Elaphropeza hongshulin sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 9128B249-0D8C-4960-9E65-CE41C89BA0DC

Figs 10–11

Etymology

The new species is named in reference to the mangroves, Hong-Shu-Lin [phonetically spelled Hóng Shù Lín], meaning ‘mangrove’ in Cantonese.

Material examined

Holotype HONG KONG • ♂; Sam A Tsuen (5AM1); 22.51534° N, 114.27121° E; Malaise trap; C. Taylor and U. Chang leg.; 11–27 Dec. 2017; barcode reference JP1D; RBINS.

Paratypes HONG KONG • 1 ♂, 7 ♀♀; Tai Tan (28M1); 22.43857° N, 114.33327° E; C. Taylor and U. Chang leg.; 5–19 Dec. 2017; 1 female with barcode reference JP2G; RBINS • 1 ♂; Sam A Chung (5 BM1), sandy back mangrove near a stream; 22.50829° N, 114.27248° E; C. Taylor and U. Chang leg.; 11–27 Dec. 2017; RBINS • 1 ♂; Tai Tam (22M1); 22.24614° N, 114.22334° E; C. Taylor and U. Chang leg.; 9–23 Oct. 2017; barcode reference HKC_0000792; RBINS • 1 ♂; Tung Chung (14M2), sandy back mangrove; 22.28125° N, 113.9289° E; C. Taylor and U. Chang leg.; 25–31 Oct. 2017; barcode reference HKC_0000819; RBINS • 1 ♀; Ho Chung (Nam Wai) (38AM1), muddy back mangrove; 22.35347° N, 114.25622° E; C. Taylor and U. Chang leg.; 4–18 Dec. 2017; barcode reference HKC_0000194; RBINS .

Description

Male (Fig. 10)

BODY. 2.3–2.4 mm long; wing 2.3–2.4 mm long.

HEAD. Occiput black, postpedicel 3.0× as long as wide, stylus nearly 2.0 × as long as postpedicel; scape and pedicel yellow, postpedicel pale brownish.

THORAX. Yellow, including scutellum and pleura; metanotum brown. Acrostichals biserial (tri-serial in front), lacking on prescutellar depression; dorsocentrals 1–2-serial.

LEGS. Yellow, including fore tibia; tarsomere 5 of all legs brownish black. Mid tibia with a tiny black apical spine. Hind tibia with one pale anterodorsal bristle.

WING. Clear without colour pattern. Haltere white.

ABDOMEN. Yellow except for the large black tergite 4, which bears only fine pale setae; tergite 5 brown, very narrow, with a single row of indistinct squamiform setae.

TERMINALIA (Fig. 11 A–D). Right epandrial lamella brownish on apical half, yellow on basal half, not truncate, with ordinary apical setae and thus lacking the three black spines on the apical border as in E. malayensis (Fig. 11E), but with a single black subapical spine (Fig. 11B). Left surstylus large, brown. Cerci apically fused, yellow, with large extensions on apex (see E. malaysensis).

Female

BODY. 2.4 mm long; wing 2.3–2.4 mm long.

Similar to male.

Remarks

Elaphropeza hongshulin sp. nov. belongs to a complex of seven species, the others being: E. chanae Grootaert & Shamshev, 2012, E. chanoides Grootaert & Shamshev, 2015, E. gohae Grootaert & Shamshev, 2012, E. lowi Grootaert & Shamshev, 2012, E. lowioides Grootaert & Shamshev, 2015 and E. malayensis Shamshev & Grootaert, 2007 . Externally, they are difficult to distinguish, and the male genitalia should be checked if possible. The barcodes suggest that the new species is closer related to E. lowi than to E. malayensis .