First Record of an Invasive Fruit Fly Belonging to Complex (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Europe.

Emerging pests are increasingly threatening fruit orchard health across the Mediterranean area. Tephritidae, representing serious threats for Europe, are numerous, and the fruit flies and those belonging to complex are among the most alarming species. These species are highly polyphagous and has already spread to some Mediterranean countries. Due to these ongoing threats, in the Campania Region (southern Italy), a survey with traps and infested fruits analysis was performed with the aim of detecting the presence of species of complex. In two mixed fruit-trees fields, some adults belonging to a species of were captured in traps baited with the highly attractive male lure (methyl eugenol). They were distinguished from similar-looking spp. by morphological and molecular comparative analyses. Considering the existing morphological keys, specimens were tentatively identified as but molecular characterization with COI split them into two clades. Some specimens were grouped with similar to and and others in a clade including and (syn. ). ITS1 sequences instead confirmed morphological identification. The integrative approach allowed identifying all the specimens collected as belonging to the complex. This finding represents the first field interception in Europe of a member of one of the most dangerous groups of fruit flies.