Phortica (Phortica) membranifera Chen & Toda, 2007

Chen, Hong-Wei, Toda, Masanori J., Lakim, Maklarin B. & Mohamed, Maryati B., 2007, The Phortica Sensu Stricto (Insecta: Diptera: Drosophilidae) From Malaysia, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 55 (1), pp. 23-41 : 38-39

Phortica (Phortica) membranifera Chen & Toda , new species

( Figs. 54–57 )

Diagnosis. – Vertical process of gonopods with 2 pairs of strongly sclerotized processes connected to each other with membrane: processes of the posterior pair apically fused together ( Fig. 57 ); aedeagal ventral bridge strongly sclerotized, elongated to tip of aedeagal median rod, pointed apically, with large pointed flap submedially ( Fig. 57 ); aedeagal median rod slightly sclerotized proximally, with bipartite lobe apically ( Fig. 57 ).

Material examined. – Holotype male (terminalia dissected), MALAYSIA: Ulu Senagang, Crocker Range, Sabah, on fallen logs, coll. M. J. Toda, 18 Oct.1999 ( KPSP) . Paratypes: 3 males, same data as holotype ( KPSP, SEHU, ITBC) .

Decription. – Male. Head: Frons dark brown on upper half, brown on lower half.

Thorax: Orange yellow. Scutellum with trifurcate brown patch, pale yellow on tip.

Wing: Slightly smoky on anterior margin. Legs: All femora dark brown except apical portion. Midleg tibia subapically with 3–4 longer setae on anterior surface.

Abdomen: First to fifth tergites yellow; second tergite with brown patches submedially; third to fifth tergites each with medially slightly protruded, brown band on posterior margin and 1 pair of yellow patches laterally; sixth tergite nearly entirely dark except yellow medial line, with expanded lobe on lateral margin.

Male terminalia: Epandrium pubescent anteroventrally and dorsomedially, with 13–14 setae on dorsal to posterolateral portion per side ( Fig. 54 ). Surstylus with pubescence subbasally and several wedge-shaped prensisetae on apical margin to inner surface ( Fig. 55 ). Additional plate between cerci and 10th sternite pubescent, medially connected to 10th sternite ( Fig. 56 ). Posterolateral lobe of hypandrium undeveloped. Paramere medially pubescent; apical process slender, with 1 tooth; median process with 1 sensillum and 3 teeth; proximal process round apically ( Fig. 57 ). Aedeagus with 2 pairs of bridges; basal bridge looped ( Fig. 57 ).

Female: Unknown.

Measurements: BL = 4.02 mm in holotype (range in 3 male paratypes: 4.20-4.60); ThL = 2.00 mm (2.00-2.16); WL = 3.12 mm (3.04-3.16); WW = 1.32 mm (1.32-1.44).

Indices: arb = 4-5/2-3 (5-6/2-3), avd = 0.50 (0.50-0.55), adf = 1.85 (1.80-1.90), flw = 1.50 (1.40-1.55), FW/HW = 0.40 (0.35-0.40), ch/o = 0.06 (0.06-0.07), prorb = 1.00 (1.05-1.10), rcorb = 0.50 (0.45-0.50), vb = 0.30 (0.35-0.40), dcl = 0.60 (0.60), presctl = 0.80 (0.70-0.75), sctl = 1.10 (1.05-1.10), sterno = 0.90 (0.90-0.95), orbito = 1.60 (1.55-1.65), dcp = 0.23 (0.22-0.23), sctlp = 1.10 (1.00-1.10), C = 2.19 (2.25- 2.37), 4c = 1.62 (1.43-1.46), 4v = 2.92 (2.67-2.86), 5x = 0.89 (0.78-0.80), ac = 4.20 (3.33-3.80), M = 0.62 (0.50-0.57), C3F = 0.71 (0.74-0.75).

Etymology. – From the Latin word “membranifer”, referring to the vertical process of gonopods partly membranous.

Distribution. – Malaysia (Sabah).

Remarks. – This species is somewhat similar to P. (P.) lambda (Toda & Peng, 1990) from China in having the vertical process of gonopods partly sclerotized, but can be distinguished from it by the aedeagal median rod (in P. lambda : ventral bridge between aedeagus and gonopods not reaching to tip of aedeagal median rod, without submedial branch; aedeagal median rod entirely sclerotized, with 1 process subapically and 1 pair of long lateral processes submedially).

Figures

Figs. 54–57. Phortica (Phortica) membranifera Chen & Toda, new species, male: 54, epandrium and cercus in lateral view; 55, surstylus in frontal view; 56, tenth sternite and additional plate in frontal view; 57, hypandrium, gonopod, paramere and aedeagus in lateral view.