Aprionus montivagus, Jaschhof & Jaschhof, 2017

Jaschhof, Mathias & Jaschhof, Catrin, 2017, New species of Aprionus (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae, Micromyinae) from Sweden and other parts of the Palearctic region, European Journal of Taxonomy 378, pp. 1-38 : 35-36

Aprionus montivagus sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:BB33205B-4CFF-410A-9D72-C03E7124023C

Fig. 20

Diagnosis

Aprionus montivagus sp. nov. is another distinctive species whose male genitalic structures provide obvious distinguishing characters ( Fig. 20A ). The gonostylus, viewed from the ventral side, appears rather slender and subtriangular, but is roundish and strongly flattened in a posterior view ( Fig. 20B ); the outer surface is covered with setae of different sizes (as in other Aprionus ), while the inside is densely microtrichose (↓). The elongate, almost parallel-sided tegmen bears 2–3 pairs of small, thin fingers, which are in a very characteristic way bent dorsally (↓). The broad subanal plate has a straight, strongly sclerotized posterior edge (↓).

Etymology

The species epithet, montivagus , is a Latin adjective meaning ‘roaming the mountains’.

Material examined

Holotype

AUSTRIA: ♂, Niederösterreich, Dürrenstein Nature Reserve, Rothwald, Kleiner Urwald , 47.46° N, 15.07 °E, 1035 m a.s.l., virgin forest of beech, fir and spruce trees, ground emergence trap (no. 11), C. Wurth leg., Aug. 2002 ( DEI, no. A7642 ).

Paratypes

AUSTRIA (5 paratypes in DEI, 4 in MNSP): 8 ♂♂, same data as for the holotype (nos A7643–A7649, A7651); 1 ♂, same data, but with Barber trap (no. 11) (no. A7650).

Other material studied

RUSSIA: 3 ♂♂, Krasnodarskiy Kray, Caucasus Mountains, Mount Abago, S Guzeripl, 2200 m a.s.l., sweepnet, W. Mohrig leg., 29 Jul. 1994 ( DEI, nos A7652–A7654).

Other characters

Body size 1.8 mm.

HEAD. Postfrons setose. Eye bridge 2–3 ommatidia long dorsally. A row of 7–9 postocular bristles. Neck of fourth flagellomere shorter than node; translucent sensilla hair-shaped ( Fig. 20C ). Palpus long, 4-segmented.

WING. ApicR 1 3.0–3.5 times as long as Rs.

LEGS. Claws subrectangular, 2 tiny teeth. Empodia rudimentary.

TERMINALIA ( Fig. 20A ). Ninth tergite long, subrectangular, anterior margin fully sclerotized. Gonocoxites narrow, rounded ventroposteriorly; dorsal bridge subrectangular, extends far beyond ventroanterior gonocoxal margin. Gonostylus without apical tooth or subapical bristles. Tegmen blunt-ended.

Distribution and phenology

Austria (Niederösterreich), Russia (Near East). This species is known from two series of specimens collected at the height of summer at higher elevations, one series in the European Alps and the other in the Caucasus Mountains. The type locality, Rothwald, is unanimously described as Austria’s most precious primeval forest. Details of the collecting site in the Caucasus are not known.

Figures

Fig. 20. Aprionus montivagus sp. nov., ♂. A. Genitalia, ventral, holotype. B. Gonostylus, posterior, paratype. C. Fourth flagellomere, lateral, paratype. Scale lines: 0.05 mm. Arrows indicate diagnostic characters.