Limnophora nitidithorax (Stein)

(Figs 4A‒C)

Calliophrys nitidithorax Stein; Becker 1908a: 102 (Gran Canaria, Tenerife); Frey 1936: 131 (Tenerife).

Limnophora (Calliophrys) nitidithorax (Stein); Hennig 1960: 388; Báez 1981: 627, pl. 1 fig. 6, pl. 3 figs 5, 6 (Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Gomera).

Limnophora (Melanochelia) affinis Santos Abréu; Santos Abréu 1976: 102 (La Gomera, La Palma).

Limnophora (Melanochelia) nitidithorax (Stein); Santos Abréu 1976: 104, fig. 14 (La Palma).

Limnophora nitidithorax (Stein); Pont 1986: 180; Couri & Pont 2020: 11, 13 figs 61‒64 (male syntype, habitus).

Material examined. [ MZH, NHMD]: CANARY ISLANDS: GRAN CANARIA: Maspalomas, 1♂ 9‒10.iii. 1950 (H. Lindberg); Bco. Virgin, Moya, 400m, 1♀ 20.vii.1984 (Olsen, Skule & Stadel); Bco Guayadeque , 27°56´N 15°29´W, 550‒1000m, 3♂, 1♀ 21.xi.2014 (V. Michelsen); El Risco, 28°02´N 15°43´W, 150‒200m, 1♂ 7‒12.i.2014 (V. Michelsen). TENERIFE: Puerto de la Cruz, 2♂, 1♀ 7‒8.v.1947 (H. Lindberg); Valle de Masca, 1♂ 12‒13.v.1947 (H. Lindberg); Los Mercedes, 1♀ 28‒30.v.1947 (H. Lindberg); Adeje, 1♂ 21.i.1949 (H. Lindberg); Silos, 6♂, 3♀ 12.ii.1949 (H. Lindberg); Los Carrizales , 28°19´N 16°51´W, c. 645m, 4♀ 8.ii.2008 (V. Michelsen). LA GOMERA: La Laja, 28°06´N 17°11´W, 480‒600m, 1♂, 1♀ 23.xi.2002, 4♂, 1♀ 22‒29.i.2016 (V. Michelsen); Lomito Fragoso, 28°07´N 17°10´W, 220‒250m, 2♂, 3♀ 19‒24.i.2019, 6♂ 24‒29.i.2020 (V. Michelsen) .

Diagnosis. Very similar to L. bipunctata but different as follows: Slightly larger, wing length 3.0‒ 4.3mm. Male: Frontal vitta deep black in contrast to wholly silvery white fronto-orbital and parafacial plates. Mesonotum mainly shiny black through thin cover of brown pruinosity, but a contrasting pattern of dense silvery white pruinosity (with a bluish tinge) covers the postpronotal lobes and notopleura and extends further to the anterior wing base along with a pair of marks in front of the scutellum. Vein R 4+5 on basal half between radial node and crossvein r‒m with 1‒3 dorsal setulae. Sternite V and hypopygium as in Figs 4A‒C. Female: Separated from female L. bipunctata by the same differences in colour as given for the male. See Table 1 for ovipositor characters which coincide with those of L. bipunctata .

Distribution. Endemic Canarian species recorded from Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Gomera and La Palma.