ABSTRACT
Population genetics is the study of Mendel’s laws and other genetic principles as they apply to entire populations of organisms. Typically, studies focus on the causes of evolution, including selection, migration, mutation, and random genetic drift and methods for studying genetic change, such as quantitative genetics. Insects of economic importance, such as those in the family Tephritidae, are well suited for the study of population genetics because key features of their biology are often already known, including the basic life cycle, rearing requirements, and histories of infestation and geographical spread. Understanding the origins of tephritids of economic importance can aid both in designing eradication/control strategies and in identifying the native habitats in which to study basic biology including natural enemies. Variation among some populations of many tephritid species, including Ceratitis capitata, can be detected using allozyme electrophoresis. As plant feeders, tephritids have been model systems with which to address the evolution of host plant use.
