Elaphropeza bakau, Grootaert & Shamshev, 2015

Grootaert, Patrick & Shamshev, Igor, 2015, New species of fast-running flies (Diptera: Empidoidea, Hybotidae, Tachydromiinae) from mangroves in Singapore, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 63, pp. 583-609 : 589-592

Elaphropeza bakau , new species

( Figs. 12–15 )

Material examined. Holotype male: Singapore, Semakau Island , SMN3, 19 April 2012, mangrove, (reg. 29185, Ma0828) . Paratypes: Singapore: Semakau Island , 1 male, 2 females, SMN1, 7 June 2012, mangrove, (reg. 29274, Ma 6776) ; 2 females, SMN3, 28 June 2012, mangrove, (reg. 29315, Ma 6781) ; 2 males, 1 female, SMN2, 22 August 2012, mangrove, (reg. 29418, Ma 6803) ; 1 male, 1 female, SMN2, 30 August 2012, mangrove, (reg. 29431, Ma 6805) ; 1 male, 1 female, SMN2, 30 September 2012, mangrove, (reg. 29470, Ma 6810) ; 1 male, 1 female, SMN3, 13 September 2012, mangrove, (reg. 29458, Ma 6820) ; 1 female, SMN3, 6 September 2012, mangrove, (reg. 29445, Ma 6823) ; 2 males, SMN1, 1 November 2012, mangrove, (reg. 29547, Ma 6846) ; 3 females, SMN1, 8 November 2012, mangrove, (reg. 29560, Ma 6850) ; 3 females, SMN1, 15 November 2012, mangrove, (reg. 29573, Ma 6854) ; 2 females, SMN1, 29 November 2012, mangrove, (reg. 29599, Ma 6857) ; 1 male, 1 female, SMN2, 1 November 2012, mangrove, (reg. 29548, Ma 6862) ; 2 females, SMN2, 29 November 2012, mangrove, (reg. 29600, Ma 6871) ; 2 females, SMN2, 15 November 2012, mangrove, (reg. 29574, Ma 6875) ; 1 male, SMN1, 25 October 2012, mangrove, (reg. 29534, Ma 6899) ; 1 female, SMN1, 18 October 2012, mangrove, (reg. 29521, Ma 6906) ; 1 female, SMN2, 25 October 2012, mangrove, (reg. 29535, Ma 6910) ; 4 females, SMN2, 18 October 2012, mangrove, (reg. 29522, Ma 6923) ; 1 male, SMN1, 7 March 2013, mangrove, (reg. 29782, Ma 6925) ; 2 females, SMN2, 4 April 2013, mangrove, (reg. 29839, Ma 6971) ; 1 male, 2 females, SMN2, 25 April 2013, mangrove, (reg. 29881, Ma 6972) ; 1 female, SMN2, 2 May 2013, mangrove, (reg. 29895, Ma 6973) ; 1 male, 1 female, SMN1, 9 May 2013, mangrove, (reg. 29907, Ma 7002) ; 2 females, SMN2, 9 May 2013, mangrove, (reg. 29908, Ma 7014) ; 1 female, SMN2, 23 May 2013, mangrove, (reg. 29934, Ma 7018) ; 1 male, 1 female, SMN3, 9 May 2013, mangrove, (reg. 29909, Ma 7019) ; 1 female, SMN1, 6 June 2013, mangrove, (reg. 29980, Ma 7040) ; 1 male, SMN1, 27 June 2013, mangrove, (reg. 29998, Ma 7071) ; 1 female, SMN1, 18 July 2013, mangrove, (reg. 30037, Ma 7079) ; 1 male, 2 female, SMN2, 27 July 2013, mangrove, (reg. 29999, Ma 7093) ; 1 female, SMN3, 18 July 2013, mangrove, (reg. 30039, Ma 7106) ; 2 females, SMN1, 26 September 2013, mangrove, (reg. 30162, Ma 7186) ; 1 female, SMN1, 10 January 2013, mangrove, (reg. 29677, Ma 7212) ; 1 male, SMN1, 24 January 2013, mangrove, (reg. 29703, Ma 7221) ; 3 females, SMN2, 17 January 2013, mangrove, (reg. 29691, Ma 7227) ; 1 male, SMN3, 31 January 2013, mangrove, (reg. 29718, Ma 7230) ; 1 female, SMN1, 21 February 2013, mangrove, (reg. 29755, Ma 7260); Semakau replanted , 1 female, SMN1, 14 March 2013, mangrove, (reg. 29796, Ma 7266) ; 1 male, SMN1, 28 February 2013, mangrove, (reg. 29768, Ma 7270) ; 1 female, SMN1, 28 March 2013, mangrove, (reg. 29824, Ma 7277) ; 1 female, SMN2, 7 February 2013, mangrove, (reg. 29730, Ma 7283) ; 2 females, SMN2, 14 February 2013, mangrove, (reg. 29743, Ma 7285) ; 1 male, 1 female, SMN2, 21 February 2013, mangrove, (reg. 29756, Ma 7291) ; 2 males, 1 female, SMN2, 28 March 2013, mangrove, (reg. 29825, Ma 7298) ; 2 females, SMN2, 28 May 2013, mangrove, (reg. 29769, Ma 7301) ; 1 female, SMN1, 14 November 2013, mangrove, (reg. 30258, Ma 7558) ; 1 male, 1 female, SMN1, 23 January 2014, mangrove, (reg. 30388, Ma 7560) ; 1 female, SMN2, 5 December 2013, mangrove, (reg. 30298, Ma 7567) ; 2 males, 1 female, SMN2, 19 December 2013, mangrove, (reg. 30324, Ma 7571) ; 1 female, SMN2, 29 January 2014, mangrove, (reg. 30402, Ma 7573) ; 1 male, 1 female, SMN3, 23 January 2014, mangrove, (reg. 30390, Ma 7584) ; 2 females, SMN2, 24 October 2013, mangrove, (reg. 30220, Ma 8024) ; 1 female, SMN1, 24 October 2013, mangrove, (reg. 30319, Ma 8028) ; 2 males, SMN1, 31 October 2013, mangrove, (reg. 30232, Ma 8032) ; 3 females, SMN2, 6 November 2013, mangrove, (reg. 30246, Ma 8071) ; 1 male, SMN1, 13 February 2014, mangrove, (reg. 30427, Ma 8778) ; 1 female, SMN1, 27 February 2014, mangrove, (reg. 30453, Ma 8780) ; 1 male, SMN2, 7 February 2014, mangrove, (reg. 30415, Ma 8782) ; 1 female, SMN2, 20 February 2014, mangrove, (reg. 30441, Ma 8785) ; 1 female, SMN1, 21 November 2013, mangrove, (reg. 30271, Ma 8830) ; 2 females, SMO1, 21 November 2013, mangrove, (reg. 30274, Ma 8845) ; 5 male, 1 female, SMN1, 27 March 2014, mangrove, (reg. 30505, Ma 8855) ; 8 males, 2 females, SMN1, 13 March 2014, mangrove, (reg. 30479, Ma 8857) ; 1 female, SMN1, 6 March 2014, mangrove, (reg. 30466, Ma 8859) ; 2 males, SMN1, 20 March 2014, mangrove, (reg. 30492, Ma 8860) ; 2 males, 5 females, SMN2, 27 March 2014, mangrove, (reg. 30506, Ma 8861) ; 3 females, SMN2, 13 March 2014, mangrove, (reg. 30480, Ma 8864) ; 2 females, SMN3, 21 November 2013, mangrove, (reg. 30273, Ma 8872) ; 1 male, SMN3, 16 January 2014, mangrove, (reg. 30377, Ma 8916) ; 2 females, SMN2, 14 November 2013, mangrove, (reg. 30259, Ma 8919) ; 1 male, 1 female, SMN3, 19 April 2012, mangrove, (reg. 29185, Ma 0828), same sample as holotype .

