Taxonomy and Hybridization in the Cardini Group of Drosophila

Abstract

Recent studies on the taxonomy of the Drosophilidae have shown that in many cases species groups thought to be represented by one or a few species actually consist of many species, often so similar morphologically that they are readily and repeatedly confused. One such group, that to which Drosophilia cardini belongs, is of special interest, not only because it contains at least two species showing striking and clear-cut polymorphism in the abdominal banding pattern (a situation unusual for Drosophila), but also because at least two members of the group may occasionally reproduce by diploid parthenogenesis (Stalker, 1951 and unpublished). It is the purpose of this paper to describe two new North American members of the group, as well as to report some experimental hybridizations which have been carried out.