Tephritidae

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Protostomia
Cladus: Ecdysozoa
Cladus: Panarthropoda
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Classis: Insecta
Cladus: Dicondylia
Subclassis: Pterygota
Cladus: Metapterygota
Infraclassis: Neoptera
Cladus: Eumetabola
Cladus: Endopterygota
Superordo: Panorpida
Cladus: Antliophora
Ordo: Diptera
Subordo: Brachycera
Infraordo: Muscomorpha
Sectio: Schizophora
Subsectio: Acalyptrata
Superfamilia: Tephritoidea

Familia: Tephritidae
Subfamiliae (6): Blepharoneurinae - Dacinae - Phytalmiinae - Tachiniscinae - Tephritinae - Trypetinae

Overview of genera (491)

Acanthiophilus – Acanthonevra – Acanthonevroides – Acidia – Acidiella – Acidiostigma – Acidogona – Acidoxantha – Acidoxanthopsis – Acinia – Acinoeuphranta – Aciura – Aciurina – Aciuropsis – Acroceratitis – Acronneus – Acropteromma – Acrotaenia – Acrotaeniacantha – Acrotaeniostola – Actinoptera – Adrama – Adramoides – Aethiothemara – Afraciura – Afreutreta – Afrocneros – Agallamyia – Agnitrena – Aischrocrania – Aliasutra – Alincocallistomyia – Alloeomyia – Alsangelisca – Alujamyia – Anastrepha – Anastrephoides – Anchiacanthonevra – Angelogelasinus – Anomoia – Anoplomus – Antisophira – Antoxya – Apiculonia – Arabodesis – Aridonevra – Asimoneura – Auricochlear – Australasinia – Austronevra – Austrorioxa – Austrotephritis – Axiothauma –
B

Bactrocera – Bactropota – Baryglossa – Baryplegma – Bevismyia – Bezzina – Bistrispinaria – Blepharoneura – Brachiopterna – Brachyaciura – Brachydesis – Brachytrupanea – Brandtomyia – Breviculala – Buloloa –
C

Caenoriata – Callistomyia – Calosphenisca – Campiglossa – Capitites – Capparimyia – Carpomya – Carpophthoracidia – Carpophthorella – Carpophthoromyia – Cecidocharella – Cecidochares – Celidodacus – Celidosphenella – Cephalophysa – Ceratitella – Ceratitis – Ceratitoides – Ceratodacus – Cervarita – Cesaspheniscus – Chaetellipsis – Chaetorellia – Chaetostomella – Cheesmanomyia – Chejuparia – Chelyophora – Chenacidiella – Chetostoma – Chipingomyia – Cipomyia – Cleitamiphanes – Clematochaeta – Clinotaenia – Clusiosoma – Clusiosomina – Coelopacidia – Coelotrypes – Collessomyia – Colobostroter – Conradtina – Cooronga – Copiolepis – Cordylopteryx – Cornutrypeta – Cosmetothrix – Craspedoxantha – Craspedoxanthitea – Cribrorioxa – Crinitisophira – Cristobalia – Cryptophorellia – Cryptotreta – Curticella – Cyaforma – Cyclopsia –
D

Dacopsis – Dacus – Dectodesis – Deroparia – Desmella – Diarrhegma – Diarrhegmoides – Dicheniotes – Dictyotrypeta – Dietheria – Dimeringophrys – Dioxyna – Diplochorda – Dirioxa – Dithryca – Dorycricus – Dracontomyia – Dyseuaresta –
E

Ectopomyia – Elaphromyia – Elgonina – Emheringia – Enicoptera – Enicopterina – Enoplopteron – Ensina – Epacrocerus – Epinettyra – Epochrinopsis – Esacidia – Euaresta – Euarestella – Euarestoides – Euarestopsis – Euleia – Eumictoxenus – Euphranta – Eurosta – Euryphalara – Euthauma – Eutreta – Eutretopsis – Eutretosoma – Exallosophira –
F

