Journal of Insect Biodiversity and Systematics

Journal of Insect Biodiversity and Systematics

A brief review of the genus Stegana Meigen, 1830 (Diptera: Drosophilidae) from India, with description of a new species and an updated identification key

Document Type : Research Article

Authors
1 Fly Lab. Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Allahabad (A Central University, Prayagraj- 211002, UP, India
2 Cytogenetics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Kumaun University, Nainital, Uttarakhand, India
3 Fruit Fly Lab, Department of Zoology, HNB Garhwal University (A Central University), Srinagar- Garhwal, Chauras Campus–249161, Uttarakhand, India
4 Department of Zoology, Ananda Chandra College, Jalpaiguri- 735101, West Bengal, India
10.48311/jibs.11.4.1027
Abstract
This study presents a brief review of the genus Stegana Meigen (Diptera: Drosophilidae: Steganinae) from India, emphasizing its diversity and ecological significance within the Dipteran fauna. Through detailed morphological examination, we describe here a new species, Stegana (Oxyphortica) minuta Kandpal, Sati & Fartyal sp. nov., from Ayarpatta, Nainital, Uttarakhand. The new species is described, and diagnostic characters are illustrated, along with a key to all six species of Stegana known from India. The discovery of a new species further enriches knowledge of the region's insect fauna. Based on a synthesis of existing records, India is estimated to harbor approximately 363 drosophilid species across 27 genera. This remarkable diversity reinforces the Indian subcontinent's status as a crucial center for drosophilid biodiversity.

Graphical Abstract

A brief review of the genus Stegana Meigen, 1830 (Diptera: Drosophilidae) from India, with description of a new species and an updated identification key
Keywords

