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Abstract

Despite the distinguished history of biological research on Drosophila in eastern North America, the northeastern fauna has never been fully reviewed, and there is no useful key to the Drosophila species naturally occurring in eastern North America. Keys are provided here to the 12 genera of Drosophilidae in northeastern North America, illustrated with photomicrographs of external features. Keys are further provided to the 35 species of Drosophila in the region, illustrated with photomicrographs of external features and of the male and female genitalia. Each species is diagnosed, with its biology and distribution summarized, based on the literature and examination of over 10,000 specimens (for which all records are provided). Important new information includes the most northerly records of Drosophila cardini Sturtevant, and habitat records for the highly invasive agricultural pest Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura). Eastern North American species are diagnosed and redescriptions are provided for those members of the Drosophila carsoni, melanica, robusta, and tripunctata groups for which species identification has been vague or uncertain. This work should facilitate research on the drosophilids of eastern North America through the provision of accessible species-level identification tools and baseline data on general distribution and habitat preferences.

Species identification of livefood flightless fly (Torinido‐shoujoubae) through DNA barcoding

“…The diagnosis of D. hydei were as follows (slightly modified from Bächli et al., 2004 ): lateral areas of posterolateral abdominal bands with diffuse pale areas only (Figure 3a ); male fore tarsi with prominent, fine setae on inner side (Figure 3b ); tip of subcostal break not darkened (Figure 3c ). The general morphological features and the structures of male and female terminalia examined in the present study (Figure 4 ) were identical to those of D. hydei described in the literatures (e.g., Bächli et al., 2004 ; Hsu, 1949 ; Miller et al., 2017 ; Sturtevant, 1921 ).…”

The Drosophila (Sophophora) obscura species group in the Americas (Diptera: Drosophilidae): review, revisions, and three new species

“…In sex ratio (SR), male fruit flies have X-linked alleles that causes them to sire all females. In the absence of counter-balancing selection, SR can become fixed and lead to local or entire species extinc- Miller (1958), M. Miller et al (2017), new records provided in the present paper, and more recent published reports. For distributions of species in the pseudoobscura group, see Dobzhansky and Epling (1944) and Heed and O'Grady (2000).…”

“…Distribution: Currently a very rare species that historically extends from southern Alabama (Hartsell, Kushla), Mississippi (Corinth), and mid-Florida (St. Petersburg) north to Massachusetts (Amherst, Woods Hole), northern Michigan (University of Michigan Biological Station), and in the west to Nebraska (Lincoln, Chadron St. Forest), Missouri (St. Louis) (Miller, 1958), as well as Indiana (locality not specified) and Texas (Bastrop St. Park) (Barrio et al, 1992). The record and figures in M. Miller et al (2017) of D. narragansett from Maine are incorrect. These are based on a series of specimens in the AMNH: "SE Guarette Maine, July 1948 / M.R.…”

Exceptional Species Diversity of Drosophilidae (Diptera) in a Neotropical Forest

“…Taxonomic, life-history, and field work on Drosophilidae has hardly kept pace with experimental work. For example, biotic surveys in northern, temperate regions have well documented the drosophilids there (e.g., Bächli et al, 2004;Miller et al, 2017), but we don't really know how many species of them live, for example, within a typical tropical forest. Since they are mostly a tropical group, knowing such information would be fundamental to understanding basic aspects of their diversity, distribution, and biology.…”