Felderimyia – Flaviludia – Freidbergia – Freyomyia – Fusciludia –
G

Galbifascia – Gastrozona – Gerrhoceras – Ghentia – Goedenia – Goniurellia – Gressittidium – Griphomyia – Gymnaciura – Gymnocarena – Gymnosagena –
H

Hardyadrama – Haywardina – Hemiclusiosoma – Hemilea – Hemiristina – Hendrella – Heringina – Heringomyia – Hetschkomyia – Hexachaeta – Hexacinia – Hexamela – Hexaptilona – Hexaresta – Homoeothrix – Homoeotricha – Homoiothemara – Hoplandromyia – Hyaloctoides – Hyalopeza – Hyalotephritis – Hypenidium –
I

Ichneumonopsis – Ichneumonosoma – Icterica – Ictericodes – Indophranta – Insizwa – Ischyropteron – Itosigo –
J

Jamesomyia –
K

Katonaia – Kedadrama – Kerzhnerella –
L

Labeschatia – Laksyetsa – Lalokia – Lamplocrystallopteron – Lamproxyna – Lamproxynella – Langatia – Lethyna – Leucotaeniella – Leucothrix – Lewinsohnia – Liepana – Lilloaciura – Loriomyia – Lumirioxa – Lyronotum –
M

Machaomyia – Magnimyiolia – Malagaciura – Malaisella – Malaisinia – Malica – Manicomyia – Marriottella – Mastigolina – Matsumurania – Meracanthomyia – Merzomyia – Mesoclanis – Metasphenisca – Micronevrina – Microtreta – Migmella – Mimoeuphranta – Mimosophira – Molynocoelia – Monacidia – Monacrostichus – Montiludia – Morinowotome – Muhabbetiella – Munroella – Munromyia – Myoleja – Myopites –
N

Namwambina – Neaspilota – Nemeurinus – Neoceratitis – Neomyoleja – Neorhagoletis – Neortalotrypeta – Neosphaeniscus – Neotaracia – Neotephritis – Neothemara – Nippia – Nitobeia – Nitrariomyia – Noeeta – Nothoclusiosoma – Notomma – Notommima – Notommoides –
O

Ochrobapha – Ocnerioxa – Ocnerioxyna – Oedaspis – Oedicarena – Oedoncus – Oedosphenella – Orellia – Oreurinus – Orienticaelum – Ornithoschema – Orotava – Ortaloptera – Ortalotrypeta – Orthocanthoides – Ostracocoelia – Othniocera – Oxyaciura – Oxyna – Oxyparna – Oxyphora –
P

Paedohexacinia – Pangasella – Papuadrama – Paraactinoptera – Paracantha – Paracanthella – Paracanthonevra – Paraceratitella – Parachlaena – Paraciura – Paracristobalia – Paradesis – Parafreutreta – Paragastrozona – Parahyalopeza – Paramyiolia – Paraphasca – Pararhabdochaeta – Paraspathulina – Paraspheniscoides – Parastenopa – Paratephritis – Paraterellia – Paratrirhithrum – Paratrypeta – Paraxarnuta – Pardalaspinus – Pediapelta – Pelmatops – Peneparoxyna – Peratomixis – Perilampsis – Perirhithrum – Peronyma – Phacelochaeta – Phaeogramma – Phaeospila – Phaeospilodes – Phasca – Pherothrinax – Philophylla – Phorelliosoma – Phytalmia – Piestometopon – Placaciura – Platensina – Platomma – Platyparea – Platystomopsis – Plaumannimyia – Pliomelaena – Plioreocepta – Poecilothea – Polionota – Polyara – Polyaroidea – Polymorphomyia – Proanoplomus – Problepharoneura – Procecidochares – Procecidocharoides – Prochetostoma – Proepacrocerus – Prospheniscus – Psednometopum – Pseudacanthoneura – Pseudacrotoxa – Pseudafreutreta – Pseudeutreta – Pseudoedaspis – Pseudomyoleja – Pseudoneothemara – Pseudopelmatops – Pseudophorellia – Pseudopolionota – Pseudorellia – Pseudosophira – Pterope – Ptiloedaspis – Ptilona – Ptiloniola – Ptosanthus – Pycnella – Pyrgotoides –
Q

