Drosophilidae (Diptera) of the Cook Islands—dataset

In 2017 a survey was conducted of the Drosophilidae on the remote Cook Islands: Rarotonga, Aitutaki and Mangaia in the Tropical South Pacific. A diverse range of collecting methods was implemented, at different elevations and in domestic, rural, and montane-forest habitats. Only two widespread species <i>Drosophila ananassae</i> and <i>D. simulans</i> have previously been reported from Cook Islands. Among the 8036 specimens collected, 12 species were found, one of which—<i>Drosophila rarotongae</i>—is treated as a new species (McEvey &amp; Polak, 2021); it is endemic to Rarotonga and found only in montane forest. <i>Drosophila suzukii </i>was absent. An unusual form of <i>Drosophila funebris</i> was collected (one female). <i>Drosophila pallidifrons</i> was found among <i>D. sulfurigaster </i>in very low frequency (1%). This dataset lists all the collection localities (Table S1), all the dates and methods used at each of those localities: the events (Table S2), and a complete list of all specimens recorded at each of those events: the records (Table S3). All specimens are held in the Australian Museum, Sydney.