Bactrocera (Zeugodacus) scutellaris (Bezzi)

Singh, Maneesh Pal, Gupta, Divender, Hancock, David Lawrence, Sharma, Isha & Sharma, Prem Lal, 2023, A new species of Bactrocera Macquart reared from Solanum khasianum Clarke in northern India and a new synonym, Zootaxa 5380 (6), pp. 526-540 : 535

Variation in Bactrocera (Zeugodacus) scutellaris (Bezzi)

( Figures 6–7 )

Diagnosis: There is plenty of literature available ( Drew and Romig 2013 and 2016) on the morphology of B. scutellaris (Bezzi) so here we record only the variation in specimens reared from tendrils of bottle guard. It is a medium-sized (6.32 mm) species with hyaline wings (5.28 mm), yellow lateral medial postsutural vitta present, lateral vittae elongate and narrow and anepisternal stripe narrow. The lateral and medial postsutural vittae are significantly longer than in specimens caught in traps ( Figures 6A–B ). Aedeagus is 2.29 mm long with an 0.38 mm long glans. A septum-like structure present in the preputium of B. scutellaris (cf. fig.10G in David and Ramani 2019) is absent in this and only the patterned preputium is present ( Figures 7E–F ). Female genitalia very similar and no variation observed. Infested tendrils exude blackish ooze or gum.

This variation might indicate an ecological and geographical adaptation but the absence of a preputial septum and infestation of oozing tendrils is very different from that seen in flower-infesting and trapped specimens of typical B. scutellaris . The major variations in tendril-infesting specimens are elongated medial vitta with broader base, lateral postsutural vittae enclosing intra-alar setae and preputium lacking septum. Although there is as yet no clear evidence that a separate species is involved, and Drew and Romig (2013) noted considerable variation within B. scutellaris , this tendril-infesting population in the higher hills of India warrants further investigation.

Material examined: 3 ♀, Lagenaria siceraria , INDIA, Himachal Pradesh, Solan , Nauni, 30°51’24”N 77°10’17”. 10.ix.2020, Maneesh . 4 ♂, Lagenaria siceraria , INDIA, Himachal Pradesh, Nauni, 30°51’24”N 77°10’17”. 10.ix.2020, Maneesh. Voucher specimens deposited in High Altitude Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India and Department of Entomology , Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of horticulture and Forestry Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Comparison between Bactrocera (Zeugodacus) scutellaris new morphotype and trap caught specimens (A–F). A,C,E: new morphotype, B,D,F: trap caught.

FIGURE 7. Comparison between Bactrocera (Zeugodacus) scutellaris new mophotype and trap caught specimens (A–F). A,C,E: morphotype, B,D,F: trap caught. E: No septum in preputium of new morphotype and F: Arrow indicating septum in preputium of typical B. scutellaris. Note that abdominal shape in Figure A is due to tenerality.