An unexpected discovery of the drosophilid fy Gitona distigma Meigen, 1830 (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in the nests of the sand martin Riparia riparia (Linnaeus, 1758), with notes on morphology and distribution

Abstract

During excavations of the nests of the sand martin Riparia riparia (Linnaeus, 1758), large numbers of adults of the drosophilid fy Gitona distigma Meigen, 1830 (Diptera: Drosophilidae) were found. Flies of this genus are widespread in Africa and are found in Australia and India. Of the six Palaearctic species, only G. distigma was recorded in temperate latitudes. The adults of this species feed on fermenting substrates, and the larvae develop in the inforescences of Asteraceae. Obviously, adults of G. distigma entered the nests of sand martins for overwintering

Keywords

• diptera
• drosophilidae
• gitona distigma
• nest
• riparia riparia
• russia
• saratov region