Expanding the menu: new host plants of fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in southern Brazil

Sampling fruit, especially those of native species that act as natural reservoirs for fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae), is crucial for fruit production. Therefore, this study aimed to identify fruit fly species, their hosts, and natural enemies in the Pelotas region (Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil) through fruit sampling. Samples were collected from 15 sites within the Pelotas microregion between October 2022 and March 2024. Following the identification of emerged fruit flies and parasitoids, infestation and parasitism rates were calculated. The following species were recovered from a total of 3,827 puparia: Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann, 1830) (lato sensu) (91.33%), Anastrepha chiclayae Greene, 1934 (0.89%), and Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann, 1824) (7.7%). Infestation occurred in 19 of the 25 sampled fruit species, with the highest incidence in Myrtaceae species. The highest infestation rates were observed in Acca sellowiana (O. Berg) Burret, Passiflora caerulea L., Psidium guajava L. and Psidium cattleyanum Sabine. Doryctobracon areolatus (Szépligeti, 1911) was the most frequent parasitoid and exhibited the highest parasitism rates. Four new hosts were recorded: three for A. fraterculus [Campomanesia aurea O. Berg, Passiflora caerulea L., and Psidium salutare (Kunth) O. Berg] and one for C. capitata [Citrus unshiu (Swingle) Marcow]. These records expand the understanding of associations between Anastrepha species and host plants. Moreover, they reinforce the importance of host surveys, especially of native species in woodlands adjacent to orchards, for the monitoring and management of A. fraterculus.