Winnertzia pratensis, Jaschhof & Jaschhof, 2020

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 : 65-66

Winnertzia pratensis sp. nov.

Figs 119–123

Diagnosis. Males of Winnertzia pratensis and other pravdini -like Winnertzia (see above the remarks on W. pravdini ) correspond in being small to medium-sized and predominantly brown, and having 12 long-necked flagellomeres as well as setae on the anepimeron. Their genitalia are also generally similar: the gonostylar claw is long and narrow; the gonocoxal synsclerite has a large emargination and long, thin dorsal apodemes; the parallel-sided aedeagal apodeme is unmodified apically; the tegmen has unusually small flaps, whose reinforced lateral edges appear as dark markings; the long parameral apodemes are ventrolaterad oriented; and the posterior edge of the ninth tergite is concave medially. Characters specific to particular species are provided by both genitalic and non-genitalic structures, with W. pratensis being distinguished as follows. The length of the eye bridge matches 3–4 lateral and 1–2 dorsal ommatidia; the neck of the fourth flagellomere is 0.8-0.9 times as long as the node ( Figs 121–122 ); the apical segment of the palpus is longer than each of the three preceding segments; pronotal setae number 4–6, anepimeral setae 3–6; the lateral mediotergal microtrichia are markedly enlarged; the fore tibia is longer than the second tarsomere (length ratio tb/T 2 = 1.1–1.2; Fig. 123 ); and the empodia are up to one third as long as the claws, which have a small, pale tooth basally ( Fig. 120 ). As regards genitalic characters ( Fig. 119 ), the posterior edge of the ninth tergite has a comparatively deep indentation medially whose width equals that of the flanking lobes (something that is only visible in undisturbed specimens) (↓ 1); the large gonocoxal emargination extends considerably beyond the midlength of the gonocoxal synsclerite (↓ 2); and the gonostylus, whose maximum thickness lies approximately in the middle, is peculiar for its gently sloping apex (↓ 3). Females and preimaginal stages of W. pratensis were possibly described in previous literature under the name of W. pravdini (see Remark).

Remark. We assume that the male genitalic illustration that Spungis (1992: fig. 41) published for W. pravdini actually depicts our W. pratensis . The same author referred to characters of larvae and females that he regarded as conspecific with the illustrated male.

Etymology. The Latin adjective pratensis means meadow-dwelling, highlighting the habitat where most of the adults studied here were collected.

Type material. Holotype. Male , Sweden, Öland , Mörbylånga, Gamla Skogsby (Kalkstad), scrubby meadow, 30 April–8 June 2015, Malaise trap, M. & C. Jaschhof (spn CEC 3055 in NHRS) . Paratypes. 2 males, same data as the holotype (spns CEC3056 – CEC 3057 in NHRS) ; 2 males, same data but 9 June–6 July 2015 (spns CEC3058 – CEC 3059 in SDEI) .

Other material studied. Sweden: 2 males, Öland, Mörbylånga, Ullevi, herb-rich meadow, 10 May–1 June 2016, MT, MCJ (spns CEC3060 – CEC 3061 in SDEI) ; 1 male, Småland, Nybro, Alsterbro, herb-rich backyard, 22 April–26 May 2016, MT, MCJ & S.-O. Ulefors (spn CEC 3066 in SDEI) ; 1 male, Södermanland, Trosa, Hunga, Södergård no. 1, grassland near manure pile, 16 May–13 June 2004, MT, SMTP (trap 12, collection event 889) (spn CEC 3062 in NHRS) ; 2 males, Lule Lappmark, Jokkmokk, Vuollerim, Älvvägen, backyard with herb-rich meadow, 16–30 June 2017, MT, MCJ & M. Karström (spns CEC3064 – CEC 3065 in SDEI) ; 1 male, same data but 16–31 July 2017 (spn CEC 3063 in NHRS) .

Distribution and phenology. Our material of W. pratensis was collected between end-April and July in meadows as well as similar, open habitats in both southern (Småland, Öland, Södermanland) and northern Sweden (Lule Lappmark).

Figures

FIGURES 119–127. Male morphology of Winnertzia pratensis (119–123) and Winnertzia silvestris (124–127). 119: Genitalia, ventral, holotype. 120: Acropod, lateral, paratype. 121: Fourth flagellomere, lateral, paratype. 122: Ditto, medial. 123: Tibia to second tarsomere of foreleg, lateral, holotype. 124: Fourth flagellomere, lateral, holotype. 125: Ditto, medial. 126: Acropod, lateral, holotype. 127: Tibia to second tarsomere of foreleg, lateral, holotype. Scales for 119, 121–122 and 124–125, 0.05 mm; for 120 and 126, 0.025 mm; for 123 and 127, 0.5 mm. Arrows refer to characters described in the diagnoses.