title: Morphometric divergence in populations of Anastrepha obliqua (Diptera, Tephritidae) from Colombia and some Neotropical locations.
abstract: The West Indian fruit fly, Anastrepha obliqua, is one of seven species of quarantine importance of its genus and is one of the most economically important fruit fly pests in Colombia. The taxonomic status of this species is a key issue for further implementation of any pest management program. Several molecular studies have shown enough variability within Anastrepha obliqua to suggest its taxonomic status could be revised; however, there are no morphological studies supporting this hypothesis. The aim of this work was to describe the morphological variability of Colombian populations of Anastrepha obliqua, comparing this variability with that of other samples from the Neotropics. Measurements were performed on individuals from 11 populations collected from different geographic Colombian localities and were compared with populations from Mexico (2), Dominica Island (1), Peru (1) and Brazil (2). Linear morphometric analyses were performed using 23 female morphological traits, including seven variables of the aculeus, three of the thorax, and six of the wing; seven ratios among them were also considered. Discriminant function analyses showed significant morphological differentiation among the Colombian populations, separating them into two groups. Furthermore, in the comparisons between Colombian samples with those from other countries, three clusters were observed. The possibility of finding more than one species within the nominal Anastrepha obliqua population is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Universidad del Tolima, Barrio Altos de Santa Helena, Ibagué, Tolima, Colombia, CP 73000629; Doctorado en Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad de Caldas, Manizales, Carrera 35 62-160, sede Sancancio, Manizales, Caldas, Colombia.
authors.forename: Maria R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Castañeda
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, 05508-900 São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Selivon
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ecología A.C., Red de Interacciones Multitróficas. Carretera antigua a Coatepec # 351, El Haya. Xalapa, Veracruz 91070, México.
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hernández-Ortiz
authors.affiliation: Doctorado en Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad de Caldas, Manizales, Carrera 35 62-160, sede Sancancio, Manizales, Caldas, Colombia.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soto
authors.affiliation: Universidad del Tolima, Barrio Altos de Santa Helena, Ibagué, Tolima, Colombia, CP 73000629.
authors.forename: Nelson A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Canal
keywords: West Indian fruit fly; linear morphometry; taxonomy