title: Seasonal dynamics of the flower head infestation of Smallanthus maculatus by two nonfrugivorous tephritids.
abstract: Seasonal dynamics of the capitula infested by Dictyotrypeta sp. and Rhynencina spilogaster (Steyskal) (Diptera: Tephritidae) was evaluated throughout the flowering cycle of their host plant the sunflower, Smallanthus maculatus (Cavanilles) Robinson (Asterales: Asteraceae). In central Veracruz, Mexico, along 16 consecutive weeks, a total of 1,017 mature capitula were collected, recording the presence and abundance of immature stages (larvae and pupae) and their related parasitoids. Both fly species were present throughout the entire season, with overall infestation of 51.5% of the capitula examined. However, Dictyotrypeta sp. infested 11.3%, representing about one-fifth of them, and R. spilogaster was most abundant infesting four times as many capitula (42.9%), whereas both species were found together in only 2.6% of the capitula examined. Based on the temporal occurrence of larvae and pupae into flower heads as well as their associated parasitoids and times of emergence, Dictyotrypeta sp. had two yearly generations, and it seems that the second generation could enter a seasonal diapause; in contrast, R. spilogaster was a univoltine species that entered diapause that lasted until the next year.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ecología A.C., Red de Interacciones Multitróficas, Carretera Antigua a Coatepec 351, El Haya, Xalapa, Veracruz 91070, Mexico.
authors.forename: José F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Dzul-Cauich
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ecología A.C., Red de Interacciones Multitróficas, Carretera Antigua a Coatepec 351, El Haya, Xalapa, Veracruz 91070, Mexico vicente.hernandez@inecol.mx.
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hernández-Ortiz
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ecología Tropical, Campus de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Km 15.5 Carretera Mérida-Xtmakuil, Mérida, Yucatán 97000, Mexico.
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Parra-Tabla
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Neuroetología, Universidad Veracruzana, Calle Dr. Luis Castelazo s/n, Col. Industrial Ánimas, Xalapa, Veracruz 91190, México.
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rico-Gray
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019659:Asteraceae / Q000502:physiology*; D056626:Inflorescence / Q000502:physiology; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology; D008800:Mexico; D011679:Pupa / Q000254:growth & development / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology; D012621:Seasons; D013045:Species Specificity; D033621:Tephritidae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000502:physiology*; D014863:Wasps / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Asteraceae; Tephritinae; immature stage; parasitoid; trophic interaction