First report of African fig fly, Zaprionus indianus Gupta (Diptera: Drosophilidae), on the Island of Maui, Hawaii, USA in 2017 and potential impacts to the Hawaiian entomofauna
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This report confirms the first reported observation of Zaprionus indianus Gupta (Diptera: Drosophilidae), commonly known as African fig fly, on Maui (new island record). Adult specimens were collected in October and November 2017 while surveying for populations of Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae). Specimens were retrieved from four localities in Haiku and Kula among traps positioned at fruiting height in six host plant environments (orange, lemon, starfruit, banana, strawberry, and cherimoya). Historically, the earliest records of Z. indianus in the state were recorded on Oahu in 2013 (new state record, new island record), on Kauai in 2015 (new island record), and on the Big Island (Hawaii) in 2017 (new island record). Including this report, there are currently at least 33 introduced Drosophilidae species established in the state of Hawaii. Furthermore, it is the second member belonging to genus Zaprionus that has been identified on the Hawaiian Islands. Specimens were not only retrieved from farms and subdivisions but also within mountain ranges and state forest reserves, suggesting that further research is needed to evaluate potential impacts to endemic entomofauna.