Fruit fly (diptera: tephritidae) fauna and systematic of karaman province

This thesis aims to determine the species diversity of the family Tephritidae (Diptera) in Karaman province. Members of Tephritidae, commonly known as fruit flies, are of considerable agricultural and ecological importance, both due to the damage they inflict on economically valuable crops and the potential use of certain species in biological control. However, as in many other regions of Türkiye, faunistic data on this family remain insufficient in Karaman. Therefore, investigating the Tephritidae fauna of Karaman is significant not only for documenting regional biodiversity but also for enhancing the understanding of species distribution across the country. Field studies were conducted in 2023–2024 across various districts of Karaman province and in different habitats, including steppe, agricultural areas, forest clearings, and halophytic regions. Specimens were collected in the field using traps, killed with ethyl acetate vapors, and prepared as museum material in the laboratory according to standard entomological collection protocols. Species identification was performed under a stereomicroscope based on morphological characters such as wing patterns, setal arrangements, and genital structures. The recorded species were compared with existing literature to determine new records for Karaman. In Karaman province, a total of 48 species of the family Tephritidae were recorded, belonging to 2 subfamilies (Tephritinae and Trypetinae), 8 tribes, and 17 genera. Within the subfamily Tephritinae, 47 species belonging to 16 genera were identified, whereas the subfamily Trypetinae was represented solely by Carpomya schineri. In this study, four species (Acanthiophilus lugubris, Acanthiophilus minor, Terellia whitei and Xyphosia laticauda) were recorded for the first time for the Turkish fauna. Of the total 48 species recorded, 31 were reported for the first time from Karaman province, including the 4 new records for Türkiye. The species were generally found at elevations between 900 and 1600 m in arid and semi-arid habitats. Additionally, it was determined that many species utilize host plants belonging to the genera Centaurea, Cirsium and Carduus. This study is the first to comprehensively document the Tephritidae fauna of Karaman province and presents 27 species as new records for the region. The findings demonstrate that Karaman harbors rich and diverse habitats and is an important center for Tephritidae species diversity. Furthermore, the data obtained contribute to a better understanding of fruit fly species composition in the region, the management of agricultural ecosystems, and the conservation of biodiversity. Similar studies in underexplored regions like Karaman will significantly contribute to advancing the biogeographical knowledge of Tephritidae in Türkiye. Keywords: Diptera, Tephritidae, Fruit fly, Biodiversity, Karaman, New records