Invasive African fig flies ( Zaprionus indianus ) have reduced cold acclimation ability compared to cosmopolitan...

Zaprionus indianus , an invasive species of fruit fly originating from Africa, has successfully inhabited eastern North America but is thought to be seasonally limited by cold temperatures. We compared the cold acclimation abilities of Z. indianus to six drosophilid species. Each species' survival at -5°C was tested following acclimation periods at 10°C, 15°C, and 25°C. We found that Z. indianus had a similar baseline cold tolerance to other cosmopolitan species and acclimated following treatment at 15°C. Overall, cold acclimation in Z. indianus was better than tropical species but weaker than some cosmopolitan species, suggesting cold may restrict Z. indianus populations.