Drosophila differens is an endangered species of Hawaiian fly in the family Drosophilidae. This species is a member of the planitiba subgroup of the picture-wing clade of Hawaiian Drosophila.[2] It is found on the island of Molokai.
| Drosophila differens | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Drosophilidae |
| Genus: | Drosophila |
| Species: | D. differens
|
| Binomial name | |
| Drosophila differens (Hardy and Kaneshiro, 1975)
| |
Description edit
Drosophila differens was described by D. Elmo Hardy and Kenneth Y. Kaneshiro in 1975.[4] This fly is very similar to its Maui relative, D. planitibia, though most individuals of D. differens has a yellow face while D. planitibia have a black face.[4] However, Hardy and Kaneshiro report that it is difficult to find any consistently distinguishing character. These two species are capable of hybridizing, but crosses in both directions produce sterile males.
D. differens is larger than many other picture-wing species.[3] It is reported to breed in the rotting bark of Clermontia species.[5]
Conservation edit
Drosophila hemipeza was listed as federally endangered in 2006 along with ten other species of picture-wing Drosophila.[3] Threats to the conservation of D. hemipeza include loss-of-habitat, in part due to invasive pigs and rats, as well as introduced predators such as yellowjacket wasps. Invasive plants such as Psidium cattleianum also threaten the conservation of D. differens by overwhelming native species and outcompete them for access to light. On Molokai, non-native axis deer threaten native ecosystems by trampling and overgrazing native plants.
References edit
- ^ NatureServe (7 April 2023). "Drosophila differens". NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data accessed through NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia: NatureServe. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ a b "ECOS: Species Profile". ecos.fws.gov. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ a b c "Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Determination of Status for 12 Species of Picture-Wing Flies From the Hawaiian Islands". Federal Register. Fish and Wildlife Service. May 9, 2006. pp. 26835–26852. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
- ^ a b Hardy, D. Elmo; Kaneshiro, Kenneth Y. (August 1975). "Studies in Hawaiian Drosophila, miscellaneous new species". Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society. XXII (I): 57–64.
- ^ Magnacca, Karl N.; Price, Donald K. (2015-11-01). "Rapid adaptive radiation and host plant conservation in the Hawaiian picture wing Drosophila (Diptera: Drosophilidae)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 92: 226–242. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2015.06.014. ISSN 1055-7903. PMID 26151218.