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. 2017 Dec 29:(725):49-69.
doi: 10.3897/zookeys.725.13675. eCollection 2017.

Whitefly predation and extensive mesonotum color polymorphism in an Acletoxenus population from Singapore (Diptera, Drosophilidae)

Wong Jinfa  1 , Foo Maosheng  2 , Hugh T W Tan  1 , Rudolf Meier  1   2
Affiliations

Whitefly predation and extensive mesonotum color polymorphism in an Acletoxenus population from Singapore (Diptera, Drosophilidae)

Wong Jinfa et al. Zookeys. .

Abstract

Acletoxenus is a small genus of Drosophilidae with only four described species that are closely associated with whiteflies (adults and larvae). Here, the first video recordings of larvae feeding on whiteflies (Aleurotrachelus trachoides) are presented. Typical morphological adaptations for predation by schizophoran larvae are also described: the larval pseudocephalon lacks a facial mask and the cephaloskeleton is devoid of cibarial ridges that could be used for saprophagy via filtration. Despite being a predator, Acletoxenus is unlikely to be a good candidate for biological control of whiteflies because the life cycle is fairly long (24 days), lab cultures could not be established, and the puparia have high parasitization rates by a pteromalid wasp (Pachyneuron leucopiscida). Unfortunately, a confident identification of the Singapore Acletoxenus population to species was not possible because species identification and description in the genus overemphasize coloration characters of the mesonotum which are shown to be unsuitable because the Singapore population has flies with coloration patterns matching three of the four described species. Based on morphology and DNA sequences, the population from Singapore is tentatively assigned to Acletoxenus indicus or a closely related species.

Keywords: Acletoxenus; Diptera; Drosophilidae; Singapore; predatory maggot; whitefly.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Morphology of A Acletoxenus formosus B A. indicus C A. meijerei, and D A. quadristriatus.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Mesonotum color patterns A entirely black B with central black vitta that is split and connected to two other vittas on each side, and C four dark longitudinal stripes; all three morphotypes were bred from larvae collected together on the same host plant in Singapore.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Acletoxenus sp. proclinate orbital setae noticeably shorter than the anterior reclinate setae.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Acletoxenus cf. indicus larvae A feeding on whitefly B have a green colored body, and C are usually covered in whitefly wax and instars D SEM Lateral view, and E SEM of pseudocephalon with strongly reduced facial mask.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Acletoxenus cf. indicus larval cephaloskeleton A lateral view with light microscope B ventral view close-up with light microscope C ventral view with light microscope, and D ventral view with confocal microscope, showing a lack of pharyngeal filter.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Drosophila melanogaster larval cephaloskeleton A lateral view with light microscope B ventral view close-up with light microscope C ventral view with light microscope, and D ventral view with confocal microscope, showing a pharyngeal filter.
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
Acletoxenus cf. indicus adult A lateral view B SEM with proboscis folded in, and C SEM showing a typical extended schizophoran proboscis.
Figure 8.
Figure 8.
A Fourth instar of Aleurotrachelus trachoides, the prey of Acletoxenus cf. indicus and B adult Pachyneuron leucopiscida, the parasite of Acletoxenus cf. indicus.
Figure 9.
Figure 9.
Acletoxenus sp. egg (left) found next to whitefly first instars (right).
Figure 10.
Figure 10.
Acletoxenus cf. indicus puparium A with green body, is usually B covered in whitefly wax and instars, and C translucent integument revealing red eyes of the developing adult at later stages.
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