Austrosciara pedibusa, Mohrig & Kauschke & Heller, 2017

Mohrig, Werner, Kauschke, Ellen & Heller, Kai, 2017, Austrosciara Schmitz & Mjöberg, 1924, a senior synonym of Ctenosciara Tuomikoski, 1960 (Diptera: Sciaridae) and the description of a new brachypterous species in the genus, Zootaxa 4344 (2), pp. 357-366 : 362

Austrosciara pedibusa sp. n.

( Fig. 4 A‒E )

Locus typicus: Australia, Victoria, Central Highlands, Donna Buang Road , 1 km SW of Mt Donna Buang, 37° 43’S, 144°40’16’’E, Nothofagus cunninghamii forest.

Holotype: Female, 29.xi.1994 ‒ 20.i.1995; pitfall trap, leg. G. Milledge (NMV).

Paratypes: 2 females, same data as holotype ( PWMP, PKHH).

Description. Female. Head. Eye bridge 2‒3 facets wide. 4th flagellomere with l/w-index of 1.8, with brown and sparse bristle-like hairs, somewhat longer than the width of the basal node; a few curved hyaline sensilla-like hairs in between. Necks rather long. Palpi short, 3-segmented; basal segment large, having a deep sensory pit with long sensillae and 1 bristle. Thorax. Brownish, the pleural sclerites are nearly normal in shape, and not reduced or fused. Scutum with dark, short and fine hairs. Wing strongly reduced, half as long as the thorax, scale-shaped (in lateral view rod-like). Haltere short, strongly reduced, misshapen. Legs brownish; apex of the fore tibia with a comb-like undivided row of 4‒5 hyaline bristles; middle and hind tibia with equally long spurs, as long as the diameter of the tibial apex; tarsus with somewhat shortened segments; claws toothless. Abdomen. Brown, with rather long and sparse dark hairs. Body size: 1.6 mm.

Comments. The species is characterized by a 3-segmented palpus with a deep sensory pit on the basal segment and short antennal flagellomeres. The deep sensory pit with long sensillae distinguishes females of Aus. pedibusa sp. n. from the two other brachypterous species (Aus. termitophila and Austrosciara sp.). We consider this character suitable to identify male specimens of Aus. pedibusa sp. n., but they are unknown to us so far.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Austrosciara pedibusa sp. n. Female. A. Head and thorax with reduced wing and haltere; B. Palpus; C. Basal segments of antennae; D. Apex of fore tibia; E. Apex of fore tibia and tarsal segments.