A Complex of Lance Flies (Diptera: Lonchaeidae) Infesting Figs in Veracruz, Mexico, with the Description of a New Species

The black fig fly, <i>Silba adipata</i>, and a complex of <i>Neosilba</i> species have emerged as major fig pests in Veracruz, Mexico. To assess infestation patterns and species composition, we sampled figs during one production cycle (March-October 2024) in two plantations. A total of 1647 <i>S. adipata</i> (821 females, 826 males) and 1250 <i>Neosilba</i> spp. (628 females, 622 males) emerged from samples. One species, <i>Neosilba recurva</i>, is described as new based on the characteristics of the male genitalia and COI sequencing. <i>Neosilba</i> spp. outnumbered <i>S. adipata</i> in the preharvest period, after which <i>S. adipata</i> became dominant. <i>S. adipata</i> emerged ~14 days earlier than <i>Neosilba</i> spp. Infestation by <i>S. adipata</i> caused uniform fig reddening, while <i>Neosilba</i> spp. produced patchy redness near larval exit holes. Approximately 65% of figs were lost to lonchaeid infestation preharvest. Based on male genitalia, we identified <i>Neosilba batesi</i> and <i>N. recurva</i> sp. nov. (that together comprised 64% of samples), as well as <i>Neosilba</i> sp.1 (26%) and <i>N. glaberrima</i> (10%), but COI sequences revealed greater diversity. <i>Neosilba batesi</i> formed a clade that did not match a Floridan sequence. <i>Neosilba glaberrima</i> clustered near <i>N. pendula</i> from Brazil, but another sequence diverged, suggesting the presence of an additional, undescribed species, <i>Neosilba</i> sp.2? <i>Neosilba recurva</i> and <i>Neosilba</i> sp.1, together with the newly described <i>N. flavitarsis</i> from Veracruz, formed distinct genetic branches, supporting their specific status.