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Diversity in External Morphology, Sex Comb and Developmental Stages of Three Drosophila Species of Melanogaster Group

Mohammad Shamimul Alam
Genetics and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh

Md. Nazimul Hoque
Genetics and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh

Mousumi Akter
Genetics and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh

Reza Md. Shahjahan
Genetics and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Samples of Drosophila species were collected from some selected sites (viz., Dohar Upazila of Dhaka Division, Hironpoint of the Sundarbans, Satchori of Sylhet Division) of Bangladesh and these were cultured in the laboratory to study developmental stages, external morphological traits and sex comb. They were identified as D. melanogaster, D. ananassae and D. bipectinata. The sex comb teeth number and arrangement were distinct for all three species. D. melanogaster had one row of 10 - 11 teeth in the sex comb. D. ananassae had eight rows of teeth in the sex comb possessing 32 - 33 teeth in total. D. bipectinata had 2 - 3 rows of teeth in the sex comb and total teeth number varied from 11 to 15. Among three species, sex comb teeth number of D. bipectinata varied most. Eleven different patterns (n=20) in sex comb were observed in D. bipectinata indicating significant diversity within species. Variation in pupation sites among three species was also observed in the laboratory condition. D. bipectinata pupated on the food medium, whereas other two species pupated on the vial wall. Thus, diversity among these three species of Drosophila was documented which could be utilized as bioindicator in future.

Keywords: Diversity, Sex comb, Morphology, Drosophila species

Location: Dohar Upazila of Dhaka Division, Hironpoint of the Sundarbans, Satchori of Sylhet Division of Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Pest Management

Commodity: Insects

Objectives:

To study development, and external morphological traits with special emphasis on sex comb teeth number and patterns.

Methodology:

To collect Drosophila from nature, a catch box of plastic jar with partially cut lid was made. Yeasted food was used as bait. When flies entered the plastic jar, they were trapped by covering the open portion of the jar by the lid. The lid was fitted with a food vial beforehand. Thus, flies were collected in the food vials where they were cultured and maintained for subsequent experiments. Standard fly food media (semolina, yeast, sugar, glucose and agar) was used in this case. The flies were reared in room temperature (25 ± 20C) and humidity could not be recorded. Drosophila flies were collected from nine different locations. Total three species strains collected from Dohar, Dhaka Division (23°33'42.7"N 90°08'49.5"E), Hiron Point, Sundarbans (21°48'54"N 89°27'43"E), Satchori, Sylhet (24°07′12″N 91°27′03″E) were maintained in the laboratory for the study. External morphology, sex comb arrangement and developmental stages of all the species strains were observed and studied under a stereomicroscope (Leica ZOOM 2000). For the analysis of sex comb, both stereo and compound microscopes were utilized. To ascertain variations in sex comb, at least 20 individual flies were studied from each fly species. To observe developmental stages, adult flies were allowed to lay eggs on egglaying plates (made of agar, apple juice, sucrose and water). First instar larvae were collected from egg-laying plates after 24 hrs and transferred to standard food media for their subsequent development up to adult. Some images of Hiron Point strain (HP) was captured by using a 3D camera (JVC digital camera KY-F75U, 3-CCD). All other images were taken by using a hand-held digital camera mounted on the eyepiece of the microscope. Drosophila species were identified using published morphological keys.

Source of Information: Dhaka Univ. J. Biol. Sci. 28(2): 167-176, 2019 (July)

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Only three closely related Drosophila species have been studied here. Though the species are closely related to each other and belong to the same melanogaster subgroup, they have significant variation in some aspects. Diversity in sex comb teeth number and arrangement is a prominent one. Even, there is within-species diversity in terms of sex comb teeth number as found in D. bipectinata. Since the flies live in and around human habitat, the impact of environmental change on the fly life could be a reflection of the same on human. Thus, within and among species diversity in Drosophila could be utilized as a bio-indicator. Present work has provided baseline data that will be valuable in evaluating the influence of climate changes on biological system in future.

Knowledge Management: Journal