INSECTS ASSOCIED WITH BACUPARI FRUIT, Salacia crassifolia (Mart.) PEYR, IN THE SAVANNAHS OF CENTRAL BRAZIL

The bacupari (Salacia crassifolia ) is a native fruit plant of the Brazilian cerrado areas. Although a high fruit fly infestation limits its utilization, it is eaten by animals and humans. Fruits present orange colored pulp, with slightly acid flavour and can be apreciated in natura or juices. The objective of this study was to assay bacupari plant features in Goiás State cerrado and to verify insects associated to bacupari, to determine infestation index and to verify this plant as a natural reservoir of fruit flies for adjacent orchards. Samples were collected during the frutification stage from September to December from 1995 to 1999 on 11 counties in Goiás State. The insects found more often were from Tephritidae (54.22%) as Anastrepha sp. (new species), A. zenildae, A. obliqua, A. fraterculus, A. sororcula, A. serpentina. Insects from other families were also identified: Lonchaeidae (Neosilba sp.), Muscidae (Atherigona orientalis), Oititidae and their parasitoids: Braconidae (Doryctobracon areolatus, Doryctobracon sp.-new species), Pteromalidae (Dicerataspis flavipes) and Figitidae (Eucoilinae - Lopheucoila anastrephae, Aganaspis nordlanderi, A. pelleranoi). Anstrepha sp. and Lonchaeidae, Anastrepha sp. and A. zenildae were found in the same fruit, proving overposition of fruit fly species in the fruit. KEY-WORDS: Insecta; native fruit plant; insects population.