Bactrocera (Zeugodacus) scutellaris (Bezzi)

Variation in Bactrocera (Zeugodacus) scutellaris (Bezzi) View in CoL

( Figures 6–7 View FIGURE 6 View FIGURE 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 View FIGURE 6 ). 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 View FIGURE 7 ). 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.