Bächli, G. (2025) Taxodros: The database on taxonomy of Drosophilidae. Available from: https://www.taxodros.uzh.ch/  [Accessed June 25, 2025]
Brake, I. & Bächli, G. (2008) Drosophilidae (Diptera). In: Brake, I. & Bächli, G. (eds) World Catalogue of Insects.  Apollo Books, Stenstrup, pp. 249–257.
Duda, O. (1923) Die orientalischen und australischen drosophiliden-arten (Dipteren) des ungarischen National-Museums zu Budapest. Annales Historico-Naturales Musei Nationalis Hungarici, 20, 24–59.
Fartyal, R.S., Sati, P.C., Pradhan, S., Kandpal, M.C., Toda, M.J., Chatterjee, R.N., Singh, B.K. & Bhardwaj, A. (2017) A review of the genus Lordiphosa Basden in India, with description of four new species from the Himalayan region (Diptera: Drosophilidae). Zookeys, 688, 49–79. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.688.12590
Fartyal, R.S., Topal, P., Sati, P.C. & Kumar, K. (2023) Preliminary study of drosophilids (Diptera, Drosophilidae) and their host plant preference in the subtropical and temperate forest of Central Himalayas. In: Arya, M.K. (ed.) Biodiversity, Environment and Ecosystem Services. Discovery Publishing House, New Delhi, pp. 156–167.
Grimaldi, D.A. (1990) A phylogenetic, revised classification of genera in the Drosophilidae (Diptera). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 197, 1–139.
Gupta, J.P. (2005) A monograph on Indian Drosophilidae. Journal of Scientific Research, 51, 1–252.
Gupta, J.P. & Panigrahy, K.K. (1987) Some further additions to the list of Indian fauna of Drosophilidae. Proceedings of Zoological Society, Calcutta, 36, 57–66.
Hu, Y.G. & Toda M.J. (2001) Polyphyly of Lordiphosa and its relationships in Drosophilinae (Diptera: Drosophilidae). Systematic Entomology, 26, 15–31. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3113.2001.00135.x
Huang, J., Wang, N.N., Zhang, Y. & Chen, H.W. (2018) Stegana (Oxyphortica) convergens species group (Diptera: Drosophilidae) from the Oriental region, with morphological and molecular evidence. Journal of Natural History, 52 (23–24), 1473–1492. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2018.1478010
Khan, M.Z., Bhardwaj, A., Khali, S., Sati, P.C., Toda, M.J. & Fartyal, R.S. (2022) Morphological comparison between a pair of wing-pigmented and non-pigmented sibling species of the genus Hirtodrosophila (Diptera: Drosophilidae), with description of a new species from Western Himalaya. Journal of Insect Biodiversity, 34 (2), 45–56. https://doi.org/10.12976/jib/2022.34.2.4
McAlpine, J.F. (1981) Morphology and terminology-Adults. In: McAlpine, J.F., Peterson, B.V., Shewell, G.E., Teskey, H.J., Vockeroth, J.R. & Wood, D.M. (eds) Manual of Nearctic Diptera. Biosystematics Research Institute Ottawa, Ontario, pp. 9–63.
McQueen, E.W., Afkhami,, M., Atallah J., Belote, J.M., Gompel, N., Heifetz, Y., Kamimura, Y., Kornhauser, S.C., Masly, J.P., O’Grady, P., Peláez, J., Rebeiz, M., Rice, G., Ernesto, S.H., Nunes, M.D.S., Rampasso, A.S., Schnakenberg, S.L., Siegel, M.L., Takahashi, A., Tanaka, K.M., Turetzek, N., Zelinger, E., Virginie, C.O., Toda, M.J., Wolfner, M.F. & Yassin, A. (2022) A standardized nomenclature and atlas of the female terminalia of Drosophila melanogaster. Fly, 16 (1), 128–151. https://doi.org/10.1080/19336934.2022.2058309
Meigen, J.W. (1830) Systematische Beschreibung der bekannten europäischen zweiflügeligen Insekten. Sechster Theil. Schulz, Hamm. 401 p.
Okada, T. (1971) A revision and taxometric analysis of the genus Stegana Meigen of Japan and adjacent countries (Diptera, Drosophilidae). Mushi, 45, 81–99.
Okada, T. (1978) Pseudostegana, a new subgenus of the genus Stegana Meigen (Diptera, Drosophilidae). Kontyu, 46(3), 392–399.
Okada, T. (1980) A revision of the genus Hypselothyrea De Meijere and Timbourella Wheeler (Diptera, Drosophilidae). Kontys, 4S, 501–516.
Okada, T. (1989) A proposal of establishing tribes for the family Drosophilidae with key to tribes and genera (Diptera). Zoological Science, 6 (2), 391–399.
Pirani, G. & Grimaldi, D.A. (2019) Rediscovery, redescription, and reclassification of the rare and unusual fly Pyrgometopa penicillata Kertész (Diptera: Drosophilidae). Zootaxa, 4661 (3), 445–456.           https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4661.3.2
Rawat, D., Pradhan, S., Sati, P.C., Khali, S. & Fartyal, R.S. (2025) A review of Drosophilids (Drosophilidae: Diptera) biodiversity in India: Insights from the Northern and Western-Southern regions. Environment Conservation Journal, 26 (2), 713–728. https://doi.org/10.36953/ECJ.31873039
Rice, G., David, J.R., Kamimura, Y., Masly, J.P., McGregor, A.P., Nagy, O., Noselli, S., Nunes, M.D.S., O’Grady,  P., Ernesto, S.H., Siegel, M.L., Toda, M.J., Rebeiz, M., Virginie, C.O. & Yassin, A. (2019) A standardized nomenclature and atlas of the male terminalia of Drosophila melanogaster. Fly, 13, 51–64.       https://doi.org/10.1080/19336934.2019.1653733
