Acroceratitis separata (Bezzi)

David, K. J., Noor Mahammed, N. R., Hancock, D. L., Gracy, R. G., Ningthoujam, Kennedy & Sushil, S. N., 2025, Taxonomic notes on Oriental bamboo-shoot fruit fly genus Acroceratitis Hendel (Diptera: Tephritidae: Dacinae: Gastrozonini), with description of a new species from India, Zootaxa 5637 (1), pp. 83-98 : 95

Acroceratitis separata (Bezzi)

( Figures 22 , 23 e−28e)

Stictaspis separata Bezzi, 1913: 104 .

Acroceratitis flava Premlata & Awtar Singh,1987: 635 .

Acroceratitis separata : Hardy, 1973: 220; Hancock & Drew, 1999: 665; Hancock & McGuire, 2002: 5.

Material examined: 2♂♂ INDIA, Arunachal Pradesh, Pasighat, COHF, 28.0785° N, 95.3236° E, 27.ix.2022, David, K.J ; 1♀ INDIA, Himachal Pradesh, Manali, Naggar , 06.viii.2014, Veena Kumari, K ; 1♀ INDIA, Assam, Pasighat , 03.xi.2017, Gandhi Gracy. ( NIM) .

Diagnosis: It is similar to A. bimacula and A. distincta in thoracic and abdominal markings, but can be differentiated by the larger medial scutellar spot and wing pattern with the transverse hyaline area between the discal and subapical bands entire and a non-diffuse apical area. Epandrium dark brown with broad, fulvous lateral surstylus much longer than epandrium ( Figs. 23e, 24e ). Phallus 0.68 mm (broken with hypandrium missing), with sclerotised glans (0.36 mm) ( Fig. 25e ). Oviscape brown with basal and apical fuscous markings (1.90 mm long), eversible membrane (2.3 mm long) with spicules on distal end with 10−12 finger-like projections ( Fig. 27e ), all of equal size, aculeus elongate (1.90 mm long) with acute apex, four pairs of preapical setae ( Fig. 26e ), two black, coiled spermathecae ( Fig. 28e ).

Comments: This species was originally described from Assam by Bezzi (1913) and illustrated by Hancock & McGuire (2002) from Thailand.

Figures

FIGURE 22. Acroceratitis separata (Bezzi). a. habitus (dorsal view); b, habitus (lateral view).

FIGURES 23−25. Male postabdominal structures of Acroceratitis. 23, Epandrium and surstyli (lateral view). 24, Epandrium and surstyli (posterior view); 25, Glans of phallus (lateral view). a, A. bimacula; b, A. ceratitina; c, A. distincta; d, A. histrionica; e, A. separata; f, A. tomentosa.

FIGURES 26−28. Female postabdominal structures of Acroceratitis. 26, Aculeus tip; 27, spicules on distal end of eversible membrane; 28, spermatheca. a, A. bimacula; b, A. ceratitina; c, A. distincta; d, A. histrionica; e, A. separata; f, A. tenmalaica; g, A. tomentosa.