Drosophila sp.?

Submitted by SJHPMC on

I'm confused by the very dark coloration of the abdominal tergites. Can anyone help, please?

         

Comments

With that body colouration and head proportions, it looks like you've got the classic melanogaster there. In the male, just the posterior segments are shining black (hence the name melanogaster, roughly translated as "black abdomen"). But in your specimen the anterior abdominal segments are darkened too. This usually happens after death, when food particles in the gut begin to decay, causing the innards to go dark brown, and show through the translucent yellow cuticle. You can see yours is a male from the black "comb" on the front leg.