Curtonotum coronaeformis, Kirk-Spriggs, 2011

Kirk-Spriggs, Ashley H., 2011, A revision of Afrotropical Quasimodo flies (Diptera: Schizophora; Curtonotidae). Part III - the Malagasy species of Curtonotum Macquart, with descriptions of six new species, African Invertebrates 52 (2), pp. 391-391 : 406-409

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5733/afin.052.0212
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8342876
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03FDA115-FFDD-B341-EBB0-9EF0FC56FB84
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Curtonotum coronaeformis
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Curtonotum coronaeformis View in CoL sp. n.

Figs 6 View Figs 1–8 , 19 View Figs 14–26 , 32 View Figs 27–39 , 66, 69, 72 View Figs 64–72 , 83 View Figs 79–91 , 97 View Figs 97–101

Etymology: From Latin corona (crown) and formis (in the form of), and refers to the crown-like lateral extension of the distiphallus of this species.

Differential diagnosis: This species is closely related to C. parkeri sp. n.; the shape, maculae and setation of abdominal sternites 4 and 5 are virtually identical, the apical region of the basiphallus is markedly expanded in both species, with very similar left and right raised keels and both share the raised and spinose right sclerotised area of the basiphallus. In C. coronaeformis sp. n., however, the basiphallus is less markedly narrowed medially and less expanded in the apical third, and the raised and spinose right sclerotised area of the distiphallus is conspicuously developed, with a series of regular to irregular spines. The two species occur sympatrically.

Description:

Male (primarily based on ex spirit-preserved HT).

As redescribed for C. balachowskyi , differing in the following respects: Measurements: Overall length unknown; length of head and thorax combined 2.9 mm; length of thorax and scutellum combined 2.4 mm; wing length 3.7 mm.

Head ( Figs 6 View Figs 1–8 , 19 View Figs 14–26 ). Compound eye prominent, probably green-brown iridescent in living examples, eye height/length ratio: 10:7 (HT); frons ( Fig. 19 View Figs 14–26 ), slightly wider than long, frons length/width ratio: 5:6 (HT), markedly wider at vertex than at ventral margin, ground colour pale yellow to pale brown, darker brown towards vertex and between orbital plates forming conspicuous vittae that reach ventral margin; orbital plates and ocellar triangle golden-grey pruinose; orbital plates extending from vertex of head to ca 0.8 length of frons, margins regular; antennal scape and pedicel dirty pale brown, silvergrey pruinose, flagellomere 1 very long, ca 2.5× longer than wide, apex evenly-rounded, yellow basally, darkened apically, yellow-grey pruinose, arista with 8 or 9 long dorsal branches and 3 ventral branches in addition to terminal fork; lunule and face silvergrey pruinose, yellow pruinose beneath flagellomere 1; gena narrow, eye height/genal height ratio: 10:1 (HT), silver pruinose throughout; palpus pale brown.

Thorax ( Fig. 6 View Figs 1–8 ). Mesonotum as described for C. boeny ; acrostichal setae, much shorter than anterior dorsocentral seta; supra-alar seta, slightly shorter than posterior dorsocentral seta; postalar setae longer and stronger than acrostichal setae; postpronotum yellowgrey pruinose, with 6 finer blackbrown setulae; anepisternum silvergrey pruinose, with yellow pruinose patches medially, surface with 18 fine setulae, some larger and arranged in 2 groups of 3 and 4; katepisternum silver-grey to silver-yellow pruinose, with 13 short, fine setulae at base and along posterior margin.

Scutellum. As in mesonotum, with very faint medial brown pruinose vitta basally (under some lights), slightly paler yellow pruinose at posterior margin; weak intermediate scutellar setula inserted at 0.8 distance between medial and lateral scutellar setulae.

Legs. Fore coxa with 22 brown setulae on anterior surface; fore tibia with ctenidium of 10 or 11 short, sharp black spinules.

Wing (as in Fig. 32 View Figs 27–39 ). Veins chestnut-brown, membrane very faintly infuscate brown throughout, very slightly darker in r 1 and in region of dm–cu crossvein; dm–cu crossvein oblique, in shape of uninterrupted arc.

