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Expert Training 19


Information about training programme

  • Title of training: Morphological and molecular identification of African fruit flies (Diptera, Tephritidae) - Research project: within framework of JEMU and TBI
  • Description of project: Tephritidae is one of the largest dipteran families comprising >4000 species of which 350 of economic importance (EI), mainly as pests of cultivated fruits. In Africa, most pest species belong to the genera Ceratitis, Dacus, and Bactrocera. TBI (Tephritid Barcoding Initiative) is an international project initiated by CBOL, that aims at barcoding all EI taxa and their congeners. The JEMU (Joint Experimental Molecular Unit), a joint unit of two BE-TAF members, focuses on barcoding initiatives for a wide variety of organisms.
    The Royal Museum for Central Africa has one of the most important collections of African fruit flies and has extensive expertise in the morphological taxonomy and systematics of the major pest genera.
  • Duration of training: 2 weeks

Type of training

  1. Practical experiences
    • Techniques (preparations, collection techniques)
    • Molecular techniques: particular protocols for DNA extraction, PCR, sequencing with particular reference to fruit flies
    • Specimen database development
    • Identification of Afrotropical Tephritidae
    • Host plant data
    • Literature search
  2. Lectures
    • Systematics of the African Tephritidae
    • Zoogeography of the Afrotropical Realm
    • Phylogeny and host plant relationships within African Tephritidae

Contact information of mentor / supervisor

  • Name of mentor / supervisor: Dr. Marc De Meyer
  • Institution / Organisation: Royal Museum for Central Africa
  • EDIT partner number: 14
  • Unit / Department / Laboratory: Entomology Section
  • Address: Leuvensesteenweg, 13 3080 Tervuren
  • Indicative time period when mentor is not available: November-December 2008. Exact dates for training should be discussed prior to visit.

Target audience: Candidates should have profound knowledge of work in a molecular laboratory, in particular with regard to extraction procedures, PCR and sequencing. The molecular aspect of the training is not intended as general training in barcoding but focuses on the specific techniques and protocols with regard to fruit flies.