Lordiphosa denticeps species group
Drosophila (Hirtodrosophila) denticeps species-group, Okada, 1967: 3.
Lordiphosa denticeps species-group: Zhang, 1993b: 144.
Diagnosis.
Male foreleg tarsomeres I to III often with sex combs (Figs 1B, 2D). Surstylus with numerous recurved setae on ventral portion of inner surface in addition to primary prensisetae on caudobasal margin (Figs 1C, 2F). Ventral margin of cercus tapering or truncated, fringed with a row of stout spines (Figs 1C, 2F). Aedeagus membranous, hirsute apically, fused with posterior, roof-like gonopod (Figs 1E, 2H). Oviscapt with numerous lateral ovisensilla (Figs 1F, 2I).
Remarks.
Okada (1967) proposed the Lordiphosa denticeps group as a new species group of Hirtodrosophila (a subgenus of Drosophila at that time), including two species so far described, Lordiphosa denticeps Okada & Sasakawa, 1956 and Drosophila tripartita Okada, 1966. However, it had been noticed that these two species have aberrant morphological characters inconsistent with the definition of Hirtodrosophila . Three more species were subsequently added to this species group (Okada 1971, Singh and Gupta 1981). Then Okada (1990) transferred the members of this species group to Lordiphosa (a subgenus of Drosophila at that time), but considered that the Drosophila denticeps group was synonymous with the Drosophila nigricolor group proposed by Laštovka and Máca (1978). Then, Grimaldi (1990) elevated Lordiphosa to the generic rank, and Zhang (1993b) resurrected and redefined the Lordiphosa denticeps group as a species group independent from the Lordiphosa nigricolor group in the genus Lordiphosa .
Key to Indian species of the Lordiphosa denticeps group
| 1 | Arista with one ventral branch (except terminal fork) | 2 |
| - | Arista with two ventral branches | Lordiphosa tripartita (Okada, 1966) |
| 2 | Setae of all, approximately 15 TBRs (Transverse Bristle Rows; Baumina and Kopp 2007) on tarsomere I of ♂ foreleg thick, forming sex combs (Fig. 1B); gonopod not concaved proximally on posterior margin in lateral view (Fig. 1E); ♀ abdominal tergite VIII without setae (Fig. 1F); oviscapt with approximately 100 lateral ovisensilla (Fig. 1F); spermathecal capsule apically not indented (Fig. 1G) | Lordiphosa neokurokawai (Singh & Gupta, 1981) |
| - | Setae of only distal most TBR on tarsomere I of ♂ foreleg thick, forming sex comb (Fig. 2D); gonopod concaved proximally on posterior margin in lateral view (Fig. 2H); ♀ abdominal tergite VIII dorsally with approximately two setae per side (Fig. 2I); oviscapt with approximately 35 lateral ovisensilla (Fig. 2I); spermathecal capsule apically indented (Fig. 2J) | Lordiphosa curva Fartyal & Toda, sp. n. |