Meomyia fasciculata ( Macquart, 1840 )

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 : 211-216

3. Meomyia fasciculata ( Macquart, 1840)

( Figs 6–8 )

Bombylius fasciculatus Macquart, 1840: 93 [1841: 371]. Type-locality: “ Patrie inconnue” [= Australia (NSW)]; Holotype, NHMUK.

Bombylius platyurus Walker, 1849: 286 . Type-locality: Australia (WA); 3 Syntypes, NHMUK; 1 Syntype, OUMNH.

Bombylius crassus Walker, 1849: 287 . Type-locality: “ New Holland ” [= Australia]; 1 Syntype, NHMUK.

Bombylius notatipennis Macquart, 1855: 98 (78) [as “notati-pennis” on p. 149(129)]. Type-locality: Australia (NSW); Holotype, NHMUK.

Bombylius punctipennis Thomson, 1869: 487 . Type-locality: Australia (NSW); Holotype, NHRS. [Preoccupied by Loew, 1855.].

Meomyia yeatesi Evenhuis & Greathead, 1999: 160 (new replacement name for Bombylius punctipennis Thomson, 1869 ).

platyrus, error for platyurus .

Type specimen. Holotype of Bombylius fasciculatus Macquart, 1840 ( NHMUK 010921898 ).

Other specimens examined. Australia, NSW, ♂ Como, 15 Sep 1933, GA Waterhouse. ♀ Dorrigo, W Heron. ♂ Blackheath, 22 Oct 1933, GA Waterhouse. ♀ Mittagong, 17 Nov 1927. ♂ (1) ♀ (3), Ulladulla, FH Taylor. ♀ (3), Upper Allyn R., 1500 ft., 10 Nov 1960, IFB Common & MS Upton. ♂ Jervis Bay, 18 Sep 1949, Paramonov. ♂ (2), Narrabeen, 16 Sep 1934, DFW. ♀ Rotary L’out, Pigeon House Ra., 12 m. NW. Milton, 5 Nov 1968, Z Liepa. ♂ Kembla, 18 Nov 1989. ♀ (2), 33°31’6”S 151°24’40”E, Bouddi NP, 18 Sep 2017, X Li, Z Liu, M Jin. ♂ Broulee, 24 Oct 1934, Fuller. ♀ Dorrigo, 3 Nov 1911, RVT. ♂ (1) ♀ (1), Redrock Rd., Heath, 24 Sep 1964, C Sowrry. ♂ (1) ♀ (1), Tea Tree Cr., Armidale, 12 Oct 1959, CWF. ♀ Asford, 7 Oct 1961, CW Frazier. ♀ Silent Grove, 7 Nov 1969, R Hardie. ♂ (3) ♀ (2), 35°50’56.69”S 150°10’10.83”E, Broulee, from adj to woodland, 20m, 6 Oct 2014, DJ & RL Ferguson. ♀ (2), 35°07’02.60”S 150°19’18.00”E, Tianjara Falls area, 550m, netted, 5 Nov 2014, DJ Ferguson & DK Yeates. ♀ 35°06’58.88”S 150°21’45.03”E, Tianjara Falls area, 449 m, netted, 20 Nov 2014, DJ Ferguson & DK Yeates. ♂ 35°07’02.77”S 150°21’44.37”E, Tianjara Falls area, 448 m, netted, 12 Nov 2014, DJ Ferguson & DK Yeates. ♂ (1) ♀ (1), Broadwater Nat[ional] Park, 6 Sep 1981, D Yeates ( QM). ♀ Hornsby, 8 Oct 1950, B McMillan ( QM). ♀ Gibraltar Ra[nge] N[ational] P[ark], Waratah tack, 10-12 Nov 1984, DK Yeates, on Leptospermum sp. blossom ( QM). Qld., ♂ (2), Brisbane, 4 Sep 1938, CF Ashby. ♀ Brisbane, 7 Sep 1941, CF Ashby. ♀ Dunwich, Sep 1926, Mackerras. ♂ Mon Repos, 28 Oct 1953. ♀ Stanthorpe, 11 Sep 1925 ( QM). ♂ -28.6350 151.9097, Stanthorpe, Broadwater S[tate] F[orest], 16 Oct 2010, MG Jefferies ( QM). ♂ Caloundra, 28 Aug 1929 ( QM). ♂ Fraser Island, Lake Birrabeen, 16 Aug 1971, EM Exley ( QM). ♀ Carnarvon Nat[ional] P[ar]k, Mt Moffatt sect[ion], Kenniff Cave area, 23 Sep 1986, DK Yeates ( QM). ♂ (2), Broadwater Nat[ional] Park, 6 Sep 1981, D Yeates ( QM). ♂ (2) ♀ (1), Carnarvon Nat[ional] P[ar]k, Mt Moffatt sect[ion] Kenniff’s Lookout, 25 Sep 1986, DK Yeates ( QM). ♀ -28.877 151968, Girraween N[ational] P[ark], Mt Norman CP, 30 Nov 2011, MG Jefferies ( QM). ♂ -28.5359 151.83, Pass- chendale, TV Tower, 30 Sep 2009, MG Jefferies ( QM). ♀ -28.654 151.947, Stanthorpe, Mt Marlay, 17 Oct 2010, MG Jefferies ( QM). ♂ -28.828 151.978, Girraween N[ational] P[ark], North slopes, 4 Nov 2009, MG Jefferies ( QM). ♀ 24.9893°S 