Drosophila kikalaeleele, Lapoint, Magnacca & O’Grady, 2009

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 : 61-62

Drosophila kikalaeleele, Lapoint, Magnacca & O’Grady new species

Diagnosis: This species is very similar to D. sordidapex in overall morphology, notably the discrete marking at the apical portion of the wing, and is inferred to be the sister species. Drosophila kikalaeleele is differentiated by the last two tergites being completely yellow on an otherwise completely brown to black abdomen, and by having the anal plate black.

Male Description. Body length: 2.5 to 3 mm. Wing length: 3 mm. Head. Lower portion of frons yellow. Ocellar triangle black. Vertex ranges from brown to black. Face ranges from light to dark brown. Gena yellow. Ocellar and vertical setae ~ as long as antennal arista. Anterior reclinate slightly shorter than proclinate. Clypeus, labella and palpi yellow. Several weak black setae on apical portion of palpi. Labellum fringed with weak yellow setae. Mouthparts not ornate. First and second antennal segments yellow. Third antennal segment completely dark brown to black. 6 dorsal rays, 2 ventral rays and apical fork on arista.

Thorax. Thorax dorsally light brown with four rufous stripes running anterior to posterior. Scutellum entirely yellow. The anepisternum dark brown, otherwise lateral portion of thorax yellow tinged with light brown. Posterior dorsocentral setae 1/3 longer than anterior dorsocentral setae. Apical scutellar setae ~2/3 as long as the basal scutellar setae. Haltere completely yellow.

Legs. Basitarsi lack setae apically; second tarsal segment concave and 1/3 longer than third tarsal segment. Fore and mid legs entirely yellow except for slight darkening of fifth tarsal segment and middle tibia. Mid leg yellow except for brown tibia. Short setae ½ as long as preapical bristle on tibia.

Wings. Discretely edged wing spot darkens apical half of cell R2+3, lower apical margin of cell R1 and upper apical margin of cell R4+5. Remainder of wing hyaline. Costal fringe extends halfway between apical margin of cell R2+3 (see Fig. 3 b).

Abdomen. Dorsal tergites dark brown to black with yellow on posterior margins of each tergite, except for yellow to light brown fifth and sixth tergites. Sternites yellow. Anal plate dark black. Genitalia identical to D. sordidapex .

Type Material. Holotype ɗ ( BPBM 16909), South Kona Forest Reserve, x.2006, RTL, KNM, GMB.

Material Examined. HAWAI‘I: 2 ɗ have been deposited into the BPBM: ɗ, Ōla‘a Trail 18, vi.2006, KNM; ɗ South Kona Forest Reserve, x.2006, RTL, KNM, GMB. 30 ɗ have been deposited in the UHIM from the following localities: 19 ɗ, Hualālai, vii.1970, WBH, MD, TL; 3 ɗ, Hualālai, 3400’, xii.1969, KYK; ɗ, Kīpuka No 9, Saddle Rd, vi.1969, WBH; 4 ɗ, Kīpuka No 14, 5100’, Saddle Road, vii.1969, WBH; ɗ, Pu‘u Huluhulu, vii.1969, RHR; ɗ, Greenwell Ranch, Pauahi, vi.1974; ɗ, Upper Ōla‘a Forest Reserve, x.1988, KYK.

Distribution and Ecology. Reared from Ilex leaves by W. B. Heed. Collected at Hualālai, Pu‘u Huluhulu, the Saddle Road Kīpukas and the Ōla‘a Forest.

Etymology: A combination of the Hawaiian words ‘ele‘ele = black and kikala = buttock, posterior.

Relationships. Based on overall morphology, especially wing patterning, this species is close to D. sordidapex .

Figures

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