Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Endangered Status for 12 Species of Picture-wing Flies from the Hawaiian Islands

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose endangered status pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), for 12 species of Hawaiian picture-wing flies-- Drosophila aglaia, D. differens, D. hemipeza, D. heteroneura, D. montgomeryi, D. mulli, D. musaphilia, D. neoclavisetae, D. obatai, D. ochrobasis, D. substenoptera, and D. tarphytrichia. These species are found on one or more of the following Hawaiian Islands: Kaua`i, O`ahu, Moloka`i, Mau`i, and Hawai`i. These 12 species face substantial threats from one or more of the following: habitat degradation, loss of host plants, biological pest control, and predation from alien arthropods. Due to the restricted distributions and small populations, three species (D. heteroneura, D. mullia, and D. neoclavisetae) are in danger of extinction from naturally occurring random events. This proposal, if made final, would implement the protection provisions provided by the Act for these Hawaiian picture-wings.