ABSTRACT
The Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata is a polyphagous and multivoltine tropical species which has spread from its supposed origin in Africa to a number of countries including the Mediterranean basin, parts of South and Central America, and Australia. Population samples of C. capitata, Ceratitis rosa, Trirhithrum coffeae were collected in Kenya, and specimens of Capparimyia savastani were collected in Pantelleria Isl. A general trend seems to characterize these populations of C. capitata, which are polymorphic to different degrees. The pattern of allelic differentiation within and between geographically distant populations of C. capitata has been analyzed in order to assess the degree of genetic divergence in relation to ecogeographical conditions. A genetic analysis has been attempted to clarify the phylogenetic relations of C. capitata with some other Tephritidae species. From the morphological point of view, Ceratitis capitata and Ceratitis rosa are separated on the basis of the male secondary sexual characters, with females being inseparable at the generic level.
