DISCRIMINATION BETWEEN THE IMMATURE STAGES OF CERATITIS-CAPITATA AND ANASTREPHA-FRATERCULUS (DIPTERA, TEPHRITIDAE) POPULATIONS BY RANDOM AMPLIFIED POLYMORPHIC DNA-POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION

A random amplified polymorphic DNA polymerase chain reaction method us ing 10-base long commercial random primers was used to identify polymo rphisms in Argentine populations of 2 fruit fly pests A fast and relia ble discrimination between Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), and Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) immature or matur e stages was obtained using as few as 1 insect per assay. The populati on of origin of immature individuals can be identified unambiguously u sing 2 primers.