Drosophila tarphytrichia

Drosophila tarphytrichia is an endangered species of fly from Hawaii, in the species rich lineage of Hawaiian Drosophilidae. It is only found on the island of Oahu.[1] While originally collected near Manoa Falls in 1949, this fly is thought to have been extirpated from the Koʻolau Range and now only found in the Waiʻanae Range.[2] This species is a member of the lanaiensis subgroup in the picture-wing clade.[3]

Drosophila tarphytrichia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Drosophilidae
Genus: Drosophila
Species:
D. tarphytrichia
Binomial name
Drosophila tarphytrichia
(Hardy, 1965)

Description edit

Drosophila tarphytrichia was described in 1965 by D. Elmo Hardy.[4] The picture-wing markings in this and other closely related species are located in a stripe along the center and at the apex of the wing.[3] It is distinguished from closely related species by a flattened front tarsal segment with a dense clump of hair. These flies are predominantly yellow, with some red and brown coloration on the thorax.[1]

Drosophila tarphytrichia is known to breed in the rotting stems and branches of pāpala plants (Charpentiera).[1]

This species has been variously considered as part of the hawaiensis complex,[1] vesciseta subgroup,[5] and conspicua subgroup,[6] but recent phylogenetic analyses have established it as a member of the lanaiensis subgroup,[3] along with D. digressa, D. hexachetae, D. lanaiensis, and D. moli.

Conservation edit

Drosophila tarphytrichia was listed as federally endangered in 2006 along with ten other species of picture-wing Drosophila.[1] Threats to the conservation of D. tarphytrichia include loss-of-habitat, in part due to invasive pigs and goats, as well as introduced predators such as big-headed ants and yellow crazy ants.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f "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. Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  2. ^ "ECOS: Species Profile". ecos.fws.gov. Archived from the original on 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
  3. ^ a b c 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.
  4. ^ Hardy, D. Elmo (1965). "Diptera: Cyclorrapha II, Series Schizophora, Section Acalyptera I, Family Drosophilidae". Insects of Hawaii. Vol. 12. The University of Hawaii Press.
  5. ^ Magnacca, Karl N.; Foote, David; O’grady, Patrick M. (2008-03-17). "A review of the endemic Hawaiian Drosophilidae and their host plants". Zootaxa. 1728 (1): 1–58–1–58. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.1728.1.1. ISSN 1175-5334. Archived from the original on 2022-04-29. Retrieved 2022-06-30.
  6. ^ O'Grady, Patrick; Magnacca, Karl; LaPoint, Richard T. (2010). "Taxonomic relationships within the endemic Hawaiian Drosophilidae (Insecta: Diptera)". Bishop Museum Occasional Papers. 108: 1–34.