147.9067°E, Carnarvon N[ational] P[ark], Mt Moffatt sect[ion], behind Marlong Arch (MM15), 760m, 19 & 25 Sep 2012, QM Party, hand net, eucalypt woodland/spinifex ( QM). ♀ 28.145°S 153.113°E, Cainbale Quarry, 9 Nov-2 Dec 2008, G Monteith ( QM). ♂ 27°38.6’S 153°03.8’E, Drewvale, Illaweena St, 40m, 9 Sep 2003, QM Party, day hand coll[ected], scribbly gum/heath ( QM). ♂ (1) ♀ (1), Stradbroke Island, Brown Lake, 16 Sep 1981, G Daniels ( QM). ♂ 27°31’S 153°29’E, N Stradbroke Island, along R[oa]d to 18 Mile Swamp, 17 Sep 1989, MA Schneider ( QM). ♀ 25°58’47S 153°02’18”E, Great Sandy Nat[ional] P[ar]k, Cooloola Section, 1-5 Oct 1996, DK Yeates, C Lambkin, S Winterton ( QM). ♂ Bribie Is[lan]d, 29 Aug 1920, H Hacker ( QM). ♂ (2) ♀ (5), N Strad- broke Is[land], Brown Lake, 21-24 Sep 1984, DK Yeates, R de Keyzer ( QM). ♂ (1) ♀ (1), Bald Rock N[ational] P[ark]. 6-7 Nov 1984, DK Yeates, on Leptospermum minutifolium blossom ( QM). ♂ Bald Rock N[ational] P[ark], 6-7 Nov 1984, DK Yeates ( QM). ♀ Bald Rock N[ational] P[ark], 25km SE Stanthorpe, 5-10 Dec 1982, DK Yeates ( QM). ♀ North Stradbroke Is[land], Brown Lake, 16 Sep 1981, MA Schneider ( QM). ♂ (3) ♀ (2), Stradbroke Is- land, swamp 7.6km N Dunwich, 16 Sep 1981, G Daniels ( QM). ♂ (2), Brisbane, 3 Sep 1927, J Mann ( QM). ♂ Brisbane, 8 Sep 1927, H Hacker ( QM). ♀ Tambourine Mountain, 28 Oct 1912, H Hacker ( QM). ♂ Brisbane, 17 Sep 1927, J Mann ( QM). SA, ♂ (2), 35.57 136.44, Kangaroo Is, Flinders Chase N.P., 27 Oct 1993, DK Yeates. ♂ - 34.3435° 135.3717° GE, Coulta, Mt. Greenly summit, 2 Oct 2017, JA & JG Lumbers. ♂ -34.6162° 135.3569° GE, Coffin Bay NP, Lake Jessie dunes, 1 Oct 2017, 100m SWbS Jessie Tk, JA & JG Lumbers. ♂ Sleaford Bay, 14 Sep 1962, J Casanova. ♂ Mt. Compass, 29 Oct 1921. Tas., ♀ Hobart, 12 Nov 1916, CE Cole. ♀ Hobart, 18 Nov 1916, CE Cole. ♀ Hobart, 6 Nov 1916, CE Cole. ♀ Bridport, 26-30 Oct 1913, FM Littler. ♀ (2), Flinders Island, 5 Nov 1963, N Dorotwoesky. ♂ (2), Spring Beach, 5 km SW Orford, 28 Oct 1983, M Irwin. ♂ George Town, 11-17 Apr 1946, CE Cole. Vic., ♀ Cheltenham, 2 Oct 1920, AB Thorne ( QM). ♀ Cheltenham, 28 Oct 1922 ( QM). WA, ♂ (2), Grummond’s Geraldton, 15 Sep 1972, N McFarland. ♂ (2) ♀ (1), Grummond’s Geraldton, 17 Sep 1972, N McFar- land. ♂ (2), Grummond’s Geraldton, 18 Sep 1972, N McFarland. ♂ Grummond’s Geraldton, 20 Sep 1972, N Mc- Farland. ♂ (2), Grummond’s Geraldton, 22 Sep 1972, N McFarland. ♂ (2), Grummond’s Geraldton, 23 Sep 1972, N McFarland. ♂ Grummond’s Geraldton, 25 Sep 1972, N McFarland. ♀ Grummond’s Geraldton, 27 Sep 1972, N McFarland. ♂ Crawley, 20 Sep 1934, KR Norris. ♂ (2), Crawley, 3 Oct 1934, KR Norris. ♂ Crawley, 5 Oct 1934, KR Norris. ♂ Crawley, 26 Jan 1954. ♂ (1) ♀ (1), Crawley, 7 Dec 1935, KR Norris. ♂ (1) ♀ (1), Yallingup, 9 Nov 1958, IFB Common. ♂ Yallingup, 9 Nov 1958, EF Riek. ♂ Albany, 5 Oct 1951, IFB Common. ♂ (2), Albany, 5 Oct 1951, MMH Wallace. ♀ (2), Eradu, 8 Sep 1926, Nicholson. ♂ Fremantle, 6 Oct 1934, KR Norris. ♂ Cape Natu- raliste, 1 Oct 1970, DH Colless. ♂ Kalbarri Red Bluff, 5 Sep 1973, N McFarland. ♂ Yarloop, 5 Nov 1910, GF Berthoud. ♀ Waroona, 10 Nov 1909, GF Berthoud. ♂ 33.39S 115.01E, 1km S of Yallingup, 4 Oct 1981, ID Nau- mann & JC Cardale. ♂ 34.50S 117.58E, Napier Ck 21km NNE Albany, 7 Oct 1981, ID Naumann & JC Cardale. ♂ 31.27S 116.08E, 9km SSW Bindoon, 25 Sep 1981, ID Naumann & JC Cardale. ♀ 4km WSW of