Quasicooronga – Quasirhabdochaeta –
R

Rabaulia – Rabauliomorpha – Rachiptera – Rhabdochaeta – Rhagoletis – Rhagoletotrypeta – Rhaibophleps – Rhithrum – Rhochmopterum – Rhynencina – Rioxa – Rivelliomima – Robertsomyia –
S

Sapadrama – Saucromyia – Scedella – Schistopterum – Scleropithus – Scolocolus – Sessilina – Sinacidia – Sinanoplomus – Soita – Sophira – Sophiroides – Sophiropsis – Soraida – Sosiopsila – Spathulina – Sphaeniscus – Sphenella – Spilocosmia – Stamnophora – Staurellina – Stemonocera – Stenopa – Stephanotrypeta – Stigmatomyia – Stoneola – Strauzia – Strobelia – Stylia – Stymbara – Sundaresta –
T

Taeniorioxa – Taeniostola – Tanaica – Tanaodema – Tanymetopus – Taomyia – Tarchonanthea – Tarphobregma – Telaletes – Tephraciura – Tephrelalis – Tephrella – Tephritis – Tephritites – Tephritomyia – Tephritoresta – Terastiomyia – Terellia – Termitorioxa – Tetreuaresta – Themara – Themarictera – Themarohystrix – Themaroides – Themaroidopsis – Tomoplagia – Toxotrypana – Triandomelaena – Trigonochorium – Trirhithrum – Tritaeniopteron – Trupanea – Trypanaresta – Trypanocentra – Trypanophion – Trypeta –
U

Udamolobium – Urelliosoma – Urophora –
V

Valentibulla – Valera – Vidalia –
W

Walkeraitia –
X

Xaniosternum – Xanthaciura – Xanthanomoea – Xanthomyia – Xanthorrachis – Xanthorrachista – Xarnuta – Xenochaeta – Xenodorella – Xenosophira – Xyphosia –
Y

Ypsilomena –
Z

Zacerata – Zonosemata –
Extinct taxa

†Mioacinia – †Protortalotrypeta

[source: Catalogue of Life: 2011 Annual Checklist, minus (1) Musca
, plus (11) Agallamyia – Agnitrena – Aliasutra – Auricochlear – Austrotephritis – Lamplocrystallopteron – Neosphaeniscus – Phacelochaeta – Sapadrama – †Mioacinia – †Protortalotrypeta
]
Name

Tephritidae Newman, 1834
Vernacular names
English: Fruit Flies
français: Mouches des fruits
italiano: Mosche della frutta
日本語: ミバエ科
Nederlands: Boorvliegen
русский: Пестрокрылки
References

