Zeugodacus tau (syn. Bactrocera tau), the pumpkin fruit fly or the tau fruit fly, is a species of fruit fly in the family Tephritidae. The species is native to tropical and subtropical Asia.[1] It is a major pest species of melons and other cucurbits.[citation needed]

Zeugodacus tau
A mounted specimen
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Tephritidae
Genus: Zeugodacus
Species:
Z. tau
Binomial name
Zeugodacus tau
Walker, 1849
Synonyms
  • Bactrocera tau (Walker)
  • Chaetodacus tau (Walker)
  • Dacus caudatus var. nubilus Hendel
  • Dacus hageni de Meijere
  • Dacus nubilus Hendel
  • Dacus tau (Walker)
  • Dasyneura tau Walker
  • Zeugodacus nubilus (Hendel)

In 2023 the tau fruit fly was found in California. In response, the California Department of Food and Agriculture imposed a quarantine on a portion of Los Angeles County.[2]

References

edit
  1. ^ Gouvi, G.; Gariou-Papalexiou, A.; Augustinos, Antonios A.; Drosopoulou, E.; Tsiamis, George; Bourtzis, Kostas; Zacharopoulou, A. (2022). "The Chromosomes of Zeugodacus tau and Zeugodacus cucurbitae: A Comparative Analysis". Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. 10. doi:10.3389/fevo.2022.854723.
  2. ^ Quinn, Rob (1 August 2023). "Fruit Fly Causes Unprecedented Quarantine in LA County". Newser. Archived from the original on 4 August 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.