Leptocera erratica BUCK

Papp, L., 2012, A Review Of The Afrotropical Species Of Leptocera Olivier (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae), Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 58 (3), pp. 225-258 : 234-236

Leptocera erratica BUCK in BUCK & MARSHALL, 2009

Leptocera erratica BUCK in BUCK & MARSHALL, 2009: 32 .

The holotype and five paratypes are from Australia , other paratypes are from California , Argentina and South Africa .

Material examined: Paratype male ( DEBU, abdomen and genitalia prepared and preserved in a plastic microvial with glycerol): AUSTRALIA, S.E.Q., Mt. Glorious , 27.iv–26.x.1989, Malaise trap, A. Hiller – Leptocera erratica sp. n. Det. M. Buck 1999, debu 00020552 – [yellow] PARATYPE . 1 male, ( NMSA, abdomen and genitalia prepared and preserved in a plastic microvial with glycerol): “ Pretoria 5. 10. 05 ll” [the last 2 letters are not legible] . 1 male ( BMSA): Malaise traps, Acacia savanna – RSA: Free State, Brandfort, Florisbad Res. Stat. , 28° 46.039’ S, 26° 04.234’E, 25.–29. x. 2010, A. H. Kirk-Spriggs, BMSA (D) 29579. These three males are with the genitalia exactly the same as given on Buck’s figures 55–58. I cannot see silvery reflexion on their mesonotum .

Tentatively identified females (which cannot be separated from L. caenosa with certainty, see BUCK & MARSHALL, 2009): 1 female ( NMSA, abdomen and genitalia prepared and preserved in a plastic microvial with glycerol): SOUTH AFR.: Cape Prov., Boesmansriviermond 3326AD, 27–31. xii. 1985 , J. Londt. Hillabore caravan park; 1 female ( NMSA): “Sterkfontein Cave, Transvaal, 18. 6. 49.”; 1 female ( HNHM): SOUTH AFRICA, Western Cape, Robertson [Municipality], 15 km W, 33.50S – 19.45E, primaeval forest, 1978. 5. 12., leg. Endrődy-Younga S.

Leptocera erratica BUCK in BUCK & MARSHALL, 2009 South African form ( Figs 71–74 , 76–83 )

I found some specimens from South Africa, which are not completely fit to the type and original figures. Although the differences are not definitive, I felt useful to describe this form with rather numerous figures for later studies.

Material examined: 1 male ( NMSA, abdomen and genitalia prepared and preserved in a plastic microvial with glycerol): “Pretoria 5. 10. 05 ll” [the last 2 letters are not legible]. 1 female ( NMSA, abdomen and genitalia prepared and preserved in a plastic microvial with glycerol): SOUTH AFR.: Cape Prov., Boesmansrviermond 3326AD, 27–31. xii. 1985 , J. Londt. Hillabore caravan park; 1 female ( NMSA): “Sterkfontein Cave, Transvaal, 18. 6. 49.”; 1 female ( HNHM): SOUTH AFRICA, Western Cape, Robertson [Municipality], 15 km W, 33.50S – 19.45E, primeval forest, 1978. 5. 12., leg. Endrődy-Younga S.

Measurements in mm: body length 2.56 (male), 2.25–2.64 (females), wing length 2.45 (male), 2.12 –2.53 (females), wing width 0.96 (male), 0.97 –1.07 (females).

Body dark brown, mesonotum and scutellum with silvery tomentum (particularly when viewed from behind).

Frons dark grey reddish, facial plate yellowish grey. Cephalic setae strong, inner occipitals with convergent tips. Two subequal pairs of fronto-orbitals, plus at least three reclinate shorter setae on orbital plate between upper orbital and vertical bristles. Three pairs of long and thick interfrontals plus one small anterior ifr. Width of gena below eye 0.155 mm, longest axis of eye 0.34 mm. Genal seta strong (0.20 mm long) situated just above peristomals. A complete row of fine pre-ocular setae (fine whitish setulae up to 0.05 mm) on cheek. Apical row of setae on pedicel well developed. Aristal cilia 0.04 mm long, cilia on apex of first flagellomere only 0.025 mm. Palpus inflated, 4 to 4.5 times as long as wide.