Abreu, A.G., P.I. Prado, A.L. Norrbom, V.N. Solferini, 2005: Genetic and morphological diagnosis and description of two cryptic species of flower head Tephritidae (Diptera). Insect Systematics & Evolution 36: 361–370. Abstract: [1].
Chen, X-L., Norrbom, A.L., Friedberg, A., Chesters, D., Islam, M.S. & Zhu, C-D. 2015. A systematic study of Ichneumonosoma de Meijere, Pelmatops Enderlein, Pseudopelmatops Shiraki and Soita Walker (Diptera: Tephritidae). Zootaxa 4013(3): 301–347. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4013.3.1. Preview (PDF) Reference page.
Condon, M. & A.L. Norrbom, 1994: Three sympatric species of Blepharoneura (Diptera: Tephritidae) on a single species of host (Gurania spinulosa, Cucurbitaceae): new species and new taxonomic methods. Systematic Entomology 19 (4): 279–304. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3113.1994.tb00592.x
David, K.J., Hancock, D.L., Sachin, K., Gracy, R.G. & Salini, S. 2022. Two new species of Platensina Enderlein (Diptera, Tephritidae, Tephritinae, Dithrycini) from India. ZooKeys 1092ː 123–146. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1092.80645 Open access Reference page.
David, K.J.; Ramani, S. 2011: An illustrated key to fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) from Peninsular India and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Zootaxa, 3021: 1–31. Preview [erratum in Zootaxa, 3231: 68. (2012) PDF
Foote, R.H. 1960. The genus Tephritis Latreille in the Nearctic region north of Mexico: descriptions of four new species and notes on others (Diptera: Tephritidae). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 33(2): 71–85. JSTOR Hybrid open access journal.
Han, H. & A.L. Norrbom, 2005: A systematic revision of the new world species of Trypeta meigen (Diptera: Tephritidae). Systematic Entomology 30: 208–247.
Hancock, D.L.; Drew, R.A.I. 2003: A new genus and new species, combinations and records of Tephritinae (Diptera: Tephritidae) from Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. Australian entomologist, 30(4): 141–158. [not seen]
Ito, S. 2011: Die Bohrfliegen aus Nordost-Nepal (Diptera, Tephritidae). Esakia, (51): 1–45. handle
Koçak, A.Ö.; Kemal, M. 2009: Two replacement names in the family Tephritidae (Diptera). Centre for Entomological Studies Ankara miscellaneous papers, 147-148: 10–11. Internet Archive
Koçak, A.Ö.; Kemal, M. 2009: On the nomenclature of two pre-occupied generic names in the family Tephritidae in the Afrotropical Region (Diptera). Centre for Entomological Studies Ankara miscellaneous papers, 150: 2–3. Internet Archive
Korneyev, V.A. 2004: A new species and new synonymy of fruit flies (Diptera: tephritidae) from palaearctic region. Far Eastern Entomologist 140: 1–16. Full article: [2].
Korneyev, V.A. & A.L. Norrbom, 2006: Genera of the Subfamily Tachiniscinae (Diptera: Tephritidae), with Discussion of the Position of Descoleia Aczél (Tephritoidea incertae sedis). Instrumentas Biodiversitatis 7: 105–155. Abstract: [3].
Memari, F., Namin, S.M. & Hakimitabar, M. 2016. A new genus and species of Xyphosiini (Diptera: Tephritidae) from Iran. Zootaxa 4126(2): 280–286. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4126.2.8. Reference page.
