Do Wing Markings in Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) have Sexual Significance

Authors

  • John Sivinski
  • Rui Pereira

Abstract

The patterned wings of tephritid fruit flies often are moved in complex manners during sexual encounters. However, there are few cases of sexual dimorphism, and wing movements also may occur in non-sexual contexts. There was no evidence that enhancing or obliterating the patterns on the wings of male Caribbean fruit flies, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew), had any effect on their sexual success. There is convergence in wing patterns with another Dipteran family, the distantly related Bombyliidae. Additional studies of mating systems with this family might illuminate the significance of similar wing patterns in tephritids.

View this article in BioOne

Downloads

Published

2005-09-01

Issue

Section

Literature Review Articles