Biological Observations on Aciurina trixa and Valentibulla dodsoni (Diptera: Tephritidae) in New Mexico

Data on the life histories, ecology, and behavior of two sympatric species of gall-forming tephritid flies are presented and compared with Idaho populations of the same and congeneric species studied by Wangberg (1978, 1981). Aciurina trixa Curran and Valentibulla dodsoni Foote parasitize separate subspecies of Chrysothamnus nauseosus (Pallas) Britton in New Mexico. Adults moved frequently within their host plants and did not maintain individual territories. Adult feeding was negligible. Mating systems involved virgin female advertising, males searching for females, and the use by males of enlarged forelegs to “capture” females. Rematings occurred frequently and virgin and mated females behaved differently.