Meomyia vetusta (Macquart, 1849)

Li, Xuankun & Yeates, David K., 2020, Revision of the Australian bee fly genus Meomyia Evenhuis, 1983, with description of three new species (Bombyliidae, Bombyliinae, Bombyliini), Zootaxa 4810 (2), pp. 201-243 : 233-238

9. Meomyia vetusta (Macquart, 1849)

( Figs 21–23 )

Bombylius vetustus Walker, 1849: 286 . Type-locality: “ New Holland ” [= Australia]; 1 Syntype, NHMUK.

Type specimens. ♂ Syntype of Bombylius vetustus Walker, 1849 ( NHMUK 010921904 ) .

Other specimens examined. Australia, ACT, ♂ (2), Jervis Bay, 1 Oct 1952, SJ Paramonov. ♀ Jervis Bay, 7 Nov 1956, EF Riek. ♀ Cotter R[iver]. 20 Nov 1934, W Rafferty. NSW, ♂ (3) ♀ (9), 33°31’6”S 151°24’40”E, 18 Sep 2017, X Li, Z Liu, M Jin. ♀ 35°6’49”S 150°21’45”E, Tianjara, 24 Oct 2017, D Ferguson, X Li. ♂ (4) ♀ (2), 32°34’42”S 145°25’01”E, Yathong Nature Res., Mallee fowl conservation area; hand net off white flowers, C Lambkin, N Starick; 161m, 4 Oct 2003. ♂ 35°06’52.70”S 150°21’52.30”E, Tianjara Falls area, 460m, netted, 5 Nov 2014, DJ Ferguson, DK Yeates. ♀ 35°07’02.60”S 150°19’18.00”E, Tianjara Falls area, 460m, netted, 5 Nov 2014, DJ Ferguson, DK Yeates. ♀ 35°50’58.21”S 150°09’59.05”E, Broulee, swept from grassland area adj to houses and woodland, 20m, 9 Oct 2014, DJ Ferguson. ♀ 9 mls. NW of Kingstown, nr. Armidale, 14 Dec 1948, KHL & B Key. ♂ (2), Murramarang, N. Durras NP, 22 Oct 1989, MG Jefferies. ♀ 5 mls. N E. Nerriga, 29 Nov 1962, IFB Common & MS Upton. ♂ ‘Lugen Pk.’ Nullo Mt., N.E. of Rylstone, 22 Oct 1953, TG Campbell. ♂ (1) ♀ (1), Broulee, 24 Oct 1934, Fuller. ♀ (3), 4 N Eden, 4 Dec 1956, EF Riek. ♂ (5), Ulladulla, FH Taylor. ♂ N.E. Nat. Pk., near entrance, 19 Nov 1960, CW Frazier. ♀ (2), State Forest Gibraltar Range, 15 Dec 1969, CW Frazier. ♂ 4 m. N. of Bateman’s Bay, 14 Oct 1952, SJ Paramonov. ♂ Nullo Mtn 20 mls, NE Rylstone, 12 Nov 1950, TG Campbell. ♀ Pilliga Scrub, 9 km N of Coonabarabran, 5 Oct 1976, EM Exley, T Low, on Leptospermum flavescens ( QM). ♀ Heath n[ea]r Broadwa- ter, 25 Sep 1950 ( QM). ♀ (2), Warialda, 20 Oct 1928, GR Bass ( QM). Qld., ♀ Woodford, 13 Oct 1950 ( QM). ♀ Sydney, Deane ( QM). ♂ (2), Bancroft, Eidsvold, 26 Aug 1923. ♂ Brisbane, 12 Sep 1937, CF Ashby. ♂ Brisbane, 18 Sep 1965, CF Ashby. ♂ (1) ♀ (1), The Blunder, 25 Sep 1966, CF Ashby. ♀ The Blunder, 18 Sep 1966, CF Ashby. ♀ The Blunder, 6 Sep 1966, CF Ashby. ♀ The Blunder, 2 Oct 1966, CF Ashby. ♂ Brisbane, AP Dodd. ♂ Brisbane, FH Roberts, 2 Sep 1927. ♀ Eidsvold, Oct 1937, AP Dodd. ♂ (1) ♀ (1), Sunnybank, 19 Sep 1948. ♂ (1) ♀ (1), 28°39’S 151°57’E, Mt. Marlay summit, Stanthorpe, hand net, 22 Oct 2005, DK Yeates. ♂ Brisbane, 3 Sep 1912, J Mann ( QM). ♂ Stanthorpe, 1 Nov 1927 ( QM). ♂ Brisbane, 10 Sep 1927 ( QM). ♀ Sunnybank, 8 Sep 1928, FA Per- kins ( QM). ♂ (1) ♀ (1), 24.8342°S 147.7675°E, Carnarvon St[atio]n, Swers Lookout (CN5), 900m, 23 Sep 2012, Lambkin, Wright, Starick, handnetting ( QM). ♂ 24.9692°S 148.0071°E, Carnarvon N[ational] P[ark], Mt Moffatt sect[ion], n[ea]r West Branch Camp (MM8), 790m, 24 Sep 2012, Starick, Wright, Lambkin, Eucalyptus / Acacia woodland ( QM). ♀ 24.9692°S 148.0071°E, Carnarvon NP, Mt Moffatt sect[ion], n[ea]r West Branch Camp (MM8), 790m, 19 Sep 2012, QM Party, day hand net, Eucalyptus / Acacia woodland ( QM). ♂ (2) ♀ (6), 