Anterior dorsocentral pair (of two) well behind suture, preceded by three enlarged setae of moderate to small size. Acrostichal rows without enlarged setae. Third pair of scutellar bristles less than half as long as pair, more than half as long as second pair. Anterior katepisternal seta only 0.20 mm, posterior pair 0.44 mm long. Wing ( Fig. 76 ) greyish, veins ochre, costa thick (0.045 mm at the level of r-m), longest costal seta 0.225 mm. Legs robust, greyish yellow, with the typical chaetotaxy, i.e. with a long ventral seta on mid basitarsus (0.17 mm). Mid tibia with antero-dorsal setae at 10/55, 18/55, 35/55. 39/55 (very long and thick), a smaller dorsal seta at 37/55, posterodorsals at 11/55, (short), 22/55, 42/55 (long and thick), one shorter thick posterior seta at 39/55. The two posterior apical setae on mid tibia small and weak, posterodorsal one 0.05 mm, posteroventral one 0.055 mm.

Male abdomen. One pair each of long setae latero-caudally on sternite 5, tergite 4 and tergite 5; the latter 0.41 mm long. Sternite 5 with very small medio-caudal desclerotised area ( Fig. 77 ): its width only 1/6 of sternal width; i.e. much smaller than in L. caenosa , cf. ROHÁČEK (1983: fig. 64). Scales at posterior margin slender, c. 0.03 mm long ( Fig. 77 , outset). Sternite 6 long (anterior-posteriorly), largely perpendicular to body axis ( Fig. 78 ), sternite 7 small, sternite 8 long but narrow (only half abdominal width). Epandrium with ventral setae less numerous than in L. caenosa . Cercus closely joined to posterior part of surstylus, small and weakly sclerotised, longitudinal to the body axis, with numerous medium-sized setae. Subepandrial sclerite ( Fig. 79 ) subquadrate, extremely broad (0.16 mm) compared to width of epandrium (0.31 mm). Anterior part of surstylus ( Figs 80–81 ) with long (deep) and broad anterior part that is finely pointed on anterior surface. Caudal part of anterior part of surstylus small and low with one very long curved seta ( Figs 80–81 ). Posterior part of surstylus broad, subtriangular, and slightly pointing inward ( Figs 79, 82 ), apical seta 0.035 mm, i.e. slightly more than 1/3 of surstylar length. Hypandrial arms longer than apodeme, which extends farther anteriorly than the apex of the phallapodeme. Basiphallus very small, only 0.025 mm long and 0.055 mm deep. Distiphallus with rather strong dorsal rib, curved downward apically; sclerotized part 0.175 mm long, membranous part distinctly shorter. No sclerotised ventral rib. Postgonite ( Figs 81, 83 ) 0.16 mm long, basal part broadened but only slightly curved with a definite notch lacking a ventral process; apical 3/5 slender, apex slightly curved anteriorly, more or less rounded.

Female terminalia. Tergite 7 somewhat shining medially. Tergite 8 ( Fig. 73 ) comparatively long with strong medially directed ventral process; several shorter setae laterally and an extremely thick seta on medial caudal edge, plus several thinner and short setae ventrally to that seta. Sternite 8 ( Figs 73–74 ) divided into the two usual portions: basal part broad, distal part with wide medial lobe and extremely long lateral lobes ( Fig. 74 ). Tergite 10 ( Fig. 72 ) completely fused with cerci and emarginate apically; each cercus with three setae. Spermathecae ( Fig. 71 ) pear-shaped, ducts shorter than spermathecae; spicules curved apically, rather strong but restricted to the basal part of spermathecae.

Figures

Figs 67–74. Leptocera spp., female postabdomen and spermathecae. 67–70. L. melanaspis (BEZZI, 1908): 67 = tergite 8, exact lateral view (left), and viewed perpendicular to surface (to show maximum dimensions), 68 = sternite 8, ventral view, 69 = tergite 10 and cerci, dorsal view, 70 = spermathecae. 71–74. L. erratica: 71 = spermathecae, 72 = tergite 10 fused with cerci, dorsal view, 73 = tergite 8 and sternite 8, lateral view, 74 = sternite 8, ventral view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm for Figs 67–69,

Figs 75–76. Leptocera spp., wings. 75 = L. kovacsi DUDA, paralectotype male. 76 = L. erratica, South African form, female

Figs 77–83. Leptocera erratica, South African form, male postabdomen:77 = sternite 5 and posteromedial part in higher magnification, ventral view, 78 = synsternite, ventral view, 79 = subepandrial sclerite and left ventral part of epandrial complex with posterior part of surstylus, caudal view, 80 = anterior part of surstylus, lateral view, 81 = postgonite, lateral view, 82 = ventral part of epandrium with hypandrium, anterior and posterior parts of surstyli, lateral view, 83 = left postgonite, in broadest (oblique lateral) view.Scale bars: 0.4 mm for Fig. 78, 0.2 mm for Figs 77, 79, 82, 0.1 mm for Figs