Acroceratitis bimacula Hardy

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 : 89

Acroceratitis bimacula Hardy

( Figures 17 , 23 a−28a)

Acroceratitis bimacula Hardy, 1973: 223 ; Hancock & Drew, 1999: 642.

Material examined: 1♀, 4♂♂, INDIA: Karnataka, Devarayandurga , 1.x.2024, Noor, N. R .; 2♀♀, INDIA: Karnataka, Devarayandurga , 17.ix.2024, Noor, N. R .; 1♀, 2♂♂, INDIA: Karnataka, Devarayandurga , 12.ix.2024, Noor, N. R ; 1♀, INDIA: Karnataka, Savandurga, Ramanagara , 17.ix.2024, Noor, N. R .; 1♂, INDIA: Karnataka, Devarayandurga , 22.viii.2024, Sagar N. ( NIM) .

Diagnosis: It is almost inseparable from A. distincta in scutal, abdominal markings and wing pattern except for weakly sclerotised glans of phallus ( Fig. 25a vs. Fig. 25c ) and acute aculeus tip ( Fig. 26a vs. Fig. 26c ), with records of A. bimacula from China, Laos and Vietnam requiring confirmation. Epandrium ( Fig. 23a, 24a ) sclerotised, lateral surstylus broad, longer than epandrium; proctiger much larger than epandrium densely covered with fine hairs. Phallus 1.23 mm long excluding weakly sclerotised glans ( Fig. 25a ) of 0.27 mm length. Oviscape ( Fig. 17 ) 1.37−1.40 mm long, reddish brown with basal and apical fuscous bands, eversible membrane 1.49−1.51 mm long, scales on distal end with 9−12 spicules (27a), aculeus 1.28−1.39 mm long, with acute apex and four pairs of preapical setae ( Fig. 26a ). Spermathecae ( Fig. 28a ) black, tightly coiled.

Comments: This species was described and illustrated from Thailand by Hardy (1973) and recorded and illustrated from India (Andaman Islands) by Hancock & Drew (1999). A record from Kemmangundi, Karnataka by Hancock & McGuire (2002), as A. distincta , is possibly of this species. Flies collected from southern India possess an acute aculeus tip matching with illustration of aculeus of A. bimacula provided by Hardy (1973) in the original description.

Figures

FIGURE 17. Acroceratitis bimacula Hardy. a, habitus (dorsal) female; b, wing. FIGURE 18. Acroceratitis distincta Zia. a, habitus (dorsal) female; b, wing.

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.