Revision of Asian species of the Drosophila melanica species group (Diptera: Drosophilidae), with a description of a new species from Vietnam. Issue 1 (January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Suwito, Awit; Toda, Masanori J.; Takamori, Hisaki; Harada, Kaori; Watabe, Hideaki
• Is Part Of: Entomological science. Volume 17:Issue 1(2014:Jan.)
• Page Start: 75
• Page End: 85
• Publication Date: 2014-01
• Subjects: Insects -- Periodicals; Entomology -- Periodicals; 595.705
• DOI: 10.1111/ens.12028
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1343-8786

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>A new species of the <italic>Drosophila</italic> (<italic>Drosophila</italic>) <italic>melanica</italic> species group (Diptera: Drosophilidae), <italic>Drosophila denruoi</italic> Suwito & Watabe, sp. nov., is described from northern Vietnam. It is proved by crossing experiments that reproductive isolation is complete between this species and other morphologically similar species. Larval ganglion cells of <italic>D. denruoi</italic> possess 2<italic>n</italic> = 12 chromosomes, comprised of four pairs of acrocentric, one pair of metacentric and one pair of micro‐chromosomes. This is the largest number of acrocentric chromosomes in the group and implies that the species has the most primitive chromosomal configuration in the <italic>melanica</italic> group. Based on the results of crossing experiments and close morphological examination, <italic>Drosophila pengi</italic> Okada & Kurokawa, 1957 from central Japan, once regarded as a synonym of <italic>Drosophila tsigana</italic> Burla & Gloor, 1952, is shown to be distinct from <italic>D. tsigana</italic>. <italic>Drosophila pengi</italic> is thus resurrected as a member of the <italic>melanica</italic> group. We synonymize <italic>Drosophila bisetata</italic> Toda, 1988, described from central Myanmar, with <italic>D. pengi</italic>. In addition, a population from Guizhou, southwestern China, once regarded as <italic>D. tsigana</italic>, is also identified as <italic>D. pengi.</italic> These populations from central Myanmar and southwestern China share the diagnostic characters of <italic>D. pengi</italic>. At the same time, it is reconfirmed that the Hokkaido population is conspecific with European <italic>D. tsigana</italic>. Furthermore, another species, <italic>Drosophila longiserrata</italic> Toda, 1988 described from central Myanmar, is synonymized with <italic>Drosophila afer</italic> Tan, Hsu & Sheng, 1949 from China, based on their having identical karyotypes and external morphology.</p> </abstract>