Taxonomy and biology of Euphranta (Euphranta) longicauda Shiraki, 1950 (Diptera: Tephritidae), rediscovered after 60 years

Abstract

Euphranta (Euphranta) longicauda Shiraki, 1950, was rediscovered in 2010, after the original description. In 2022, we collected three fruits of Marsdenia tomentosa, an only-known host plant, and confirmed that vast number of larvae inhabited a fruit and fed on seeds which never secrete latex known as having a repellent effect with its sticky properties. In our observation, vines of M. tomentosa have climbed up on trees and the fruits have grown at heights, and an adult was collected around a fruit. These facts may be the reasons why this fly species have been never found in these 60 years. We estimate that E. longicauda is broadly distributed in Japan, west of the Kanto District, and the seed feeding behavior of E. longicauda on Marsdenia was originated in East Asia. Discussion on the type series of E. longicauda is noted.