Egg Morphology of Anastrepha obliqua and Some Comparative Aspects With Eggs of Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera:Tephritidae)

Abstract

The egg morphology of Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart) is described utilizing both light and scanning electron microscopy. Other observations include oviposition depth by A. obliqua on mango and comparative analysis with A. fraterculus (Wiedemann) egg morphology. A. obliqua eggs bear a conspicuous structure at the anterior pole, which is called a respiratory horn. A discussion of this term and definitions given by other authors for similar structures found in other fruit fly eggs is given. We suggest that the occurrence of the respiratory horn outside the mango fruit peel by A. obliqua may be a useful character for post-harvest inspection and mango fruit disinfestation.