Mt. Ragged, 29 Oct 1977, DH Colless. ♂ Kalamunda, 2 Feb 1938. ♀ Kojarena, 6 Sep 1926, Nicholson. ♂ Pemberton, 14 Nov 1958, EF Riek. ♀ Denmark, LJ Newman. ♀ 37km SW of Mt. Ragged, 2 Nov 1977, DH Colless. ♂ (1) ♀ (2), 34°25’40.1”S 115°42’0.06”E, D’ Entrecasteaux NP: Lake Jasper Rd; Xanthrrhoea / Banksia swamp; 45m, malaise; J Recsei, C Lambkin; 6-13 Nov 2003, ANIC Bulk Samples 2206. ♂ (6) 34°27’S 115°43’E, D’ Entrecasteaux NP nr Lake Jasper on Pimelia sp. Banksia woodland; 5 Nov 2003, net; C Lambkin, J Recsei. ♂ 34°44’4.4”S 118°19’55.1”E, D’ En- trecasteaux NP: Deeside Coast Road; Xanthrrhoea Melaleuca swamp; 77m, malaise; C Lambkin, J Recsei; 5-14 Nov 2003, ANIC Bulk Samples 2202. ♀ 34°25’45.7”S 115°43’8.4”E, D’ Entrecasteaux NP: Scott Road, near Lake Smith; 47m Sinoga / Banksia / Karri swamp; malaise; C Lambkin, J Recsei; 6-13 Nov 2003; ANIC Bulk Samples 2205. ♂ 32°11.026’S 121°38.490’E, W of Norseman, Eucalyptus woodland; 1-17 Nov 2003; C Lambkin, J Recsei; malaise; ANIC Bulk Samples 2183. ♀ (2), 34°26.065’S 116°38.052’E, Lake Muir Nature Reserve: Lake Muir Road; Jarrah woodland, with Macrozamina & grasstrees; 202m; C Lambkin; 3-14 Nov 2003; malaise; ANIC Bulk Samples 2196. ♂ 34°21.155’S 118°03.290’E, Stirling Ranges NP: Stirling Range Road, Eucalyptus open woodland, 325m; C Lambkin, J Recsei, A Zwick; net; 3 Nov 2003. ♂ (1) ♀ (2), 34°23.684’S 117°52.962’E, Stirling Ranges NP: Chester Pass Road; dry creek, sandy soil 270m; C Lambkin, J Recsei; 3-15 Nov 2003; malaise; ANIC Bulk Samples 2193. ♀ (2), 34°51’35.2”S 116°13’30.6”E, 0.8km SW from Moore’s Hut coastal Banksia , flowering heath 28m; C Lambkin, J Recsei, D Yeates; 5-14 Nov 2003; malaise; ANIC Bulk Samples 2199. ♀ (2), 34°08’37”S 115°02’07.5”E, Leewin Naturaliste NP: Boranup Beach Road; Scaevola/ Sinoga coastal heath 83m; C Lambkin, J Recsei; 6-13 Nov 2003; malaise; ANIC Bulk Samples 2208. ♂ 30°08’50”S 115°58’27”E, Watheroo NP: Marchagee Rd; 17 Sep-7 Nov 2003; C Lambkin, N Starick, J Recsei; closed heath; malaise; ANIC Bulk Samples 2173. ♂ Yal- lingup, 1 Oct 1951, MMH Wallace. ♀ 33.28S 123.27E, 3km SW. of Mt. Ragged, 16 Oct 1982, DCF Rentz. ♂ (3), Thomas Riv estuary Esperance Distr, 5 Nov 1977, DH Colless. ♂ (1) ♀ (2), Thomas Riv estuary Esperance Distr, 6 Nov 1977, DH Colless. ♂ (2), Thomas Riv estuary Esperance Distr, 8 Nov 1977, DH Colless. ♂ (2) ♀ (1), Gerald- ton, J Clark. ♂ (1) ♀ (1), 33°33’40”S 115°01’E, Cape Naturaliste, Sugarloaf Rd, malaise trap, 29 Nov-2 Dec 1993; GR Allen. ♀ Swan River, Wembley, Oct, LJ Newman. ♀ Smith’s Mill, 16 Oct 1909, HM Giles. ♂ Geraldton, Aug 1914, J Clark. ♀ 16 mls. S. of Borden, 9 Oct 1951, IFB Common. ♂ 4 ml. NNW of Wanneru, S. of Yanchep, 18 Noc 1952, JH Calaby. ♀ Wembley. ♂ 25S Nannup, 12 Nov 1953, EF Riek. ♀ 10S Margaret River, 11 Nov 1958, EF Riek. ♀ Pinjarra, E Goorling. ♂ Perth. ♀ Wembley, 25 Oct 1952, DCS. ♀ Kings Pk., 17 Oct 1953. ♂ Perth, 20 Jun 1917, Clark. ♂ Kalbarra, Red Bluff, 5 Sep 1973, N McFarland. ♀ Deepdene, Karridale, L O’Halloran. ♂ Kelmscott near Perth, 24 Sep 1951, IFB Common. ♂ Kelmscott, 31 Oct 1908, HM Giles. ♂ Durokoppin Nat. Res. 25km N of Kellerberrin, 16 Sep 1989, DK Yeates. ♂ (2) ♀ (1), 29°52’45”S 116°30’4”E, Maya, 25.5 NW Wubin, X Li, F & J Hort. ♂ (2) ♀ (1), S 32°00’ E 116°08’, Nr. Mt. Gunjin, 18 Oct 1981, MJ Smart. ♀ S 32°00’ E 115°56’, Nr. Nannup, 24 Oct 1982, MJ Smart. ♀ Smith’s Mill, HM Giles, 16 Oct 1909.