Sarswat, M., Dewan, S. & Fartyal, R.S. (2016a) Mitochondrial DNA sequence variation in Drosophilid species (Diptera: Drosophilidae) along an altitudinal gradient from the Central Himalayan region of India. Journal of Genetics, 95 (2), 357–367.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s12041-016-0646-x
Sarswat, M., Sati, P.C., Dewan, S. & Fartyal, R.S. (2016b) Implying quantitative ecology of Drosophilid fauna as a tool for biodiversity assessment-A case study along an altitudinal transect in the Garhwal region of Central Himalaya. Tropical Ecology, 57 (4), 637–647.
Sati, P.C., Fartyal, R.S., Sarswat, M., Dewan, S., Kandpal, M. & Kumar, A. (2013) Check-list of drosophilid species so far described and recorded from Uttarakhand state, India. Drosophila Information Service, 96, 79–83.
Sidorenko, V.S. (1998) New Asian species and new records of the genus Stegana Meigen (Diptera: Drosophilidae). III. Descriptions, taxonomic remarks, and a key to the Asian species. Annales de la Société Entomologique de France (N.S.), 34, 285–300. https://doi.org/10.1080/21686351.1998.12277900
Singh, B.K. & Fartyal, R.S. (2002) Family Drosophilidae (Insecta: Diptera) in Kumaon Region, India, with the description of one new species and three new records. Proceedings of Zoological Society, Calcutta, 55 (1), 11–18.
Singh, O.P. & Gupta, J.P. (1981) Studies on the Indian fauna of Drosophilidae. Proceedings: Animal Sciences, 90, 195–202. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03185994
Toda, M., Bänziger, H., Sati, P., Fartyal, R., Suwito, A. & Katoh, T. (2020) Taxonomy and evolution of asymmetric male genitalia in the subgenus Ashima Chen (Diptera: Drosophilidae: Phortica Schiffner), with descriptions of seven new species. Zootaxa, 4789 (1), 1–54. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4789.1.1
Toda, M.J. (2025) DrosWLD-Species: Taxonomic information database for world species of Drosophilidae. Available from https://evolgen.biol.se.tmu.ac.jp/DrosWLD/modules/stdb/index.php  [Accessed August 1, 2025].
Toda, M.J. & Peng, T.X. (1992) Some species of the subfamily Steganinae (Diptera: Drosophilidae) from Guangdong Province, southern China. Annales de la Société entomologique de France, 28 (2), 201–213.
Vaidya, V.G. & Godbole, N.N. (1976) Systematic study of Drosophilidae in Poona and Neighbouring areas IV. Journal of the University of Poona, Science and Technology, 48, 85–92.
Vaidya, V.G. & Godbole, N.N. (1977) A new species of genus Stegana (Drosophilidae) from India: Stegana (Steganina) subexcavata sp. nov. Drosophila Information Service, 52, 55–56.
Vilela, C.R. & Bächli, G. (2020) On the identities of Neotropical Stegana species (Diptera, Drosophilidae). I. Redescription of Stegana magnifica Hendel, 1913 and Stegana fumipennis (Enderlein, 1922). Revista Brasileira de Entomologia, 64 (3), e20200024.  https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-9665-rbent-2020-0024
Wang, N., Zhang, Y., Cheng, Y. & Chen, H. (2017). Nine new species of the subgenus Stegana (Oxyphortica) from the Oriental region, with morphological and molecular evidence based on Chinese species (Diptera: Drosophilidae). Journal of Natural History, 51 (33–34), 1943–1970. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2017.1360960
Wang, Y.L., Lu, J.M., Zhang, Y. & Chen, H.W. (2020) Molecular phylogeny, species delimitation and biogeographic history of the Stegana (Steganina) shirozui species group (Diptera: Drosophilidae) from East Asia. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 192, 998–1016. https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa118
Wang, Y.L., Wang, N.N., Zhang, Y., Tsaur, S.C. & Chen, H.W. (2021) Cryptic diversity in the subgenus Oxyphortica (Diptera: Drosophilidae: Stegana). PeerJ, 9, e12347. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12347
Wang, Y.L., Lu, J.M., Gao, J.J., Zhang, Y. & Chen, H.W. (2022) Molecular phylogeny and systematics of the subgenus Oxyphortica Duda from the Oriental region (Diptera: Drosophilidae: Stegana). Systematic Entomology, 47 (1), 52–64. https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12515
Wheeler, M.R. (1960) A new subgenus and species of Stegana Meigen (Diptera: Drosophilidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, 62, 109–11.
Yassin, A. (2013) Phylogenetic classification of the Drosophilidae Rondani (Diptera): the Role of morphology in the postgenomic era. Systematic Entomology, 38, 349–364. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3113.2012.00665.x
Zhang, W.X. & Toda, M.J. (1992) A new species-subgroup of the Drosophila immigrans Species-group (Diptera, Drosophilidae), with description of two new species from China and revision of taxonomic terminology. Japanese Journal of Entomology, 60, 839–850.
Zhang, Y., Tsaur, S.C. & Chen, H.W. (2014) Survey of the genus Stegana Meigen (Diptera, Drosophilidae) from Taiwan, with DNA barcodes and descriptions of three new species. Zoological Studies, 53 (1), 2.  https://doi.org/10.1186/1810-522X-53-2    
 
Volume 11, Issue 4
Autumn 2025
Pages 1027-1038

  • Receive Date 25 May 2025
  • Revise Date 05 August 2025
  • Accept Date 05 September 2025
  • Publish Date 26 December 2025