Winnertzia discretella Spungis

Jaschhof, Mathias & Jaschhof, Catrin, 2020, Reevaluation of species richness in Winnertzia (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae, Winnertziinae), with descriptions of 37 new species from Sweden, Peru and Australia, Zootaxa 4829 (1), pp. 1-72 : 9

Winnertzia discretella Spungis

Diagnosis. A small to medium-sized, brown Winnertzia . Male genitalic characters are diagnostic of W. discretella , as follows ( Jaschhof & Jaschhof 2013: fig. 31B). The gonostylus, which is twice as long as broad, has a slightly broadened apex whose enlarged microtrichia are dispersed over a large area. Of the gonocoxal synsclerite, the short, evenly U-shaped ventral emargination is membranous basally, and the dorsal apodemes are so long that they protrude considerably beyond the ventroanterior gonocoxal margin. The posterior edge of the ninth tergite is sinuous.

Discussion. Specimens studied here of W. discretella , altogether 32 males from all over Sweden, are quite variable, both in the number of flagellomeres (9–12; Jaschhof & Jaschhof 2013: fig. 31C–E) and, to a lesser extent, the length of the flagellomeral neck. Some of the genitalic structures also show variation, in particular the aedeagal apodeme, whose diameter varies; the ninth tergite, whose posterior edge is broader, and more deeply indented in some of our specimens; and the gonostylus, whose shape seems to vary (which is hard to appreciate as the gonostylar outline also varies with the viewing angle). Even so, male morphology does not provide clear indication of that W. discretella sensu Jaschhof & Jaschhof (2013) includes more than one species.

Distribution in Sweden. Winnertzia discretella is proven to occur in 10 of the 17 biological provinces in Sweden, from Småland in the south up to Torne Lappmark in the north, including the two large islands, Öland and Gotland.

Material studied. Specimens listed by Jaschhof & Jaschhof (2013) and as follows. Sweden: 3 males, Småland, Nybro, Bäckebo, Grytsjön NR, old-growth aspen forest, 18 May–15 June 2006, MT, SMTP (trap 1000, collection event 1433) (spns CEC1883 – CEC 1885 in NHRS) ; 1 male, same locality but old-growth mixed hemiboreal forest, 15 May–16 June 2015, MT, MCJ (spn CEC 1891 in SDEI) ; 1 male, same data but 17 July–21 Aug. 2015 (spn CEC 1889 in SDEI); 2 males, same locality but swampy meadow at forest edge, 15 May–16 June 2015, MT, MCJ (spns CEC1892 – CEC 1893 in SDEI) ; 1 male, same data but 17 June–16 July 2015 (spn CEC 1890 in SDEI); 2 males, Öland, Mörbylånga, Färjestaden, backyard with birch grove, 11 July–18 August 2015, MT, MCJ (spns CEC1894 – CEC 1895 in SDEI) ; 1 male, Mörbylånga, Gamla Skogsby (Kalkstad), mixed broadleaf forest, 15 July–17 August 2015, MT, MCJ (spn CEC 1896 in SDEI) ; 1 male, Mörbylånga, Skogsby lund NR, mixed broadleaf forest, 10 June–14 July 2015, MT, MCJ 1 male, Mörbylånga, Stora Dalby lund NR, mixed broadleaf forest, 8 June–8 July 2015, MT, MCJ (spn CEC 1898 in SDEI) ; 1 male, Öland, Borgholm, Skepparsäng NR, mixed coniferous/broadleaf forest, 11 June–21 July 2015, MT, MCJ (spn CEC 1899 in SDEI) ; 1 male, Södermanland, Södertälje, Tullgarns näs, Rävsalaviken, mixed forest next to pasture, 23 July–1 August 2003, MT, SMTP (trap 30, collection event 5003) (spn 1888 in NHRS) ; 1 male, Södermanland, Huddinge, Sofielund Recycling Center, pine forest near garbage dump, 10–16 August 2004, MT, SMTP (trap 5, collection event 767) (spn CEC 1886 in NHRS) ; 1 male, Uppland, Älvkarleby, Båtfors, pine forest, 17 June–3 July 2003, MT, SMTP (trap 7, collection event 378) (spn CEC 1887 in NHRS) ; 1 male, Lule Lappmark, Sorsele, Bissitjbäcken, 6 km N Ammarnäs , 26 June–22 July 2016, MT, MCJ (spn CEC 1900 in SDEI) ; 1 male, Torne Lappmark, Kiruna, Abisko NP, dry subalpine birch forest, 6–20 July 2005, MT, SMTP (trap 50, collection event 1974) (spn CEC 1914 in SDEI) .