Species diversity of fruit flies in three different habitats in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia

Fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) are major pests in the horticultural sector. However, comprehensive information on their distribution across different habitats in Central Sulawesi is still lacking. This study aimed to assess the species diversity of fruit flies in three habitat types—urban, agricultural, and forest areas—in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. Collections were conducted from November 2022 to May 2023 using Steiner traps baited with cue lure (CUE) and methyl eugenol (ME). Fruit fly specimens were identified to the species level, and diversity, dominance, and evenness indices were calculated. A total of 32 species and 10,393 individual fruit flies were collected across the three habitat types. The forest habitat exhibited the highest diversity and evenness indices, followed by agricultural and urban areas. In contrast, the urban habitat showed a higher dominance of certain species. The most dominant species were Bactrocera dorsalis (ME trap) and B. albistrigata (CUE trap). Notably, the presence of rare species found exclusively in forest habitats contributed significantly to the higher species richness observed there.