Etymology. The epithet refers to the presence of the new species in mangrove (bakau means mangrove in Bahasa Malaysia).

Diagnosis. Species of the E. ephippiata group; recognised by almost entirely yellow thorax, including scutellum, only metanotum with narrow brown space just beyond scutellum, antenna pale yellow, with postpedicel about 2 times as long as wide, stylus black. Legs yellow with only tarsomere 5 brown, hind tibia with 1 anterodorsal bristle, haltere yellow.

Description. Length: body 2.8 mm, wing 2.5 mm.

Male: Occiput entirely black, largely shining; with yellowish setation; inner verticals long inclinate, outer verticals hardly prominent. Anterior ocellars long proclinate, posterior ocellars minute. Frons shining, very narrow, above antennae about as broad as anterior ocellus. Antenna pale yellow, stylus brown; pedicel with circlet of subequally short setulae; postpedicel short, nearly 2.0 times longer than wide; stylus with short pubescence, moderately long, nearly 2.0 times longer than postpedicel. Proboscis yellowish. Palpus pale, small, rounded, silvery pubescent, bearing scattered setulae, subapical seta moderately long.

Thorax almost entirely yellow only metanotum with narrow brown space just beyond scutellum; prothoracic sclerites, entire mesopleuron and mesonotum on anterior part laterally finely pale tomentose, otherwise shining; with yellowish setation. Prothoracic episterna lacking long upturned seta just above fore coxa, with minute setula on upper part. Postpronotal seta hardly prominent. Mesonotum with 2 long notopleurals, 1 similar postsutural supra-alar, 1 similar postalar and 4 scutellars (apical pair very long, cruciate; lateral pair minute); acrostichals short, arranged in 4 irregular rows anteriorly, hardly separated from dorsocentrals, lacking on prescutellar depression; dorsocentrals multiserial anteriorly, becoming less numerous toward scutellum, as long as acrostichals, 1 prescutellar pair very long.

