Elaphromyia pterocallaeformis (Bezzi)

David, K. J., Hancock, D. L., Sachin, K., Ramya, R. S. & Ramani, S., 2021, Taxonomic notes on the genus Elaphromyia Bigot (Diptera: Tephritidae: Tephritinae: Pliomelaenini) in India, with description of a new species, Zootaxa 5023 (2), pp. 251-262 : 258-259

Elaphromyia pterocallaeformis (Bezzi)

Paralleloptera pterocallaeformis Bezzi, 1913: 155 : Type localities: Dharampur , Himachal Pradesh and Kumaon, Bhowali, Uttarakhand, India .

Material examined: 1♀, INDIA: Himachal Pradesh: Manali, Naggar , 06. viii.2014, Veena Kumari, K .; 1♂ 1♀, Shimla , IARI Substation, Totu , 18.viii.2019, David, K.J. ( NBAIR) .

Diagnosis ( Figs 25, 26 ): This species was originally described by Bezzi (1913) from northern India. Hardy (1973, 1974) illustrated the female postabdominal structures. It is characterised by having the round to elongate subhyaline markings in the wing arranged in transverse rows similar to E. juncta but with 6–7 marginal spots in cell r 1, unlike the four spots normally seen in E. juncta and E. siva . The abdomen of E. pterocallaeformis has four black spots/markings on the last two tergites.

Male genitalia: Epandrium broad with no demarcation between surstylus and epandrium; apex of lateral surstylus with a medial teat-like projection (in profile view) ( Fig. 27 ); proctiger short, much smaller than epandrium; medial surstylus shorter than lateral surstylus and with well-developed prensisetae ( Fig. 28 ). Phallus relatively longer than in the other two species (1.70 mm); glans of phallus sclerotised with acrophallus patterned and broadly bifid apically ( Fig. 29 ).

Female genitalia:Oviscape (0.84 mm) conical, orange-yellow with black basal rim ( Fig. 30 ); eversible membrane (0.69 mm) with elongate taeniae; spicules on distal end conical ( Figs 31, 32 ); aculeus (0.64 mm) curved, flattened in sagittal plane, pointed with reduced preapical setae ( Fig. 33 ); spermathecae dark brown to black, elongate-oval with numerous hair-like projections all over ( Fig. 34 ).

Distribution: Widespread in SE Asia but in India only known with certainty from Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal ( Bezzi, 1913) and, presumably, from other northern States of Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya and West Bengal as listed by Agarwal & Sueyoshi (2005). Records of E. pterocallaeformis from western Karnataka (Kemmangundi, Mudigere area and Jog Falls, Gersoppa) by Hancock & McGuire (2001) have not been re-examined but are almost certainly misidentifications of E. juncta , while those of David & Ramani (2011) are misidentifications of E. siva .

Figures

FIGURES 25–26. Elaphromyia pterocallaeformis (Bezzi). 25, habitus (lateral view); 26, habitus (dorsal view)

FIGURES 27–34. Elaphromyia pterocallaeformis (Bezzi). 27, epandrium (lateral view); 28, epandrium (posterior view); 29, glans of phallus; 30, ovipositor; 31, eversible membrane; 32, close-up view of spicules on eversible membrane; 33, aculeus; 34, spermatheca.