Anastrepha

Anastrepha is the most diverse genus in the American tropics and subtropics. Currently, it comprises more than 300 described species, including nine major pest species, such as the Mexican fruit fly (A. ludens), the South American fruit fly (A. fraterculus complex), the West Indian fruit fly (A. obliqua), the sapote fruit fly (A. serpentina), the Caribbean fruit fly (A. suspensa), the American guava fruit fly (A. striata), and the pumpkin fruit fly (A. grandis), as well as the papaya fruit fly (formerly Toxotrypana curvicada). As some of their names suggest, these pest species are one of the most numerous and damaging groups of insects in their native range, plaguing commercial fruits such as citrus, mango, guava, and papaya.