A Complex of Lance Flies (Diptera: Lonchaeidae) Infesting Figs in Veracruz, Mexico, with the Description of a New Species.

ABSTRACT: The black fig fly, Silba adipata, and a complex of Neosilba species have emerged as major fig pests in Veracruz, Mexico. To assess infestation patterns and species composition, we sampled figs during one production cycle (March-October 2024) in two plantations. A total of 1647 S. adipata (821 females, 826 males) and 1250 Neosilba spp. (628 females, 622 males) emerged from samples. One species, Neosilba recurva, is described as new based on the characteristics of the male genitalia and COI sequencing. Neosilba spp. outnumbered S. adipata in the preharvest period, after which S. adipata became dominant. S. adipata emerged ~14 days earlier than Neosilba spp. Infestation by S. adipata caused uniform fig reddening, whi

SUBMITTER: Lasa R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12112198 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature