Drosophila neutralis Hardy

Lapoint, Richard T., Magnacca, Karl N. & O’Grady, Patrick M., 2009, Review of the spoon tarsus subgroup of Hawaiian Drosophila (Drosophilidae: Diptera), with a description of one new species, Zootaxa 2003, pp. 53-68 : 62-63

Drosophila neutralis Hardy

Drosophila neutralis Hardy, 1965: 383 –385

Diagnosis. The labella, palpi and frons are all brown. Dense setae on the posterior portion of the tibia of the fore legs of the males are prone, not erect, and never longer than the tibial spur (see Fig. 2 c for example). Legs are completely yellow, except for the last tarsal segments which are brown. The apical portion of the wings are hyaline (see Fig. 3 e for example). Abdomen is mostly dark brown, except for the last two tergites and the sides of first tergite which are yellow.

Types. HAWAI‘I: Holotype ɗ (BPBM 6409) Kīlauea, viii.1958, JWB ( Evenhuis 1982).

Material Examined. HAWAI‘I: 32 ɗ have been studied in the BPBM from the following localities: 3 ɗ, 29 mi. Ōla‘a, viii.1925, WMG; ɗ, Stainback Highway, 3600’, x.2006, KNM, RTL, GMB; 2 ɗ, Stainback Highway, Tom's Trail, 3200’, x.2006, KNM, RTL, GMB; 5 ɗ, Hionamoa Stream, Ka‘ū Forest, x.2006, KNM, RTL, GMB; 3 ɗ, Ōla‘a Forest, x.2006, KNM, RTL, GMB; 2 ɗ, Ōla‘a Forest, Tr 18, ii.2007, KNM; 4 ɗ, Ōla‘a Forest, Tr 18 vi.2006, KNM; 4 ɗ, HAVO escape road, 3900’, vi.2006, KNM; ɗ, HAVO Kīpuka Puaulu, 4000’, vi.2006, KNM; ɗ, Pu‘u Huluhulu, x.2006, KNM, RTL, GMB; ɗ, Kukuiopa‘e, South Kona, x.2006, KNM, RTL, GMB; 5 ɗ, Laupāhoehoe, 3700', x.2006, KNM, RTL, GMB. Over 50 ɗ have been deposited in the UHIM from the following localities: 20 ɗ, Upper Ōla‘a Forest, viii.1952, DEH; 6 ɗ, Upper Ōla‘a Forest, vii.1953, DEH; 8 ɗ, Upper Ōla‘a Forest, vii.1956, DEH; ɗ, Nāpau Crater, Kīlauea, vii.1952, DEH; ɗ, Pauahi 4300', Kīlauea, vii.1952, DEH; 10 ɗ, Kīlauea, viii.1958, JWB; 6 ɗ, Fern Forest, Upper Ōla‘a Forest, iii.1966, KYK; 2 ɗ, Kīlauea, viii.1966, KYK. The following material is present at AMNH: ɗ, Forest behind Volcano Solid Waste Transfer Station, O40.2, 5.vii.1998, PMO, SLM; 2 ɗ, Forest behind Volcano Solid Waste Transfer Station, O51.4, 12–14.iii.1999, PMO, JBS; ɗ, Volcanoes National Park, Ōla‘a Forest, near Pole 44, O128.5, 29.vii.2001, PMO, CDS. The following material is in the Essig Museum of Entomology at UC Berkeley: ɗ, Tree Planting Road, O256.8; O201316; 11.vii.2004, PMO, MG; ɗ, Kohala Mountains, Top of Waipio Falls, O269.6, O 200623, 16.vii.2004, PMO, CDS, GS, SH, MG.

Distribution. This species is endemic to the Big Island of Hawai‘i.

Ecology. This species has been reared from the bark of Tetraplasandra oahuensis (Araliaceae) ; the leaves and bark of Cheirodendron trigynum (Araliaceae) ( Heed 1968; Magnacca et al 2008; Mangan 1978).

Illustrations. Morphological structures of this species are depicted in multiple publications including: foreleg ( Hardy 1965: 384, fig. 148b); phallus ( Kaneshiro 1976: 267, fig. 5h); terminalia, male, lateral ( Hardy 1965: 384, fig. 148c).

Chromosomes. The metaphase complement of this species is 5 rods and 1 dot ( Yoon & Richardson 1978).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Fore-legs of selected males a) D. atroscutellata, b) D. dasycnemia, c) D. conformis, d) D. incognita, and e) D. percnosoma.

FIGURE 3. Wings of selected species a) D. atroscutellata, b) D. sordidapex, c) D. conformis, d) D. dasycnemia, and e) D. waddingtoni.