Drosophila ochrobasis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Drosophila ochrobasis |
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The Drosophila ochrobasis is a special type of fly that lives only in Hawaii. It is an endangered species, which means there are very few of them left in the wild. This tiny fly is part of a unique group of flies found only on the Hawaiian islands.
You can find D. ochrobasis on the Big island of Hawaii. In the past, it lived on four of the island's five volcanoes: Kohala, Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, and Hualālai. Sadly, it is now missing from most of these places. This fly is closely related to another fly called D. setosimentum. However, male D. ochrobasis flies have very different and cool wing patterns!
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What Does D. ochrobasis Look Like?
Scientists D. Elmo Hardy and Kenneth Y. Kaneshiro first described Drosophila ochrobasis in 1968. This fly is mostly yellow-brown in color. It has bright red eyes, a yellow forehead, and a white face. The top edges of its eyes are usually black.
Unique Wing Patterns
Male and female D. ochrobasis flies have different wing markings.
- Male wings are clear near the body but get dark towards the tips. They also have two clear, see-through spots near the end of their wings.
- Female wings look a bit like a checkerboard pattern with spots along them. Their wings are similar to those of D. setosimentum.
Where Do They Live and Grow?
These flies have been found growing in different plants. They use the leaves of a plant called Myrsine lessertiana. They also use the roots of Clermontia species. Sometimes, they are found in the main stem (called a rachis) of a fern called Marattia douglasii. Scientists are still learning which plants are most important for these flies to grow and thrive.
Why Is D. ochrobasis Endangered?
In 2006, Drosophila ochrobasis was officially listed as a federally endangered species. This means the U.S. government recognized it needed special protection. Ten other types of Hawaiian picture-wing Drosophila flies were also listed at the same time.
Threats to Their Home
One of the biggest problems for D. ochrobasis is the loss of its natural home. This happens because of animals that were brought to Hawaii by people. These include:
- Invasive pigs
- Goats
- Cattle
- Rats
These animals eat the plants that the flies need to survive.
Dangerous Invaders
The flies also face danger from other insects that are not native to Hawaii. These introduced insects hunt and eat the D. ochrobasis flies. Some of these predators are:
- Big-headed ants
- Yellow crazy ants
- Yellowjacket wasps
Problem Plants
Invasive plants are also a big threat to the Hawaiian ecosystem and the D. ochrobasis fly. These plants were brought to Hawaii and now grow out of control. They include:
- Strawberry guava
- Banana poka
- Fountain grass
- Florida prickly blackberry
These plants can take over and block sunlight from native Hawaiian plants. Some, like fountain grass, can also spread fires very quickly. This makes it even harder for the native plants and flies to survive. Protecting these flies means protecting their entire Hawaiian home.