Mille, C. 2008: Re-assessment of the fauna of fruit flies (Diptera, Tephritidae) and their host fruits in New Caledonia. In: Grandcolas, P. (ed.), Zoologia Neocaledonica 6. Biodiversity studies in New Caledonia. Mémoires du Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, 197: 251–259. ISBN 9782856536056 ISSN: 1243-4442
Namin, S.M. & Korneyev, S.V. 2015: Revision of Heringina Aczél, 1940 (Diptera: Tephritidae), with description of a new species from Iran and Turkey. Zootaxa 3949(1): 111–125. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3949.1.5. Preview (PDF) Reference page.
Namin, S.M. & Korneyev, V.A. 2018. An annotated checklist of fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) of Iran. Zootaxa 4369(3): 377–405. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4369.3.5 Reference page.
Norrbom, A.L., 2006: New species and host records for Gymnocarena (Diptera, Tephritidae). Instrumentas Biodiversitatis 7: 217–226.
Norrbom, A.L. & J. Caraballo, 2005: A new species of Anastrepha from Amazonia, with redescriptions of A. caudata Stone and A. hendeliana Lima. Insecta Mundi 17: 33–44.
Norrbom, A.L. & M. Condon, 2010: Revision of the femoralis group of Blepharoneura Loew (Diptera: Tephritidae). Zootaxa 2374: 1–139. Full article: [4]
Norrbom, A.L. & D.L. Hancock, 2003: New species and new records of tephritidae (diptera) from New Caledonia. Bishop Museum Bulletins 12: 67–77.
Norrbom, A.L. & C.A. Korytkowski, 2007: A new species, new synonymy, and taxonomic notes in the Anastrepha schausi group (Diptera: Tephritidae). Zootaxa, 1497: 47–55. [5].
Norrbom, A.L. & C.A. Korytkowski, 2008: New Cryptodacus (Diptera: Tephritidae) from Panama, with a key to the known species. Zootaxa, 1773: 31–43. Full article: [6].
Norrbom, A.L., C.A. Korytkowski , F. Gonzalez & B. Orduz, 2005: A new species of Anastrepha from Colombia related to Mexican fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae). Revista Colombiana de Entomologia 31: 67–70
Norrbom, A.L. , C.A. Korytkowski & E. Rojas, 2002: A revision of the Anastrepha hastata species group (diptera: tephritidae). Studia Dipterologia 10: 77–90
Norrbom, A.L. & P.I. Prado, 2006: New genera and host plant records of Asteraceae-feeding Tephritidae (Diptera) from Brazil. Zootaxa, 1139: 1–17. Abstract: [7].
Norrbom, A.L.; Sutton, B.D.; Steck, G.J.; Monzón, J. 2010: New genera, species and host plant records of Nearctic and Neotropical Tephritidae (Diptera). Zootaxa, 2398: 1–65. Preview PDF
Ovruski, S.M., A.L. Norrbom, P. Schliserman & M. Aluja, 2005: Biology and taxonomy of Rhagoletotrypeta (Diptera: Tephritidae): a new species from Cuba and new host plant, parasitoid and distribution records from northwestern Argentina. Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 98: 252–258.
Prado, P.I. , A.L. Norrbom & T.M. Lewinsohn, 2004: New species of Tomoplagia (diptera: tephritidae) from capitula of asteraceae in Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Biologia, 33: 189–211.
Prado, P.I. , A.L. Norrbom & T.M. Lewinsohn, 2004: New species of Tomoplagia Coquillett (Diptera: Tephritidae) from capitula of Asteraceae in Brazil. Neotropical Entomology 33 (2): 189–211. Abstract and full article: DOI: 10.1590/S1519-566X2004000200010.
Virgilio, M.; White, I.; De Meyer, M. 2014: A set of multi-entry identification keys to African frugivorous flies (Diptera, Tephritidae). ZooKeys 428: 97-108. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.428.7366 Reference page.

