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BEHAVIORAL EVIDENCE FOR FRUIT ODOR DISCRIMINATION AND SYMPATRIC HOST RACES OF RHAGOLETIS POMONELLA FLIES IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES
Author(s) -
Linn Jr. Charles E.,
Yee Wee L.,
Sim Sheina B.,
Cha Dong H.,
Powell Thomas H. Q.,
Goughnour Robert B.,
Feder Jeffrey L.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.84
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1558-5646
pISSN - 0014-3820
DOI - 10.1111/j.1558-5646.2012.01719.x
Subject(s) - rhagoletis , tephritidae , biology , host (biology) , crataegus , malus , sympatric speciation , race (biology) , ornamental plant , entomology , zoology , ecology , botany , pest analysis
The recent shift of Rhagoletis pomonella (Diptera: Tephritidae) from its native host downy hawthorn, Crataegus mollis , to introduced domesticated apple, Malus domestica , in the eastern United States is a model for sympatric host race formation. However, the fly is also present in the western United States, where it may have been introduced via infested apples within the last 60 years. In addition to apple, R. pomonella also infests two hawthorns in the West, one the native black hawthorn, C. douglasii , and the other the introduced English ornamental hawthorn, C. monogyna . Here, we test for behavioral evidence of host races in the western United States. through flight tunnel assays of western R. pomonella flies to host fruit volatile blends. We report that western apple, black hawthorn, and ornamental hawthorn flies showed significantly increased levels of upwind‐directed flight to their respective natal compared to nonnatal fruit volatile blends, consistent with host race status. We discuss the implications of the behavioral results for the origin(s) of western R. pomonella , including the possibility that western apple flies were not introduced, but may represent a recent shift from local hawthorn fly populations.