Fruit fly species (Diptera: Tephritidae) associated with fruit orchards in the province of Luya, Amazonas, Peru.

In the province of Luya, the presence of fruit flies (Tephritidae) in fruit orchards causes significant losses to the family economy. This study aimed to identify, using morphological and molecular methods, the Tephritidae species associated with fruit hosts and to evaluate host preference. Fruits were collected from orchards at different geographic points in the province of Luya; these fruits were transferred to the laboratory under controlled conditions and placed in plastic containers on sterilized soil to favor pupation. When adults emerged, they were fed with sucrose. For morphological identification, adult females were used and pictorial keys were employed, while for molecular analysis, the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (Cox1) region was amplified using the primers LCO1490/HCO2198 and LepF1/LepR1. After identification, fruit fly preference for specific fruit species was evaluated by associating the identified species with the fruits from which they emerged. Nine fruit fly species were identified, corresponding to eight species of the genus