Bactrocera (Bactrocera) prabhakari Maneesh, Gupta & Hancock (2023)

Singh, Maneesh Pal & Hancock, David Lawrence, 2025, Two new species of genus Bactrocera Macquart (Diptera: Tephritidae: Dacinae: Dacini) from northern Himalayas and new records of host plants, distribution or variation in three other species in India, Zootaxa 5666 (2), pp. 175-194 : 181

Variation in Bactrocera (Bactrocera) prabhakari Maneesh, Gupta & Hancock (2023) ( Figure 4C )

This species was described by Maneesh et al. (2023) along with its genital characters and we record here variation in females trapped in the field.

Variation: Two pairs of frontal setae instead of three (in one specimen only; another with 3 pairs), fore and mid femora broadly black except slight basal and apical portions and all tibiae black (fig. 4 C). Rest of characters including abdominal band pattern and genitalia same as described. Presence of 2 or 3 frontal setae possibly common mutation in species. However, shape of medial lobe of aculeus and other characters are stable as described, making this species distinct .

Material examined: 2 ♀, Solan Bait, INDIA, Himachal Pradesh, Solan, Nauni , 30°51’47” N 77°10’7” E. 18.ix.2024, Maneesh Leg. Voucher specimens with first author .

Parapheromone: Unknown (attracted to Solan Bait sprayed on apple trees).

Host plant: Solanum aculeatissimum Jacq. (syn. S. khasianum C.B. Clarke ) ( Maneesh et al., 2023).

Figures

FIGURE 4.Bactrocera viraktamathi Maneesh & Hancock sp. nov. Paratype A: Tip of aculeus, B: Spicules on distal eversible membrane and C: Bactrocera prabhakari variations in head & legs