This page represents the following TreeOfLife-200M taxonomic path.[1]
Based on examination of preserved specimens, Anastrepha spatulata exhibits the characteristic body form of the genus Anastrepha. The specimens display a distinct, patterned wing venation typical of tephritid fruit flies, with dark, sclerotized markings forming a complex pattern across the wing membrane. The body is generally robust, with a yellowish-brown coloration common to many species in the genus.[1]
Anastrepha spatulata is a member of the Anastrepha spatulata species group, an assemblage within the genus Anastrepha that includes 11 species. Several species within this group are known to infest the aerial parts of cassava (Manihot esculenta), resulting in significant agricultural damage.[2]
Research into this group has employed both morphometric and molecular methodologies to resolve phylogenetic relationships and taxonomic distinctions. Morphometric studies have focused on the aculeus—specifically the apex length, width at the cloacal opening, and the length of the serrated portion—as diagnostic characters. Additionally, geometric morphometric analysis of wing shape, utilizing 14 landmarks, has identified significant differences in wing conformation between populations, particularly at the intersections of veins R4+5 with the costa, M with the wing margin, CuA2 with the wing margin, and Cu1 with M.[2] Molecular phylogenetic analyses, particularly of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene, support the classification of these species into distinct clades.[2]