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Pest fruit flies of the world – larvae

L.E. Carroll, A.L. Norrbom, M.J. Dallwitz, and F.C. Thompson

Trirhithrum nigerrimum (Bezzi)

Ceratitis nigra var. nigerrima Bezzi, Ceratitis patagiata Enderlein

Body length 5–7mm (range estimated, LEC coded as 6); slender, elongate, tapering anteriorly, or stout, elongate, tapering anteriorly (?). Integument unsclerotized, entirely whitish to yellowish. Caudal ridge present. Mature larvae able to jump (?).

Head. Head of normal shape. Antenna 2-segmented. Stomal organ: primary lobe small, round; other peg-sensilla-like structures ?. Stomal region: secondary lobes present, short, leaf-like (4 preoral lobes;?); sclerotized stomal guards absent (?). Oral ridges present; number of oral ridges 4–5. Elongate, finger-like lobes arising above mandibles absent (?). Labium broad (?).

Cephalopharyngeal skeleton. Mandibles: base stout, nearly perpendicular to a line from ventral part of base to apex of mandible (~fig. but check?). Parastomal bars elongate, free from hypopharyngeal sclerite (?). Dental sclerites present, posterior to mandibles (?).

Spinules and creeping welts. Dorsal spinules on segments with an unusual distribution (?).

Caudal segment (a8) and anal lobes. Sensilla on caudal segment 10 pairs, with at least 7 pairs visible under dissecting microscope (?). Ventral caudal sensilla absent or visible only with great difficulty, or obvious, but not on a papilla or tubercle (?).

Anterior spiracles. Anterior spiracle elevated, margin convex to straight. Anterior spiracular tubules 5–9 (range estimated, LEC coded 7); in a single uniform row, or in a single irregular row (?).

Posterior spiracles. Posterior spiracular area not distinctly set off from caudal segment. Posterior spiracles: slits 2.5–3.5x longer than wide (range estimated, LEC coded 3). Area between posterior spiracles smooth.

Host plants. Erythroxylaceae, Myrtaceae, Rubiaceae.

Part of plant attacked: fruit.

Biogeographic region. Afrotropical.

Specimens examined. Based on description by Silvestri (1913). Sources of data and SEM numbers: 397.

Illustrations. • Head, anterior spiracle, mandible, antenna.


We advise against extracting comparative information from the descriptions. This is much more easily achieved using the DELTA data files or the interactive key, which allows access to the character list, illustrations, full and partial descriptions, diagnostic descriptions, differences and similarities between taxa, lists of taxa exhibiting or lacking specified attributes, and distributions of character states within any set of taxa. See also Guidelines for using data taken from Web publications.


Cite this publication as: ‘L.E. Carroll, A.L. Norrbom, M.J. Dallwitz, and F.C. Thompson. 2004 onwards. Pest fruit flies of the world – larvae. Version: 9th April 2019. delta-intkey.com’.

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