Diagnosis. Body with yellowish and black hairs. Posterior margin of scutum with a black hair band. Wing membrane with clear spots.

Redescription. Male. Body length 8.6–11.2 mm, wing length 8.1–11.5 mm.

Head. Head about 1.7 x wider than long, mostly black with thick pale pruinescence and covered with pale yellow to brown hairs and scales. Eye holoptic. Frons long, 4.2 x length of ocellar tubercle, upper narrow and black; lower half triangular, 0.9 x length of upper half, with thick pale pruinescence and yellow scales. Ocellar tubercle slightly raised, blackish brown to black with sparse grey pruinescence, with long golden hairs, apical half of hairs turning brown. Face with thick pale pruinescence and pale yellow scales, admixed with golden hairs, hairs turning brown apically. Gena with thick pale pruinescence and sparse pale yellow hairs. Clypeus with thick pale pruinescence and otherwise bare. Occiput with thick pale pruinescence and long pale hairs. Posterior eye margin slightly concave.Antennal scape and pedicel brown with thick pale pruinescence, scape with long golden hairs, hairs turning brown apically, pedicel with short golden hairs; flagellum black without pruinescence, bare. Scape 3.3 x as long as wide, and 3.5 x as long as pedicel, uniform from base to apex. Pedicel 0.9 x as long as wide. Flagellum 10.1 x as long as wide, 2.0 x as long as scape + pedicel, 2.6 x as long as scape, conical and slightly laterally compressed, one-segmented with apical stylus ( Fig. 7c ). Palpus not extending beyond oral cavity, black with short white hairs, one-segmented, without palpal pit. Mouthparts slender, 5.0 x as long as eye length, 2.8 x as long as head length, labellum large and fleshy ( Fig. 7h ).