24.8472°S 147.6980°E, Carnarvon St[atio]n, Mailman Spring, 760m, 16 Oct 2014, Wright, Lambkin, Starick, net, Eucalypt woodland ( QM). ♀ (2), 24.834°S 147.768°E, Carnarvon St[atio]n, SWER line (CN17), 866m, 9 Oct 2014, S Wright, hand net, Euc/ Acacia woodl[an]d ( QM). ♀ 24.847°S 147.698°E, Carnarvon St[atio]n, Mailman Spring, 760m, 13 Oct 2014, R Leijs, hand net, Eucalyptus woodland ( QM). ♂ (4) ♀ (3), 24.834°S 147.768°E, Carnarvon St[atio]n, SWER line (CN17), 887m, 9 Oct 2014, BHP, Earthwatch, hand net, Euc/ Acacia woodl[an]d ( QM). ♀ 24.8878°S 147.4456°E, Carnarvon St[atio]n, Ka Ka Mundi R[oa]d, 693m, 10 Oct 2014, C Lambkin, Flowering Budgeroo, net, burnt 2014 ( QM). ♀ (5), 24.8531°S 147.6991°E, Carnarvon St[atio]n, n[ea]r Mailman Spring, 775m, 13 Oct 2014, Lambkin, Wright, Starick, net, Leptospermum ( QM). ♀ 12.374°S 142.195°E, C[ape] York, Irwin Res[erve], Creek off Wen- lock R[iver], 9m, 21 & 26 July 2018, N Starick, C Lambkin, B Lessard, hand net, gallery forest, waterholes ( QM). ♀ 12.385°S 142.177°E, Cape York, Irwin Res[erve], Wenlock R[iver], Pump Track n[ea]r Stone [Cross]ing, 16m, 26 Jul 2018, N Starick, C Lambkin, B Lessard, hand net, gallery forest ( QM). ♂ (2) ♀ (1), 27°38.6’S 153°03.8’E, Drewvale, Illaweena St[reet], 40m, 09 Sep 2003, QM party, day hand coll[ected], scribbly gum/heath ( QM). ♂ (4) ♀ (4), 27°38.6’S 153°03.8’E, Drewvale, Illaweena St, 40m, 18 Sep 2003, QM party, day hand coll[ected], scribbly gum/heath ( QM). ♀ 14°40’S 143°50’E, Lakefield Nat[ional] P[ar]k, Sweetwater Lake, 10-20m, 27 Jul 2004, S Wright, Casuarina woodland ( QM). ♀ Brisbane, 02 Dec 1913, H Hacker ( QM). ♂ (2), Brisbane, 18 Sep 1914, H Hacker ( QM). ♂ Brisbane, 24 Sep 1914, H Hacker ( QM). ♂ Brisbane, 26 Sep 1916, H Hacker ( QM). ♀ (2), Bris- bane, 16 Sep 1918, H Hacker ( QM). ♀ Brisbane 13 Sep 1921, H Hacker ( QM). ♂ (2), - 28.6350S 151.9E, Stan- thorpe, Broadwater S[tate] F[orest], 29 Sep 2009, MG Jefferies ( QM). ♀ - 28.654S 151.947E, Stanthorpe, Mt Mar- lay, 17 Oct 2010, MG Jefferies ( QM). ♂ - 28.5359S 151.83E, Passchendale, TV Tower, 18 Oct 2010, MG Jefferies ( QM). ♀ - 28.6537S 151.94E, Stanthorpe, Mt Marlay, 24 Oct 2009, MG Jefferies ( QM). ♂ - 28.5359S 151.83E, Passchendale, TV Tower, 10 Nov 2009, MG Jefferies ( QM). ♂ (1) ♀ (1), - 28.6537S 151.9470E, Stanthorpe, Mt Marlay, 211 Nov 2008, MG Jefferies ( QM). ♀ - 28.5359S 151.83E, Passchendale, TV Tower, 14 Dec 2009, MG Jef- feries ( QM). ♀ (2), - 28.845S 151.94E, Girraween N[ational] P[ark], Castle Rock, 18 Dec 2009, MG Jefferies ( QM). ♀ - 28.828S 151.978E, Girraween N[ational] P[ark], North Slopes, 13 Jan 2010, MG Jefferies ( QM). ♂ (2) ♀ (2), Mt Marlay, n[ea]r Stanthorpe, 6-9 Nov 1984, DK Yeates ( QM). ♀ Mt Marlay, n[ea]r Stanthorpe, 10 Dec 1984, DK Yeates ( QM). ♂ Mt Marlay, n[ea]r Stanthorpe, 24-25 Nov 1984, DK Yeates ( QM). ♀ Mt Marlay, n[ea]r Stanthorpe, 30 Oct 1985, DK Yeates ( QM). ♂ (2), Mt Marlay, n[ea]r Stanthorpe, 31 Oct 1985, DK Yeates ( QM). ♀ (4), Calliope Range, Kroombit Tops, 45km SSW Calliope, 9/ 19 Dec 1983, G Monteith, G Thompson, open forest ( QM). ♀ Kroombit Tops, Upper Kroombit C[ree]k, 45km SSW Calliope, 9/ 19 Dec 1983, G Monteith, G Thompson, open forest ( QM). ♀ (2), Kroombit Tops, Three Moon C[ree]k, 45km SSW Calliope, 12-19 Dec 1983, G Monteith, G Thompson ( QM). ♀ Bald Rock N[ational] P[ark], 25km SE Stanthorpe, 1 Dec 1983, D Yeates ( QM). ♀ Bald Rock N[ational] P[ark], 10 Dec 1986, DK Yeates ( QM). ♀ (2), Davies C[ree]k S[tate] F[orest] via Mareeba, 900m, 26 Nov 1985, DK Yeates, rainforest ( QM). ♀ Gibralter Range Nat[ional] Park, 15 Dec 1984, DK Yeates ( QM). ♀ Gi- bralter Ra[nge] State Forest, 16 Dec 1984, DK Yeates ( QM). ♂ Carnarvon Nat[ional] P[ar]k, Mt Moffatt sect[ion], Marlong Arch, 22 Sep 1986, DK Yeates ( QM). ♂ Carnarvon Nat[ional] P[ar]k, Mt Moffatt sect[ion], Marlong Plain, 25 Sep 1986, DK Yeates ( QM). ♂ (2), Carnarvon Sat[ional] P[ar]k, Mt Moffatt sect[ion], Kookaburra Cave area 22 Sep 1986, DK Yeates ( QM). ♀ Girraween Nat[ional] Park, 27 Nov 1981, MA Schneider, G Daniels ( QM). ♀ Gir- raween Nat[ional] Park, 1-2 Dec 1981, G Daniels, MA Schneider ( QM). ♂ Carnarvon Nat[ional] P[ar]k, Mt Moffatt sect[ion], Kenniff Cave area, 23 Sep 1986, DK Yeates ( QM). ♂ 15km SW Ebor, 12 Dec 1984, DK Yeates, on Leptospermum myrtifolium blossom ( QM). ♀ Mt Lindesay H[ighway], Washpool Creek [Cross]ing, n[ea]r Tenterfield, 28 Nov 1981, MA Schneider, G Daniels ( QM). ♂ Carnarvon N[ational] P[ark], Mt Moffatt sect[ion], Cathedral Rock, 21 Sep 1986, DK Yeates ( QM). ♀ Mt Moffatt N[ational] P[ark], Top Shelter Shed, 12 Dec 1987, DK Yeates ( QM). ♀ Stanthorpe, 5 Jan 1963, A McQueen ( QM). ♀ Fraser Island, Central Forestry St[atio]n, 22-30 Nov 1977, K Walker ( QM). ♀ Mt Bauple via Maryborough, 13 Dec 1965, G Monteith ( QM). ♀ 26°25’S 146°33’E, 22km W Morven, 10 Sept 1989, E Exley, G Daniels, C Burwell, on Acacia ixodes ( QM). ♀ Mt Kuring-Gai, 27 Sep 1950, B McMillan ( QM). ♂ Brisbane, 9 Aug 1948, BC Dodd ( QM). ♂ Brisbane, 1 Jun 1925, Frangen ( QM). ♀ Stanthorpe, 3 Oct 1924 ( QM). ♀ Isla Gorge via Theodore, 9-10 Sep 1972, GB Monteith ( QM). ♀ Macknade, 1 Jan 1951, B Champ ( QM). ♀ Goondiwindi, 4 Dec 1928, GR Bass ( QM). ♂ Sunnybank, 26 Sep 1936, F Chippendale ( QM). ♀ Gatton, 4 Feb 1937, GL Wilson ( QM). ♂ (2), Brisbane, 10 Sep 1927 ( QM). ♀ Brisbane, 15 Apr 1935, FA Perkins ( QM). ♂ Sunnybank, 10 Sep 1936 ( QM). ♂ Bribie Is[lan]d, 2 Jan 1917, H Hacker ( QM). ♀ Bribie Is[lan]d, 12 Sep 1918 ( QM). ♂ Brisbane, 3 Sep 1927, J Mann ( QM). ♂ Brisbane, 10 Sep 1927, J Mann ( QM). ♂ Brisbane, 17 Sep 1927, J Mann ( QM). ♂ (2), Brisbane, 9 Oct 1927, J Mann ( QM). ♂ Brisbane, 18 Sep 1911, H Hacker ( QM). ♀ Caloundra, 28 Oct 1913, H Hacker ( QM). ♀ Stanthorpe, 25 Oct 1922 ( QM). ♀ Stanthorpe, 14 Oct 1923 ( QM). ♀ Stanthrope 19 Oct 1923 ( QM). ♀ (2), Stanthorpe, 1 Oct 1924 ( QM). ♀ Stanthorpe, 10 Oct 1924 ( QM). ♀ (2), Stan- thorpe, Jan 1926, H Hacker ( QM). ♂ (2), Stanthorpe, 1 Nov 1927 ( QM). ♀ Stanthorpe, 4 Feb 1930 ( QM). ♂ Dun- wich, 17 Sep 1955, PC Kerridge ( QM). SA, ♂ (2), -34.6162° 135.3569°, Coffin Bay NP, Lake Jessie dunes, 1 Oct 2017, 100m SWbS Jessie Tk, JA & JG Lumbers. ♂ (2), 36.00 137.22, Kangaroo Is., Bales Bay, 26 Oct 1993, DK Yeates. Vic., ♂ Wyperfeld National Park, 5 Nov 1966, IFB Common & MS Upton. ♀ (2), Wyperfeld National Park, 4 Nov 1966, IFB Common & MS Upton. ♂ (3) ♀ (2), 33.315°S 134.783°E, Talia, 9.5 km W[est], 20 Oct 2009, Lambkin, Starick, hand net, coastal heath ( QM). ♂ 33.231°S 134.661°E, Venus Bay Point, 21 Oct 2009, C Lambkin, N Starick, hand net, coastal heath ( QM).

