title: Historical perspective on the synonymization of the four major pest species belonging to the Bactrocera dorsalis species complex (Diptera, Tephritidae).
abstract: An FAO/IAEA-sponsored coordinated research project on integrative taxonomy, involving close to 50 researchers from at least 20 countries, culminated in a significant breakthrough in the recognition that four major pest species, Bactrocera dorsalis, Bactrocera philippinensis, Bactrocera papayae and Bactrocera invadens, belong to the same biological species, Bactrocera dorsalis. The successful conclusion of this initiative is expected to significantly facilitate global agricultural trade, primarily through the lifting of quarantine restrictions that have long affected many countries, especially those in regions such as Asia and Africa that have large potential for fresh fruit and vegetable commodity exports. This work stems from two taxonomic studies: a revision in 1994 that significantly increased the number of described species in the Bactrocera dorsalis species complex; and the description in 2005 of Bactrocera invadens, then newly incursive in Africa. While taxonomically valid species, many biologists considered that these were different names for one biological species. Many disagreements confounded attempts to develop a solution for resolving this taxonomic issue, before the FAO/IAEA project commenced. Crucial to understanding the success of that initiative is an accounting of the historical events and perspectives leading up to the international, multidisciplinary collaborative efforts that successfully achieved the final synonymization. This review highlights the 21 year journey taken to achieve this outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Alvin K W
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Hee
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, ; Centre of Insect Systematics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Suk-Ling
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Wee
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Chemical Ecology, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Ritsuo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nishida
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Chemical Ecology, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.affiliation: FAO/IAEA Joint Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hendrichs
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, United States of America.
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Haymer
authors.affiliation: Tan Hak Heng Co., Penang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Keng-Hong
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Tan
keywords: Bactrocera dorsalis species complex; Bactrocera invadens; Bactrocera papayae; Bactrocera philippinensis; integrative taxonomy; synonymization