Drosophila phalloserra, Grimaldi & Jones, 2020

Grimaldi, David A. & Jones, Lance E., 2020, A Revision of the Drosophila spinipes Species Group (Diptera: Drosophilidae), Zootaxa 4809 (1), pp. 1-28 : 18-21

Drosophila phalloserra , new species

Figs. 3D , 4E , 5E , 7 E–F, 8E, 10A–C, 10I, 11G–I, 12J–L

LSID urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:E1E74ED6-FA6F-46A3-9653-07BF1C3A6390

Drosophila (Hirtodrosophila) spinipes: Tsacas, 1990 (misidentification).

Diagnosis: Distinguished best on basis of phallus: rather large, with distinctive pair of opposing dorsomedial rows of coarse, saw-like scales. Apex of abdomen light.

Description: Coloration typical of the group; apex of abdomen in both sexes light. Protarsus: Segment 1 short, ~ 0.80 length of segment 2 (HS-07), each with typical array of 4 fang-shaped spines alternating in size (spine no. 7 only slightly smaller than spine 8). Male terminalia: Surstylus rather long and narrow, with ~13 spine-like prensisetae, increasing in length distad; ventral lobe of epandrium with one short, fine, apical spine-like seta. Hypandrium variable in shape, with anterior margin that is convex to flat or slightly concave; subepandrial sclerite large, with anterior portion the shape of a rounded axe head, posterior arms (articulating with bases of surstyli) V-shaped. Aedeagus + aedeagal apodeme longer than hypandrium. Aedeagus with distiphallus no wider than phallus shaft in dorsoventral view; width in lateral view relatively uniform (not apically bulbous); aedeagus approximately same length as aedeagal apodeme; distiphallus with two opposing rows of ~ 15–20 coarse, saw-like teeth on dorsomedial surface, fine long spicules on medial/inner surfaces. Female: Oviscapt with apex rounded; pegs in dorsal triad and ventral pair slightly larger than ones in ventral series to same sizes; apical notch small, inconspicuous; ventral series with 7–9 pegs. Measurements: Head: HD/HW 0.82 (0.79–0.84); FL/LFW 1.24 (1.16–1.30); VB2/VB1 0.63 (0.58–0.69); EW/ED 0.69 (0.67–0.73); OR2/OR1 0.84 (0.80–0.88); OR3/OR1 1.04 (1.00–1.06); OC/POC 1.67 (1.66–1.70); FW/FD 0.58 (0.55–0.61); ODB/ODA 0.35 (0.32–0.37); Thorax: ThL 0.91 mm. (0.88–0.95); UPS/LHS 0.84 (0.78–0.94); LHS/ThL 0.20 (0.18–0.21); ADC/PDC 0.46 (0.41–0.48); AKE/PKE 0.46 (0.42–0.53); LF1/LF2 0.80 (0.78–0.84).

Holotype: Male , HS-08, “ Kenya, Kakamega Forest, 20–21.XI.1986, A. Freidberg. ” Minuten double-mounted, genitalia dissected by DG; in TAU

Other Specimens: Paratype male, HS-07 “ Kenya, Kakamega Forest, 11.V.1991, A. Freidberg & Fini Kaplan” minuten-mounted, genitalia dissected by DG, in TAU. Female , HS-11 “ Kenya, Kakamega Forest, 20–21.XI.1986, A. Freidberg,” minuten-mounted, genitalia dissected by DG, in TAU. South Africa (all minuten double-mounted, in KNM): 2 males, HS-31, 32 ( DMSA 140413 , 021306 , respectively) “Gillitts, Pinetown district, Natal, S. Africa, B. & P. Stuckenberg, 11.IX.1960 ”/” Drosophila spinipes L. Tsacas det. 1985” genitalia of HS-31 dissected by L. Tsacas, HS-32 not dissected. 2 females, HS-33, -35 ( DMSA 021305 , 140412 , respectively) “St. Heller Est., near Hillcrest, Natal S. Afr. 20 Dec. 1954, B. Stuckenberg ”/” Drosophila spinipes L. Tsacas det. 1985”, abdomen HS-33 removed by L. Tsacas (not dissected), in microvial; abdomen HS-35 dissected by DG. 1 female HS-34 ( DMSA 021304 ), “Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, 21-XII-1954, B. Stuckenberg ”/”/” Drosophila spinipes L. Tsacas det. 1985” genitalia not dissected .

Etymology: In reference to the coarse serrations on the phallus.

Comments: This species appears to be widely distributed in east Africa, though there are large areas between South Africa and Kenya that need sampling. Aedeagi in profile (figs. 12 J-L) have differences in proportions and serration, suggesting that phalloserra may consist of cryptic species.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Lateral and dorsal habitus of several Drosophila spinipes-group species. A. D. freidbergi n. sp. (HS-06). B. D. malagasy n. sp. (HS-18). C. D. nigrospinipes n. sp. (HS-24). D. D. phalloserra n. sp. (HS-08). E. Dorsal thorax, sp. C (HS-13). F. D. spinipes Lamb (NHMUK 014335955), dorsum. G. D. spinipes Lamb (NHMUK 014335956), lateral.

FIGURE 4. Photomicrographs, dorsolateral view, of the abdomen of several Drosophila spinipes-group species. A-C. D. malagasy n. sp. A.HS-16. B. HS-22. C. HS-18. D. D. nigrospinipes n. sp. (HS-24). E. D. phalloserra n. sp. (HS-07). F. D. suma Burla (HS-01). G. D. spinipes Lamb (NHMUK 014335955).

FIGURE 5. Protarsi of representative species in the Drosophila spinipes group, mesolateral view. Homologous spines are numbered (note spine 7 missing in D. malagasy specimen HS-20 [B], presence of supernumerary spine 3a in D. jambiya). A. D. jambiya n. sp. (HS-39). B. D. malagasy n. sp. (HS-20). C. D. malagasy n. sp. (HS-22). D. D. nigrospinipes n. sp. (HS-24). E. D. phalloserra n. sp. (HS-07). F. D. spinipes Lamb (NHMUK 014335956). G. sp. D (HS-03). All to the same scale.

FIGURE 7. Oviscapts, lateral view of right valves, with structures and peg groups used in the descriptions indicated in K. All to the same scale. A. D. cameroonensis n. sp. (HS-09). B. D. jambiya n. sp. (HS-39). C. D. malagasy n. sp. (HS-18). D. D. malagasy n. sp. (HS-28). E. D. phalloserra n. sp. (HS-11). F. D. phalloserra n. sp. (DMSA 140142). G. D. spinipes Lamb (NHMUK 014335956). H. D. suma Burla (HS-02). I. sp. A (HS-04). J. sp. B (HS-05). K. Species undetermined.