Diagnosis. Posterior margin of scutum with a black hair band. Fore tibiae with enlarged outer black setae on apical half, and an apically hair tuft with a white scale band across on subapex; mid tibiae with a subapical white scale band. Apex of epiphallus of male gonocoxite bifid, with slender branch.

Redescription. Male. Body length 6.1–12.4 mm, wing length 5.9–11.8 mm.

Head. Head about 1.8 x wider than long, mostly black with thick pale pruinescence and covered in white hairs and scales, and admixed with brown hairs. Eye holoptic. Frons long, 4.3 x length of ocellar tubercle, upper narrow and black; lower half triangular, 1.1 x length of upper half, with thick pale pruinescence and white scales, admixed with few brown hairs. Ocellar tubercle slightly raised, blackish brown to black with sparse grey pruinescence, with brown hairs admixed with few white scales. Face with thick pale pruinescence and long white hairs. Gena with thick pale pruinescence and sparse white hairs. Clypeus with thick pale pruinescence and otherwise bare. Occiput with thick pale pruinescence and long white hairs. Posterior eye margin slightly concave. Antennal scape and pedicel brown with thick pale pruinescence, scape with long black hairs on dorsal half, and white hairs on ventral half, pedicel with short black hairs on dorsal half, and with short white hairs on ventral half; flagellum black without pruinescence, bare. Scape 2.8 x as long as wide, and 2.7 x as long as pedicel, uniform from base to apex. Pedicel 1.1 x as long as wide. Flagellum 9.2 x as long as wide, 2.2 x as long as scape + pedicel, 3.0 x as long as scape, conical and slightly laterally compressed, one-segmented with apical stylus ( Fig. 22c ). Palpus not extending beyond oral cavity, black with short brown hairs, one-segmented, without palpal pit. Mouthparts slender, 3.7 x as long as eye length, 2.1 x as long as head length, labellum large and fleshy ( Fig. 22j ).

