Gymnocarena defoei
Sutton & Steck, 2012
Gymnocarena defoei is a of true fruit fly in the Tephritidae, described in 2012 from eastern North America. It belongs to the Tephritinae and tribe Xyphosiini. Larvae develop in Asteraceae plants, with Verbesina helianthoides confirmed as a larval host. The species was described alongside G. norrbomi from eastern North America and G. monzoni from Guatemala, bringing the total number of named Gymnocarena species to 19.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Gymnocarena defoei: //ˌdʒɪmnəˈkɛrə.nə dɪˈfoʊ.aɪ//
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Distribution
Eastern North America, United States.
Host Associations
- Verbesina helianthoides - larval plantConfirmed for G. defoei larvae; Asteraceae .
Life Cycle
Larvae develop internally in Asteraceae plants. Specific developmental details for G. defoei are not documented.
Similar Taxa
- Gymnocarena diffusaBoth are Gymnocarena associated with Asteraceae; G. diffusa is known as the Sunflower Receptacle Maggot and feeds on sunflower extrafloral , with larvae boring into sunflower . G. defoei is associated with Verbesina species rather than Helianthus.
- Gymnocarena norrbomiDescribed in the same 2012 paper from eastern North America; G. norrbomi uses Verbesina helianthoides and Verbesina alternifolia as larval , overlapping with G. defoei in host use on V. helianthoides.
- Neotephritis finalisAnother tephritid fly associated with sunflowers; distinguished by different placement and larval feeding in undeveloped ovaries of florets rather than stem or receptacle tissues.