Additional references

Břízová, R., Vaníčková, L., Faťarová, M., Eseki, S., Hoskovec, M. & Kalinová, B. 2015. Analyses of volatiles produced by the African fruit fly species complex (Diptera, Tephritidae). In: De Meyer, M., Clarke, A.R., Vera, M.T. & Hendrichs, J. (Eds) Resolution of Cryptic Species Complexes of Tephritid Pests to Enhance SIT Application and Facilitate International Trade. ZooKeys, 540: 385–404. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.540.9630 Full article Reference page.
El Harym, Y. & Belqat, B. 2017. First checklist of the fruit flies of Morocco, including new records (Diptera, Tephritidae). ZooKeys 702: 137—171. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.702.13368. Reference page.
Hendrichs, J., Vera, T., Meyer, M. de & Clarke, A. 2015. Resolving cryptic species complexes of major tephritid pests. In: De Meyer, M., Clarke, A.R., Vera, M.T. & Hendrichs, J. (Eds) Resolution of Cryptic Species Complexes of Tephritid Pests to Enhance SIT Application and Facilitate International Trade. Zookeys, 540: 5–39. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.540.9656 Full article Reference page.
Juárez, M.L., Devescovi, F., Břízová, R., Bachmann, G., Segura, D.F., Kalinová, B., Fernández, P., Ruiz, M.J., Yang, J-Q., Teal, P.E.A., Caceres, C., Vreysen, M.J.B., Hendrichs, J. & Vera, T. 2015. Evaluating mating compatibility within fruit fly cryptic species complexes and the potential role of sex pheromones in pre-mating isolation. In: De Meyer, M., Clarke, A.R., Vera, M.T., Hendrichs, J. (Eds) Resolution of Cryptic Species Complexes of Tephritid Pests to Enhance SIT Application and Facilitate International Trade. ZooKeys 540: 125–155. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.540.6133 Full article Reference page.
Korneyev, S.V. & Korneyev, V.A. 2017. The fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) described by Theodor Becker from Iran and Western China revisited in the collections of the Zoological Institute, Saint-Petersburg and Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin. Zootaxa 4227(1): 89–105. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4227.1.5. Reference page.
Meyer, M. de, Clarke, A., Vera, T. & Hendrichs, J. 2015. Editorial. In: De Meyer, M., Clarke, A.R., Vera, M.T. & Hendrichs, J. (Eds) Resolution of Cryptic Species Complexes of Tephritid Pests to Enhance SIT Application and Facilitate International Trade. In: De Meyer, M., Clarke, A.R., Vera, M.T. & Hendrichs, J. (Eds) Resolution of Cryptic Species Complexes of Tephritid Pests to Enhance SIT Application and Facilitate International Trade. Zookeys 540: 1–3. DOI: doi: 10.3897/zookeys.540.6506 Full article Reference page.
Savaris, M., Marinoni, L. & Norrbom, A.L. 2016. FAMILY TEPHRITIDAE. In Wolff, M.I., Nihei, S.S. & Carvalho, C.J.B. de (eds.), Catalogue of Diptera of Colombia. Zootaxa 4122(1): 596–621. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4122.1.50. Reference page.

The Tephritidae are one of two fly families referred to as fruit flies, the other family being the Drosophilidae. The family Tephritidae does not include the biological model organisms of the genus Drosophila (in the family Drosophilidae), which is often called the "common fruit fly". Nearly 5,000 described species of tephritid fruit fly are categorized in almost 500 genera of the Tephritidae. Description, recategorization, and genetic analyses are constantly changing the taxonomy of this family. To distinguish them from the Drosophilidae, the Tephritidae are sometimes called peacock flies, in reference to their elaborate and colorful markings. The name comes from the Greek τεφρος, tephros, meaning "ash grey". They are found in all the biogeographic realms.

Description

For terms see Morphology of Diptera and Tephritidae glossary
Tephritidae morphology

Tephritids are small to medium-sized (2.5–10 mm) flies that are often colourful, and usually with pictured wings, the subcostal vein curving forward at a right angle. The head is hemispherical and usually short. The face is vertical or retreating and the frons is broad. Ocelli and cellar bristles are present. The postvertical bristles are parallel to divergent. Two to eight pairs of frontal bristles are seen (at least one but usually several lower pairs curving inwards and at least one of the upper pairs curving backwards). In some species, the frontal bristles are inserted on a raised tubercle. Interfrontal setulae are usually absent or represented by one or two tiny setulae near the lunula. True vibrissae are absent, but several genera have strong bristles near the vibrissal angle. The wings usually have yellow, brown, or black markings or are dark-coloured with lighter markings. In a few species, the wings are clear. The costa has both a humeral and a subcostal break. The apical part of the subcostal is usually indistinct or even transparent and at about a right angle with respect to the basal part. Crossvein BM-Cu is present; the cell cup (posterior cubital cell or anal cell) is closed and nearly always narrowing to an acute angle. It is closed by a geniculated vein (CuA2). The CuA2 vein is rarely straight or convex. The tibiae lack a dorsal preapical bristle. The female has an oviscape.