Thorax. Integumental colour of scutum mostly black with sparse grey pruinescence. Scutum covered with white hairs admixed with some black hairs, hairs denser on anterior half, posterior half with more black hairs, postalar callus with five brownish yellow setae and with admixed white and black hairs. Five brownish yellow notopleural setae present. Scutellum black with thick grey pruinescence, pruinescence denser on the margin, covered with admixed white and black hairs, posterior margin with brownish yellow setae. Pleura black with thick pale pruinescence, mostly covered in long white hairs, except anterodorsal area of anepisternum with some pale yellow setae, anepimeron, meron, laterotergite and mediotergite bare.

Legs. Legs mostly yellow, except tarsi dark brown; femora mostly covered in white scales and hairs, except anterior face of fore and mid femora admixed with black scales; tibia mostly covered in black scales, except posterior face of fore and mid tibia with white scales. Fore femur with one anterior bristle on median area; mid femur with one row of anterior bristles; hind femur with one row of anteroventral bristles, and more separate bristles on apical half. Fore tibiae with enlarged outer black setae on apical half, and an outer black hair tuft apically with an oblique white scale band on subapex ( Fig. 22e ); mid tibiae with an oblique white scale band on subapex ( Fig. 22f ).Bristles and other hairs on legs brown. Fore tibia 2.0 x longer than fore basitarsus, mid tibia 2.4 x longer than mid basitarsus, hind tibia 2.3 x longer than hind basitarsus.

Wings. Wing membrane hyaline. Cell r 5 closed; cell br shorter than cell bm, crossvein r-m arising from base of cell dm; crossvein m-m 0.6 x as long as crossvein r-m; cell cua open ( Fig. 22d ). Haltere stem and knob blackish brownish yellow.

Abdomen. Integumental colour of tergites black mostly with thick grey pruinescence [hairs largely lost in examined specimens]. Tergite 1 with dense white hairs; tergite 2 with white hairs on anterior half and black hairs on posterior half; tergite 4 with white hairs; tergites 5–6 with dense black hairs; tergite 7 with dense white hairs. Sternites black except posterior brown, with thick pale pruinescence, and with white hairs. Genitalia. Epandrium anterior margin strongly concave, posterior margin nearly straight ( Fig. 23d ). Lateral margin of gonocoxite nearly straight ( Figs 23 a–b); apex of epiphallus bifid, branch slender and acute apically ( Fig. 23c ).

Female. Body length 7.3–13.6 mm, wing length 7.0– 13.1 mm. Very similar to male, except frons black with thick pale pruinescence, 4.3 x as wide as ocellar tubercle, frons with short white scales admixed with brownish yellow setae ( Fig. 22m ). Occiput covered in white hairs admixed with brownish yellow setae. Seven acanthophorite spines present on each side of tergite 9+10 ( Fig. 23g ).

Remarks. Roberts (1928: 417) considered Bombylius vetustus as a synonym of Bombylius albiceps , which was not followed by the catalog ( Evenhuis & Greathead, 1999). We examined the type specimens in NHMUK and confirm it is a valid species.

Meomyia vetusta could be easily distinguished from Meomyia albiceps by a subapical white scale band cross the black hair tuft on apex of male fore tibiae.

Distribution. Australia (ACT, NSW, Qld., SA, Vic.).

Figures

FIGURE 21. Meomyia vetusta (Macquart, 1849). Syntype of Bombylius vetustus Walker, 1849 (NHMUK 010921904). (a) dorsal; (b) lateral. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURE 22. Meomyia vetusta (Macquart, 1849). External (a–j (♂); k–p (♀)): (a, k) dorsal; (b, l) lateral; (c) antenna, lateral; (d) wing; (e) fore tibia, anterior; (f) mid tibia, anterior; (g, m) head, dorsal; (h, n) head, frontal; (i, o) head, profile; (j, p) head, lateral. Scale bars = 1 mm (a, b, d–p); = 0.1 mm (c).

FIGURE 23. Meomyia vetusta (Macquart, 1849). Genitalia (a–e (♂); f, g (♀)): (a) genital capsule, dorsal; (b) genital capsule, ventral; (c) genital capsule, lateral; (d) epandrium, dorsal; (e) epandrium, lateral; (f) sternite 8, ventral; (g) genitalia and spermathecae. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.