Fishermyia stuckenbergi, Jason G. H. Londt, 2012

Jason G. H. Londt, 2012, Fishermyia stuckenbergi, a new genus and species of Afrotropical robber fly from Madagascar (Diptera: Asilidae: Stenopogoninae), African Invertebrates 53 (1), pp. 221-230 : 223-226

Fishermyia stuckenbergi sp. n.

Figs 1–7

Etymology: This species is named in honour of the late Brian Roy Stuckenberg, dipterist, museologist, mentor and friend, whose entomological field trips to Madagascar stimulated much interest in the island’s insect fauna.

Description:

Male.

Head ( Fig. 2 ): Dark red-brown, white and black setose, silver to dull grey pruinose. Antenna ( Fig. 7 ): Dark red-brown, scape and pedicel white setose (pedicel may have a single black seta distolaterally); segmental ratios 1.0:1.0:3.3:0.5, scape and pedi - cel of similar length, postpedicel more than 3× length of scape, style half length of scape. Style with 3 elements, short basal ring-like segment and longish central segment tipped by spine-like sensory element. Face dark red-brown ventrolaterally, brownorange centrally (colour considerably masked by pruinescence); mystax white, confined to ventral third of face; pruinescence strong silvery, covering face, except for ventrolateral parts; face:eye-width ratio (measured anteriorly at widest level of head) 1.0:1.7 (i. e., face a little more than half width of one eye); in profile, face gently protuberant ventrally. Frons and vertex (including ocellar tubercle) dark red-brown, longish black setose, entirely dull grey pruinose. Occipital region dark red-brown, white setose, silvery pruinose; setae both well developed (along eye margins and posterior of ocellar tubercle) and thin and wavy (mainly ventrally). Palpus: 2-segmented, dark red-brown, fairly longish white setose. Proboscis: dark red-brown, long, jutting out well beyond epistomal margin, fairly straight (slightly downwardly curved distally), white setose basoventrally.

Thorax: dark red-brown to black dorsally, mainly brown-orange laterally, black and white setose, strongly silver pruinose. Pronotum dark red-brown to black, white setose, antepronotum with row of moderately developed macrosetae, silver pruinose. Prosternum orange-brown asetose, silver pruinose. Mesonotum blackish, except for dark red-brown postpronotal lobes, short black setose (except for few white setae posterolaterally), strongly silver pruinose (except for pair of darkish longitudinal fasciae which appear more weakly pruinose, depending on angle of view); major macrosetae black, 2–3 postpronotals, 2 notopleurals, 1 supra-alar, 2 postalars, acrostichals undifferentiated, 3–5 pairs of dorsocentrals mostly posterior of transverse suture. Scutellum dark red-brown, weakly white setose anteriorly, a single pair of black apical macrosetae, silver pruinose. Pleura brown-orange, white setose, silver pruinose (except for small apruinose area joining anepisternum and katepisternum); setae generally fine, sparse, except for moderately developed katatergals. Mediotergite and anatergites orangebrown, silver pruinose; anatergites white setose posteriorly. Legs: Coxae orange-brown, longish white setose, silver pruinose. Trochanters red-brown, white setose, apruinose. Femora robust, dark red-brown, but broadly brown-orange dorsally, fine white setose, macrosetae shortish black. Tibiae red-brown, fine white setose, macrosetae black. Tarsi dark red-brown, fine white setose, macrosetae black. Claws robust, dark red-brown, but narrowly orange-brown proximally. Pulvilli pale cream. Empodia well-developed, orange. Wings ( Fig. 3 ): 13.1×5.0 mm (paratype wing, removed and flattened), other specimens with wing lengths ca 9.5, 12.2 (holotype) and 12.3 mm (wings somewhat twisted). Membrane transparent, unstained and without microtrichia. Venational features: Costal cell sometimes with distal crossvein (in 2 specimens); all marginal cells open except for m 3 which is closed and stalked; veins CuA 2 and A 1 either narrowly separated or converging at wing margin (therefore cell m 3 open or closed). Haltere: Creamy white with pale brownish base.

Abdomen: Generally slightly broader than deep. Terga dark red-brown to black, lateral margins of T2–7 orange-brown, fine whitish setose; T1 with group of ca 5 pale yellowish macrosetae posterolaterally, entirely silver pruinose (weakly subapically). T2–7 lacking macrosetae, largely apruinose, except for strongly silver pruinose broad lateral margins. T8 largely obscured from view, uniformly dark red-brown. Sterna orange-brown, fine longish white setose, strongly silver pruinose, except for narrow apruinose lateral margins.

Terminalia ( Figs 4–6 , paratype): Rotated clockwise through 180°. S8 well developed, with broadly rounded hind margin. Epandrial lobes simple, in dorsal view ( Fig. 5 ) deeply incised medially resulting in two lobes, weakly attached basally, in lateral view lobes projecting distally to fairly narrowly rounded tips. Proctiger well developed, cerci fused medially, projecting well beyond level achieved by epandrium. Gonocoxite well developed, outer lobe fairly broadly rounded distally and obscuring view of aedeagus; inner lobe complex in structure with prominent, laterally projecting, curved hook-like processes best seen in ventral view ( Fig. 6 ) and medially directed downwardly pointing bifurcate tips best seen in lateral view ( Fig. 4 ). Gonostylus, best viewed laterally ( Fig. 4 ), moderately developed, laterally compressed, upwardly curved with rounded distal end. Hypandrium well developed; in ventral view ( Fig. 6 ) broad proximally, tapering fairly rapidly to laterally compressed distal lobe terminating in an almost bilobed distal end.

Female. Unknown.

Holotype: 1♂ “ MADAGASCAR: Tulear / Province, Andohahela Nat’l / Park , Ihazofotsy Parcelle 111 / 24°49.85’S, 46°32.17’E / 14 Feb–1 March 2004 ”, “California Acad of Science / colls: M. Irwin, F. Parker, / R. Harin’Hala. elev 80m / Malaise trap – in dry spiny / forest, MA-02-21-47 ” ( CAS).

Paratypes: 1♂ same data as holotype (CAS) ; 2♂ “ MADAGASCAR: Tulear Prov. / Andohahela N.P., Tsimelahy, / Parc. 11 ; 6–16 Dec. 2002, 180m / 24°56.21’S, 46°37.60’E; CAS, / Irwin, Parker, Harin’Hala colls: / M.t., transit. For. MA-02-20-12 ” ( CAS, NMSA).

Note: Type material is in good condition although mounted from alcohol, resulting in twisted wings.

Other material (not examined): MADAGASCAR: Tulear Prov.: 3♂ Andohahela National Park, Ihazofotsy Parcelle 111 , 24°49.85'S 46°32.17'E, 80 m, 2–11.iv. 2004, M. Irwin, F. Parker, R. Harin’Hala, Malaise trap in dry spiny forest ( CAS, MA-02-21-49 ).

Distribution,phenology and biology:Known from two localities in southern Madagascar ( Fig. 8 ). Collected in December, February and April, it is assumed that this species is on the wing during summer. No biological information has been recorded, but see Discussion below.

Figures

Fig. 8. Distribution of F. stuckenbergi sp. n. on Madagascar. Biomes after Yoder & Nowak (2006).

Figs 1–3. Fishermyia stuckenbergi sp. n., holotype ♂: (1) habitus, lateral aspect; (2) head, frontal aspect; (3) wing.

Figs 4–7. Fishermyia stuckenbergi sp. n.: (4–6) paratype male terminalia, lateral (4), dorsal (5), ventral (6); (7) antenna, lateral. Scale bar = 1 mm.