Abdomen. Tergites 3–5 with broad Vshaped, median fascia adjoining and slightly merging with large, concolourous T-shaped dorsolateral maculae; lateral margin of tergites 2–5 with subelliptical concolourous macula in basal half to ⅔; sternite 4 with posterior and lateral margins evenly rounded, apical margin straight; sternite 5 rectangular, similarly shaped to sternite 4, slightly longer and wider medially, with 2 small ovoid basomedial maculae, sternites 4 and 5 unmodified, with long, dense, brown setulae arranged in irregular rows, those along lateral margins longer and stronger; sternite 6 ( Fig. 83 View Figs 79–91 ) narrowed basally, evenly rounded laterally (may appear narrower than Fig. 83 View Figs 79–91 in undissected specimens), with broad, deep apical excision and brown maculae medially and fascia laterally, merging apically, clothed in long, black, irregular, medially-directed, brown setulae in apical 0.8, those at apical margin longer and more prominent.

Terminalia ( Figs 66, 69, 72 View Figs 64–72 ). Hypandrium ( Fig. 66 View Figs 64–72 , hy) long, with broad-based rounded-truncate dorsobasal lobe, posterior bridge dorsally and ventrally produced (rounded to slightly angulate in profile); hypandrial arms constricted in apical ⅔ (viewed laterally), with 2 setulae proximal to postgonite, the more lateral ventrally directed, the medial ventromedially directed (obscured by epandrium on Fig. 66 View Figs 64–72 ), sclerotised area of medial lobes (viewed dorsally), with margins evenly rounded, convex, closely abutting, not overlapping; postgonite ( Fig. 66 View Figs 64–72 , pg) long, thin, spindle-like; epandrium ( Fig. 66 View Figs 64–72 , ep) broad (viewed laterally), evenly-rounded on dorsal margin, posterior margin slightly angled, ventral margin with extensive row of long, regular to irregular, apically-directed setae; cercus ( Fig. 66 View Figs 64–72 , ce) not prominent, longest setae longer than setae on dorsal margin of epandrium; surstylus ( Fig. 66 View Figs 64–72 , ss) long and narrow, slightly curved in apical ⅔; phallus (as in Figs 69 View Figs 64–72 , ph, bp, dp, 72, bp, dp) C-shaped, moderately sclerotised, brown; phallapodeme ( Fig. 69 View Figs 64–72 , ph) fused to basiphallus, subtriangular (viewed laterally), with basal margin developed into two flat, narrow, rounded projections in basal 0.4, bifurcated at point of connection with hypandrium; ejaculatory apodeme ( Fig. 69 View Figs 64–72 , ea) free, duct inserted at junction of phallapodeme and basiphallus; basiphallus ( Fig. 69 View Figs 64–72 , bp) broad basally, narrowed just beyond midlength; apical section ( Fig. 72 View Figs 64–72 , bp) expanded and broad, right lateral margin with ventral projection, left margin with distinct raised keel; distiphallus ( Figs 69, 72 View Figs 64–72 , dp) long, narrow and curved, with extensive broad membranous section, basolaterally with upturned, sclerotised, crownlike projection (subtriangular viewed laterally).

Variation: The size and number of teeth and smaller serrations at the margin of the upturned, sclerotised, crownlike projection of the distiphallus are variable. This is here interpreted as intraspecific variation only, since other terminalia characters are constant.

Holotype ♂ “ MADAGASCAR: Province / Fianarantsoa, near Isalo / National Park , in dry wash / east of Interpretive Center / 22°37.60’S, 45°21.49’E / 23.ii–5.iii. 2002, 885 m / M.E. Irwin & R. Harin’Hala / Malaise trap in open area / MA0211B57 // HOLOTYPE ♂ / Curtonotum / coronaeformis sp. n. / A.H. Kirk-Spriggs 2010 [red card]” ( CAS). In good condition; card-pointed; dissected, abdomen and terminalia in micro-vial pinned beneath specimen. GoogleMaps

Paratypes (all labelled: “ PARATYPE ♂ / Curtonotum / coronaeformis sp. n. / A.H. Kirk-Spriggs 2010 [blue card]”): 3♂ same data as holotype, except (1 labelled: “ BMSA (DNA)#0049”) [1 right wing detached and glued to card]; same except: 1♂ “ 12–22.vi.2002, MA0211B32”; 1♂ “ 6–14 xii.2002, MA0211B49” (all CAS) GoogleMaps .

Distribution ( Fig. 97 View Figs 97–101 ): Apparently confined to the Wooded GrasslandBushland vegetation type, in the Central Highlands biome. In the Central biogeographical zone and Subarid bioclimatic zone ( Figs 105–107 View Figs 105–107 ; Tables 1–3; Appendix II).