Drosophila testacea


Drosophila testacea is a member of the Testacea species group of Drosophila. Testacea species are specialist fruit flies that breed on the fruiting bodies of mushrooms. Drosophila testacea can be found in temperate regions of Europe, extending to east Asia. Drosophila testacea and Drosophila orientacea can produce viable hybrids, though they are separated by geography and behavioural barriers. Drosophila testacea females will also readily mate with Drosophila neotestacea males, but viable hybrids are never produced. This hybrid inviability ) may be due to selfish X chromosomes and co-evolved suppressors.
The antimicrobial peptide gene Diptericin B has been pseudogenized in D. testacea and likely its sister species D. neotestacea.