The larva is amphipneustic (having only the anterior and posterior pairs of spiracle). The body varies from white to yellowish or brown. The posterior end of pale-coloured species is sometimes black. The body tapers at the anterior. The two mandibles sometimes have teeth along the ventral margin. The antennomaxillary lobes at each side of the mandibles have several transverse oral ridges or short laminae directed posteriorly. The anterior spiracles (prothoracic spiracles) end bluntly and are not elongated. Each has at least three openings or up to 50 arranged transversely in one to three groups or irregularly. Each posterior spiracle (anal spiracle) lacks a clearly defined peritreme and each has three spiracular openings (in mature larvae). These are usually more or less horizontal, parallel and usually bear branched spiracular hairs in four tufts.[1][2]
Ecology
Ovipositing Urophora quadrifasciata on Centaurea jacea
Chaetostomella cylindrica mating (notice the parting kiss)

The larvae of almost all Tephritidae are phytophagous. Females deposit eggs in living, healthy plant tissue using their telescopic ovipositors. Here, the larvae find their food upon emerging. The larvae develop in leaves, stems, flowers, seeds, fruits, and roots of the host plant, depending on the species. Some species are gall-forming. One exception to the phytophagous lifestyle is Euphranta toxoneura (Loew) whose larvae develop in galls formed by sawflies. The adults sometimes have a very short lifespan. Some live for less than a week. Some species are monophagous (feeding on only one plant species) others are polyphagous (feeding on several, usually related plant species).

The behavioral ecology of tephritid fruit flies is of great interest to biologists. Some fruit flies have extensive mating rituals or territorial displays. Many are brightly colored and visually showy. Some fruit flies show Batesian mimicry, bearing the colors and markings of dangerous arthropods such as wasps or jumping spiders because it helps the fruit flies avoid predation, though the flies lack stingers.

Adult tephritid fruit flies are often found on the host plant and feeding on pollen, nectar, rotting plant debris, or honeydew.

Natural enemies include parasitoid wasps of the genera Diapriidae and Braconidae.
Economic importance

Tephritid fruit flies are of major economic importance in agriculture. Some have negative effects, some positive. Various species of fruit flies cause damage to fruit and other plant crops. The genus Bactrocera is of worldwide notoriety for its destructive impact on agriculture. The olive fruit fly (B. oleae), for example, feeds on only one plant: the wild or commercially cultivated olive, Olea europaea. It has the capacity to ruin 100% of an olive crop by damaging the fruit. Bactrocera dorsalis is another highly invasive pest species that damages tropical fruit, vegetable, and nut crops. Euleia heraclei is a pest of celery and parsnips. The genus Anastrepha includes several important pests, notably A. grandis, A. ludens (Mexican fruit fly), A. obliqua, and A. suspensa. Other pests are Strauzia longipennis, a pest of sunflowers and Rhagoletis mendax, a pest of blueberries. Another notorious agricultural pest is the Mediterranean fruit fly or Medfly, Ceratitis capitata, which is responsible for millions of dollars' worth in expenses by countries for control and eradication efforts, in addition to costs of damage to fruit crops. Similarly, the Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni) is responsible for more than $28.5 million in damage to Australian fruit crops a year. This species lays eggs in a wide variety of unripe fruit hosts, causing them to rot prior to ripening.[3]

Some fruit flies are used as agents of biological control, thereby reducing the populations of pest species. Several species of the genus Urophora are used as control agents against rangeland-destroying noxious weeds such as starthistles and knapweeds, but their effectiveness is questionable.[4] Urophora sirunaseva produces larvae that pupate within a woody gall within the flower and disrupt seed production.[5] Chaetorellia acrolophi is an effective biocontrol agent against knapweeds Chaetorellia australis and Chaetorellia succinea, deposit eggs into the starthistle seedheads, where their larvae consume the seeds and flower ovaries.[6]

Since economically important tephritid fruit flies exist worldwide, vast networks of researchers, several international symposia, and intensive activities on various subjects extend from ecology to molecular biology (Tephritid Workers Database).

