Elaphropeza feminata, Published, 2007

SHAMSHEV, IGOR V. & GROOTAERT, PATRICK, 2007, Revision of the genus Elaphropeza Macquart (Diptera: Hybotidae) from the Oriental Region, with a special attention to the fauna of Singapore, Zootaxa 1488 (1), pp. 1-164 : 107

Elaphropeza feminata sp. nov.

( Fig. 180 )

Diagnosis. Occiput black; postpedicel brownish in apical part and yellow basally, nearly 3.5 times longer than wide; thorax with scutellum and metanotum black; legs with tarsomere 5 black, hind tibia with 1 anterodorsal bristle.

Description. Female. Body length 2.4–2.6 mm, wing length 2.0– 2.1 mm. Occiput black. Anterior ocellars long, proclinate and cruciate; posterior ocellars minute. Inner verticals long, outer ones somewhat shorter. Antenna ( Fig. 180 ) with scape and pedicel yellow, postpedicel brownish in apical part and yellowish basally (yellow space varying, but no more than half of postpedicel). Pedicel with circlet of subequally short setulae. Postpedicel nearly 3.5 times longer than wide. Style normally pubescent, brown, about 1.5 times longer than postpedicel and nearly as long as scape, pedicel and postpedicel combined. Palpus yellow, small, rounded.

Thorax almost entirely yellow, only scutellum and metanotum black. Prothoracic episterna lacking long upturned bristle just above fore coxa, with 1 very short bristle in upper part. Postpronotal bristle not prominent. Mesonotum with usual set of bristles. Acrostichals 2-serial, lacking on prescutellar depression; dorsocentrals 2-serial in anterior part of scutum, becoming 1-serial toward scutellum.

Legs almost entirely yellow, only tarsomere 5 of all legs black. Fore and mid femur with unmodified armature. Fore tibia lacking prominent bristles. Mid tibia lacking ventral spinules and prominent bristles (except subapicals). Hind femur with ordinary setation. Hind tibia bearing 1 anterodorsal bristle, with hardly prominent rounded apical projection. Tarsi of all legs unmodified.

Wing uniformly finely infuscate. Costal index: 47/31/34/16. Veins R4+5 and M1+2 somewhat divergent near wing apex, both straight. Crossvein bm-cu oblique. Crossvein r-m near middle of cell bm. Halter pale yellow.

Abdomen. Tergite 1 entirely pale yellow. Tergites 2 and 3 brownish, of subequal width viewed dorsally, deeply concave anteriorly and divided along midline; with unmodified setation. Tergite 4 broadest, dark brown, with slightly flattened setae. Tergite 5 very narrow, concolorous with tergite 4, bearing squamiform setae. Tergites 6 and 7 yellow (sometimes with brownish tinge). Segment 8 modified, brown, with sclerites narrowly fused antero-laterally; sternite 8 somewhat folded apically. Sternite 10 elongate. Cercus narrow, brownish.

Male. Unknown.

Material examined: Holotype female labelled: SINGAPORE, Chek Jawa , 26 October 2005, mangrove, Mal 2 (reg. 25399, leg. PG, E-41).

Paratypes: SINGAPORE, 1 ♀, Chek Jawa , 11 October 2005, mangrove, Mal (reg. 25380, leg. PG) ; 3 ♀♀, Chek Jawa , 11 October 2005, mangrove, Mal (reg. 25380, leg. PG) ; 1 ♀, Chek Jawa , 22 December 2005, mangrove, Mal 2 (reg. 25456, leg. PG) ; 3 ♀♀, Chek Jawa , 22 December 2005, mangrove, Mal 1 (reg. 25455, leg. PG) ; 3 ♀♀, Chek Jawa , 30 December 2005, mangrove, sweeping (reg. 25475, leg. PG) ; 2 ♀♀, Sungei Buloh , 14 October 2005, mangrove, Mal 2 (reg. 25394, leg. PG) .

Derivatio nominis. The name feminata refers to the fact that the species is represented by females only.

Distribution. Singapore. Mangrove.

Remarks. The relationships of E. feminata sp. nov. are unclear beyond inclusion within the E. ephippiata species group.

Figures

FIGURES 179–181. Female antennae. 179. Elaphropeza modesta sp. nov. 180. E. feminata sp. nov. 181. E. singulata sp. nov.