The abdominal musculature associated with oviposition in two gall-forming tephritid fruit flies in the genus Urophora

Abstract

We have described the abdominal musculature of female Urophora affinis and Urophora quadrifasciata. Early reports that the ovipositor in tephritids is controlled by the regulation of fluid pressure within the abdomen are confirmed. The myology of the Urophora species differs from that of Ceratitis capitata and Rhagoletis pomonella reported by earlier investigators. These differences appear to be the result of real anatomical variation within the Tephritidae as well as various inadequacies in the earlier studies. We did not identify any morphological adaptations specific to the gall-forming habit in the above Urophora species.