Legs robust, almost entirely yellow, only tarsomere 5 of all legs brownish (except extreme base). Coxae and trochanters with unmodified setation. Fore femur thickened, with rows of anteroventral and posteroventral setulae on basal half which became spine-like on apical half and long seta near base, no subapical seta anteriorly. Fore tibia lacking prominent bristles (except subapicals). Mid femur with rows of anteroventral and posteroventral spinule-like setae, 1 long seta near base and 1 long subapical seta anteriorly. Mid tibia without ventral spinules but bearing 1 black subapical claw-like spine, lacking prominent setae (except subapicals). Hind femur with rather strong, moderately long anteroventrals and 3 erect dorsal setae near base. Hind tibia with 1 anterodorsal bristle on about middle; apical projection small, rounded, brownish. Tarsi of all legs unmodified, with unmodified setation.

Wing normally developed, finely infuscate, covered with uniform microtrichia; veins mostly yellowish brown, basal section of M 1+2, crossveins bm-cu and r-m pale. Costal vein with moderately long, uniform setulae along anterior margin. Costal bristle long, brown. Costal index: 57/32/33. Vein Rs long, slightly longer than crossvein bm-cu. Vein R 2+3 evenly bowed. Veins R 4+5 and M 1+2 somewhat divergent near wing apex, R 4+5 slightly bowed, M 1+2 straight. Vein CuA 1 reaching wing margin. Vein A 1 lacking. Crossvein bm-cu perpendicular. Crossvein r-m before middle of cell bm. Haltere pale yellow.

Abdomen. Tergite 1 pale yellow; tergites 2–3 brownish yellow, subtriangular viewed laterally, divided medially, with scattered unmodified setae; tergite 4 dark brown, broadest, shining, without squamiform setae, with numerous short pale setae on each side; tergite 5 dark brown, very narrow, undivided, with squamiform setae; tergites 6–7 brownish yellow, with moderately long posteromarginal setae; tergite 8 unmodified. Sternites yellowish to brownish yellow, with scattered minute setulae, sternite 8 with rather short posteromarginal setae. Gland-like structure present between tergites 4–5.

Terminalia ( Figs. 13–15 ) moderately large; left surstylus and apical part of right epandrial lamella brown, otherwise yellow ( Fig. 12 ). Right epandrial lamella rectangular ( Fig. 13 ), apex with a notch, near base with a long seta, setae on apical part short. Cerci fused ( Fig. 14 ). Left surstylus composed of 3 sclerites: the small left surstylus 1 bears 3 setae, one very long seta on a tubercle. Inner side of left surstylus with a few long fine seta.

Female: Similar to male but fore femur without ventral spine-like setae and mid tibia without black subapical spine. Abdominal tergite 8 with 2 long setae anteriorly; cercus short, brownish yellow, with scattered setulae.

Distribution. Singapore.

Remarks. In having a completely yellowish white postpedicel E. bakau , new species resembles to E. albicornis , new species. However it has a yellow scutellum and metanotum and is easily distinguished from E. albicornis , new species that has a brown scutellum and metanotum. In the key to Elaphropeza of Singapore ( Grootaert & Shamshev, 2012), E. bakau , new species and E. pallida , new species will run to couplet 70. However, both species have only tarsomere 5 brown and the key can be adapted as follows:

70. Fore tibia and tarsus, mid and hind tarsomere 5 brownish. Abdominal tergites 4 and 5 with squamiform setae. Male: cerci broadly fused, digitiform; right epandrial lamella truncate apically, lacking spines ............................................................ ................................... E. furca Shamshev & Grootaert, 2007

– Legs with only tarsomere 5 brown. Different combination of characters............................................................................ 70a

70a. Abdominal tergites 4 and 5 with squamiform setae. Scutum almost uniformly covered with short setae (sparser on prescutellar depression) ( Singapore) ....................................... ............................................................ E. pallida , new species

– Abdominal tergite 4 at most with slightly flattened setae, tergite 5 with squamiform setae. Acrostichals 2–4-serial, lacking on prescutellar depression.......................................................71b

70b. Antenna pale yellow; postpedicel very short, nearly 2 times longer than wide. Metanotum with narrow brown space just beyond scutellum ( Singapore) ............ E. bakau , new species

– Antenna with postpedicel brownish apically and longer, at least 3 times as long as wide. Metanotum usually yellow (except E. chanae ) ............................................................................71

Figures

Fig. 12. Elaphropeza bakau, new species, male habitus lateral.

Figs. 13–15. Elaphropeza bakau, new species: 13, right epandrial lamella; 14, epandrium with cerci, dorsal view; 15, left surstylus, lateral view. Scale bar = 0.1 mm.