Pest management techniques applied to tephritid include the use of cover sprays with conventional pesticides, however, due to deleterious impact of these pesticides, new, less impactful and more targeted pest control techniques have been used, such as toxic food baits, male annihilation technique using specific male attractant parapheromones in toxic baits or mass trapping, or even sterile insect technique as part of integrated pest management.
Systematics

Tephritidae is divided into several subfamilies:[7]

Blepharoneurinae (5 genera, 34 species)
Dacinae (41 genera, 1066 species)
Phytalmiinae (95 genera, 331 species)
Tachiniscinae (8 genera, 18 species)
Tephritinae (211 genera, 1859 species)
Trypetinae (118 genera, 1012 species)

The genera Oxyphora, Pseudorellia, and Stylia comprise 32 species, and are not included in any subfamily (incertae sedis).
Identification

Richard H. Foote, P. L. Blanc, Allen L. Norrbom, 1993 Handbook of the Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) of America North of Mexico Cornell University Press (Comstock Publishing).
Merz, B. 1994. Diptera Tephritidae. Insecta Helvetica Fauna 10: 1-198.
White, I.M. 1988. Tephritid flies. Diptera: Tephritidae. Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects 10(5a): 1-134.
White I.M. & Elson-Harris M.M. 1994 Fruit Flies of Economic Significance: their Identification and Bionomics. 2nd ed. International Institute of Entomology, London.
R.A.I. Drew and Meredith C Romig Tropical Fruit Flies of South-East Asia (Tephritidae: Dacinae) CABI ISBN 9781780640358
Hendel1914. Die Gattungen der Bohrfliegen. Wein. Entomol. Ztg. 33: 73–98. Keys to World genera Out of date but still the only world monograph.
Hendel, F., 1927. Trypetidae.In: Lindner, E. (Ed.). Die Fliegen der Paläarktischen Region 5, 49, 1-221. Keys to Palaearctic species but now needs revision (in German).
Séguy, E. (1934) Diptères: Brachycères. II. Muscidae acalypterae, Scatophagidae. Paris: Éditions Faune de France 28. virtuelle numérique
Rikhter, V.A. Family Conopidae in Bei-Bienko, G. Ya, 1988 Keys to the insects of the European Part of the USSR Volume 5 (Diptera) Part 2 English edition. Keys to Palaearctic species but now needs revision.

Species lists

West Palaearctic including Russia
Australasian/Oceanian
Nearctic
Japan
World list

References

K. G. V. Smith, 1989 An introduction to the immature stages of British Flies. Diptera Larvae, with notes on eggs, puparia and pupae.Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects Vol 10 Part 14. pdf Archived 2014-02-09 at the Wayback Machine download manual (two parts Main text and figures index)
Phillips, V.T., 1946. The biology and identification of trypetid larvae (Diptera: Trypetidae). Memoirs of the American Entomological Society 12: 1-161.
Clarke, A.R.; Powell, K.S.; Weldon, C.W.; Taylor, P.W. (2010-11-02). "The ecology of Bactrocera tryoni (Diptera: Tephritidae): what do we know to assist pest management?" (PDF). Annals of Applied Biology. 158 (1): 26–54. doi:10.1111/j.1744-7348.2010.00448.x. hdl:10019.1/122744. ISSN 0003-4746.
Dean E. Pearson & Ragan M. Callaway (2008). "Weed-biocontrol insects reduce native-plant recruitment through second-order apparent competition" (PDF). Ecological Applications. 18 (6): 1489–1500. doi:10.1890/07-1789.1. PMID 18767624.
Sobhian, R. 1993. Life history and host specificity of Urophora sirunaseva (Herng)(Dipt., Tephritidae), an agent for biological control of yellow starthistle, with remarks on the host plant. J. Appl. Entomol. 116: 381-390.
Turner, C.E., G.L. Piper and E.M. Coombs. 1996. Chaetorellia australis (Diptera: Tephritidae) for biological control of yellow starthistle, Centaurea solstitialis (Compositae), in the western USA: establishment and seed destruction. Bull. Entomol. Res. 86: 1 77-182.

Allen L. Norrbom (April 30, 2004). "Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) Phylogeny". The Diptera Site. Agricultural Research Service. Archived from the original on July 9, 2010. Retrieved July 31, 2010.