Revisiting the History and Biogeography of Bactrocera oleae and Other Olive-Feeding Fruit Flies in Africa and Asia

Authors: TEIXEIRA DA COSTA, LUIS - Norwegian Entomological Society; BON, MARIE-CLAUDE - European Biological Control Laboratory (EBCL); VAN ASH, BARBARA - Stellenbosch University

Submitted to: Insects
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/30/2024
Publication Date: 12/31/2024
Citation: Teixeira Da Costa, L., Bon, M., Van Ash, B. 2024. Revisiting the History and Biogeography of Bactrocera oleae and Other Olive-Feeding Fruit Flies in Africa and Asia. Insects. 16(1):30. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16010030.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16010030

Interpretive Summary: The olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae, is considered the most important pest of cultivated olives in most world regions, some of which (e.g., California) were invaded in the modern era. The place and time of the evolution of B. oleae and related fruit fly species capable of feeding on olives is a matter of scientific interest that has remained unclear. Based on new genetic data generated from a diverse sample of olive fruit flies, we suggest that the ancestors of B. oleae started feeding on the genus Olea in Africa more than 6 million years ago, and later specialized on the Olea europaea group about 4 million years ago; however, it remains unclear whether this specialization occurred in Asia or in Africa.

Technical Abstract: Bactrocera oleae Rossi causes important agricultural losses in olive growing world regions. Despite its economic relevance, the expansion history and biogeography of B. oleae and other olive-feeding fruit flies remain unclear. We used mitogenomic data of Bactrocera species from a broad geographic range to explore possible historical biogeographic patterns in B. oleae and other olive-feeding fruit flies. Our data suggests that (1) the transition from stenophagy on Oleaceae to oligophagy on Olea most likely occurred in Africa more than 6 million years ago (MYA), and (2) the subsequent transition to monophagy on Olea europaea took place in Asia or in Africa in the Early Pleistocene. Our results support equally the hypothesis that the ancestors of modern B. oleae underwent two waves of migration from Asia to Africa, or that they zigzagged between Asia and Africa.