Drosophila sp.

Mcevey, Shane F. & Polak, Michal, 2021, Drosophilidae (Diptera) of the Cook Islands, Records of the Australian Museum (Rec. Aust. Mus.) 73 (5), pp. 153-170 : 158

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.3853/j.2201-4349.73.2021.1770

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5F204B3F-03AD-459D-83F3-4D14B41A1677

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/73198795-DB55-E118-2DE5-FE22E25BB51F

treatment provided by

Felipe

scientific name

Drosophila sp.
status

 

Drosophila sp. aff. funebris

Figs 3–12 View Figures 3–10 View Figures 11–12

Drosophila funebris (Fabricius, 1787:345) View in CoL , the type species of the genus Drosophila View in CoL , and therefore of the family Drosophilidae View in CoL , is rarely encountered in the Australian or Oceanian Regions. Listed from all major biogeographic regions of the world ( Brake & Bächli, 2008), it is rare in the Oriental ( Japan [ Okada, 1968]; Korea [Okada, 1974]) and Australian Regions (specimens collected in Sydney e.g., 1916, 1917, 1924, 1949 and 1978: K.118090–92, K.118083– 84, K.356399, K.118085–87, K.274079, K.471590–91, K.118089, no specimens collected in Sydney since 1978). It is apparently absent in New Guinea ( Carson & Okada 1983, and pers. obs.). It is common in the Palaearctic Region ( David & Tsacas, 1981) and in South Africa ( McEvey et al., 1988).

A number of New Zealand (Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland, Dunedin, Rangiora) records of Drosophila funebris View in CoL exist (Harrison, 1952, 1959). Harrison recognized that the New Zealand names D. clarkii Hutton, 1901 View in CoL and Leucophenga atkinsoni Miller, 1921 were, in fact, junior synonyms of D. funebris View in CoL .

A single female specimen (AM K.471932) was taken during the present survey at “Rarotonga top end trail” ( Tables 2, 3). The specimen agrees in general morphology and cephalo-chaetotaxy ( Figs 3–6 View Figures 3–10 ) with others from elsewhere in the world but the wings and oviscapt differ. Wing metrics of specimens from New Zealand, Australia, Spain and South Africa have been examined. While specimens from around the world conform with each other, the Cook Island specimen stands out—the wing measures are significantly different ( Table 4). For example: the C-index is about 2.0 in the Rarotonga fly, but 2.82–3.32 in specimens from South Africa, Spain, Australia and New Zealand; the fringe of heavy setation in the third costal section is almost entire in the Cook Islands fly but less than half in D. funebris from Australasia, Africa and Europe ( Figs 7–8 and C3F View Figures 3–10 in Table 4); and the 4c-index is 1.26 in Rarotonga but 0.65–0.79 in D. funebris worldwide ( Table 4). There is also a remarkable difference in the size of the costal spine pair at the subcostal break ( Figs 9–10 View Figures 3–10 ).

The terminalia of the single available specimen has been dissected. The spermathecae, unfortunately, were not recovered. The oviscapt ( Fig. 11 View Figures 11–12 ) has a form quite unlike Drosophila funebris —there is no preapical bump on the dorsal margin (arrowed in Fig. 12 View Figures 11–12 ), a distinguishing character for D. funebris . Furthermore, and also unlike D. funebris , there are 2–3 strong upward-pointing, subapical, peg ovisensilla ( Fig. 11 View Figures 11–12 ) and no single, long, ventral, subterminal, trichoid ovisensilla (cf. D. funebris , Fig. 12 View Figures 11–12 ).

The magnitude of these differences is such that there would, under other circumstances, be little doubt that the Cook Islands specimen represents a new, undescribed species. However, only one female is available for study and so it is noted as exceptional but not used here to describe a new species. Additional specimens, and males, from the Rarotonga (and Cook Islands) population would permit a more confident determination and a better understanding of its morphological deviation in the TSP .

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Diptera

Family

Drosophilidae

Genus

Drosophila

Loc

Drosophila sp.

Mcevey, Shane F. & Polak, Michal 2021
2021
Loc

Leucophenga atkinsoni

Miller 1921
1921
Loc

D. clarkii

Hutton 1901
1901
Loc

Drosophila

Fallen 1823
1823
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