa and Ceratitis quilicii (Diptera: Tephritidae) in South Africa. Bulletin of Entomological Research. 114: 503–513. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007485324000294 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007485324000294
Van Wyk B, Van Wyk P, Van Wyk BE. 2012. Photo Guide to Trees of Southern Africa, 2nd revised edition. Pretoria: Briza Publications. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4081/pb.2012.br1
Vayssières JF, De Meyer M, Ouagoussounon I, Sinzogan A, Adandonon A, Korie S, Wargui R, Anato F, Houngbo H, Didier C, De Bon H, Goergen G. 2015. Seasonal abundance of mango fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) and ecological implications for their management in mango and cashew orchards in Benin (Centre and North). Journal of Economic Entomology. 108: 2213–2230. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/tov143 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/tov143
Virgilio M, De Meyer M, White IM, Backeljau T. 2009. African Dacus (Diptera: Tephritidae): Molecular data and host plant association do not corroborate morphology based classifications. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 51: 531–539. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2009.01.003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2009.01.003
Virgilio M, White IM, De Meyer M. 2014. A set of multi-entry identification keys to African frugivorous flies (Diptera, Tephritidae). ZooKeys. 428: 97–108. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.428.7366 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.428.7366
Walker F. 1849. List of the Specimens of Dipterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum. Part IV. British Museum (Natural History), London
Walker F. 1861. Characters of undescribed Diptera in the collection of W.W. Saunders, Esq., F.R.S. and c. [concl.]. Transactions of the Entomological Society of London (N.S.). 5: 297–334.
White IM. 2006. Taxonomy of the Dacina (Diptera: Tephritidae) of Africa and the Middle East. African Entomology Memoir. 2: 1–156.
White IM, Copeland RS, Hancock DL. 2003. Revision of the afrotropical genus Trirhithrum Bezzi (Diptera: Tephritidae). Cimbebasia. 18: 71–137.
White IM, Elson-Harris MM. 1994. Fruit Flies of economic Significance: their Identification and Bionomics. London, UK: CAB International; xii+601pp.
Wiedemann CRW. 1819. Beschreibung neuer Zweiflugler aus Ostindien und Afrika. Zoological Magazine Kiel. 1(3): 1–39.
Wiedemann CRW. 1830. Aussereuropäische zweiflügelige Insekten. Vol. 2. Hamm: Schulz.
Zida I, Nacro S, Dabiré R, Moquet L, Delatte H, Somda I 2020. Host range and species diversity of Tephritidae of three plant formations in Western Burkina Faso. Bulletin of Entomological Research. 110: 732–742. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007485320000243 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007485320000243
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 M. De Meyer, A. Manrakhan, G. Bekker, T. Grové, M. Virgilio, P. Addison
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
.png){kind=spacer}