Dacus (Leptoxyda) velutifrons, White, Ian M. & Goodger, Kim F. M., 2009

White, Ian M. & Goodger, Kim F. M., 2009, African Dacus (Diptera: Tephritidae); New Species and Data, with Particular Reference to the Tel Aviv University Collection, Zootaxa 2127, pp. 1-49 : 22-24

Dacus (Leptoxyda) velutifrons sp.n.

Figures 45 – 51 .

Diagnosis. Differs from other species of sg. Leptoxyda as follows: Wing. Anal streak absent (fig. 51). Male. Tergite III with pecten. Differs from other African Dacus spp. with these character states as follows: Thorax. Notopleural xanthine wedge shaped; lateral postsutural vitta absent; medial postsutural vittae present (fig. 45). Wing. Costal band complete, apically expanded into a large spot (fig. 51).

Description. Size. Small, wing length, 5.25 – 5.4 mm. Head (fig. 48). Pedicel+first flagellomere not longer than ptilinal suture. Face, antennal furrow with a dark spot about twice as high as broad, more than half height of furrow. Frons, with an antero-medial purple velvety round mark; frontal setae 0 – 2, orbital setae 0 – 1, very fine when present. Thorax (figs 45, 49). Scutum predominantly dark red-brown with indistinct fuscous medial marking, narrow presuturally, expanded laterally to almost fill postsutural area; postpronotal lobe yellow; notopleural callus yellow; notopleural xanthine wedge shaped (connected to notopleural callus); lateral postsutural vitta absent; medial postsutural vittae present, broadest near posterior end. Scutellum without any dark patterning (except for narrow basal dark margin). Anepisternum with a narrow stripe from notopleural callus to katepisternum; broadly extended onto katepisternum. Lateroterga with a single xanthine across both anatergite and katatergite. Thoracic setae. Anterior notopleural seta absent; anterior supra-alar seta absent. Wing (fig. 51). Basal cells bc and c with microtrichia confined to distal half; cell bm without microtrichia. Narrow subbasal raised section of cell br with extensive covering of microtrichia. Crossvein R-M beyond middle of cell dm. Costal band complete; filling cell r2+3 before R-M and then narrowly extending below vein R2+3; apically expanded into a large spot, which narrowly reaches vein M and starts just before end of vein R2+3. Anal streak absent. Cells bc and c hyaline. Without any crossbanding. Legs (fig. 50). Femora bicoloured (pale basally and red-brown apical quarter to one-third). Abdomen (fig. 46). Terga I – II each black basally, fulvous apically; tergite III black in basal two-thirds remainder red-brown; terga IV – V red-brown with a large sublateral black mark; terga III – V with a medial black stripe. Tergites I – V all fused. Male. Tergite III with pecten; apparently with dense microtrichia adjacent end A1+Cu2 (wing folded and difficult to observe), and hindtibia with a distinct preapical swelling. Female (fig. 47). Aculeus pointed; no torsion.

Etymology. Descriptive name for velvety (velutinus) frons.

Material. Holotype male, SENEGAL: Abbaye Keur Moussa, 15.vi.2004, J.F. Vayssieres (RVA1653) ( BMNH); paratype female, same data except, 8.vi.2004 (RVA1654) ( MRAC).

Remarks. In general appearance this species is similar to some members of the Eminus group, e.g. differing from D. siliqualactis in the lack of an anterior notopleural seta, the larger costal band apical spot and the complete dark band across tergite III; and differing from all members of the Eminus group in its lack of an anal streak.

Figures

FIGURES 45 – 51. Dacus (Leptoxyda) velutifrons sp. n. 45. Mesonotum, dorsal view (holotype male; scale line = 1 mm). 46. Abdomen, dorsal view (holotype male; scale line = 1 mm). 47. Ovipositor with extended aculeus, dorsal view (paratype female; scale line = 0.5 mm). 48. Head, anterior view (holotype male; scale line = 1 mm). 49. Thorax, left lateral view (holotype male; scale line = 1 mm). 50. Legs, left lateral view; fore, mid, hind (holotype male scale line = 1 mm). 51. Wing, dorsal view (holotype male scale line = 1 mm).