Thorax. Integumental colour of scutum mostly black with sparse grey pruinescence. Scutum covered with pale yellow hairs, hairs turning dark yellow apically and denser on anterior half, posterior margin with a black band, consisting of black hairs, postalar callus with four brownish yellow setae and admixed with black hairs. Five brownish yellow notopleural setae present. Scutellum black with sparse grey pruinescence, pruinescence denser on the margin, covered with pale yellow 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 yellow setae, anepimeron, meron, laterotergite and mediotergite bare.

Legs. Legs mostly brownish yellow, except basal half of femora turning black; mostly covered in yellow scales, except anterior face of femora with black scales, ventral face of femora admixed with long brown and pale yellow hairs. Fore femur with one anterior bristle; mid femur with one row of anterior bristles; hind femur with one row of anteroventral bristles, and more separate bristles on apical half. Bristles and other hairs on legs brown. Fore tibia 2.1 x longer than fore basitarsus, mid tibia 2.6 x longer than mid basitarsus, hind tibia 2.2 x longer than hind basitarsus.

Wings. Wing membrane slightly infuscated, darker towards wing base, with some markings on base of R 4 and M 1, apex of cell dm, base of crossvein m-cu, and apex of cell bm. Cell r 5 closed; cell br shorter than cell bm, crossvein r-m arising from base of cell dm; crossvein m-m as long as crossvein r-m; cell cua open ( Fig. 7d ). Haltere stem brown, knob brownish yellow.

Abdomen. Integumental colour of tergites black mostly with thick grey pruinescence. Tergite 1 with dense pale yellow hairs; tergite 2 with pale yellow hairs on anterior half, and dense black hairs on posterior half; tergites 3–4 with dense pale yellow hairs; tergites 5–7 with dense black hairs, except median with sparse scales; tergite 8 with dense white hairs; posterior margin of tergites 1–7 with brownish yellow setae. Sternites black with thick pale pruinescence, sternites covered in dense white hairs, posterior margin with brownish yellow setae. Genitalia. Epandrium anterior margin strongly concave, posterior margin slightly concave ( Fig. 8d ). Lateral margin of gonocoxite nearly straight ( Figs 8 a–b); apex of epiphallus not modified, short ( Fig. 8c ).

Female. Body length 7.6–13.9 mm, wing length 7.7–13.2 mm. Very similar to male, except frons black with thick pale pruinescence, 2.9 x as wide as ocellar tubercle, frons with short white scales admixed with brownish yellow setae ( Fig. 7k ). Eight acanthophorite spines present on each side of tergite 9+10 ( Fig. 8g ).

Remarks. Roberts (1928: 415) considered Bombylius crassus , Bombylius notatipennis , and Bombylius punctipennis as synonyms of Bombylius platyurus (under the genus Systoechus ). Later, Evenhuis & Greathead (1999) pointed out Bombylius fasciculatus is the most senior synonym of this species, however, they excluded Bombylius punctipennis (with replacement name of Meomyia yeatesi ) without examining the type.

For Meomyia yeatesi , considering the distribution and easily recognised body features of this species, we follow the arrangement by Roberts (1928), therefore it also treated as one of the junior synonyms of Bombylius fasciculatus here.

Distribution. Australia (NSW, Qld., SA, Tas., Vic., WA).

Figures

FIGURE 6. Meomyia fasciculata (Macquart, 1840). Holotype of Bombylius fasciculatus Macquart, 1840 (NHMUK 010921898). (a) dorsal; (b) lateral. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURE 7. Meomyia fasciculata (Macquart, 1840). External (a–h (♂); i–n (♀)): (a, i) dorsal; (b, j) lateral; (c) antenna, lateral; (d) wing; (e, k) head, dorsal; (f, l) head, frontal; (g, m) head, profile; (h, n) head, lateral. Scale bars = 1 mm (a, b, d–n); = 0.1 mm (c).

FIGURE 8. Meomyia fasciculata (Macquart, 1840). 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.