Pipinnipons fascipennis ( Kroeber )

Shaun L., Winterton, 2011, Revision of the stiletto fly genera Acupalpa Kroeber and Pipinnipons Winterton (Diptera, Therevidae, Agapophytinae) using cybertaxonomic methods, with a key to Australasian genera, ZooKeys 95, pp. 29-79 : 56-57

Pipinnipons fascipennis ( Kroeber) Fig. 2324 A–D, G26

Squamopygia fascipennis Kröber 1928: 36.

Pipinnipons fascipennis ( Kröber) - Winterton et al. 2001: 211.

Type material.

Type male. AUSTRALIA: Queensland: Kuranda [-16.817°, 145.633°], Lichtwardt (MEI090896) (DEI).

Other material examined- AUSTRALIA: Queensland: male, Indooroopilly, Long Pocket, 22. viii– 7.ix.2007, S. L. Winterton, Malaise trap (UQIC) (MEI165213).

Diagnosis.

Wing dark banded; pleuron orange to maroon; legs orange to maroon, tarsi lighter; abdomen dark red, tergite 2-3 red-brown, gold-bronze velutum on segments 4-7.

Redescription.

Body length= 7.0-9.0 mm. Head. Frons wider than ocellar tubercle (female) or narrower (male), profile rounded above antenna, pubescence matte black and bronze, surface texture smooth or striated; gena with pale setae; parafacial overlain with silver pubescence; palpus brown-black; occiput glabrous, glossy black; antennal base raised; antennal length approximately equal to head; scape orange to brown, short er than flagellum, with sparse black setae; flagellum orange to brown, base of flagellum with short dark setae. Thorax. Scutum dark with irregular brown and grey pubescent markings, setal bases glossy black; scutellum overlain with sparse grey pubescence; pleuron orange to maroon, overlain with sparse silver-grey pubescence; wing markings dark banded infuscate; haltere knob white; coxae, femora and tibia orange-maroon; tarsi lighter orange, foreleg with basitarsus dark, white apically, rest of foretarsi white with slightly darker apex. Scutal chaetotaxy: np, 4-5; sa, 1; pa, 1; dc, 1; sc, 1. Abdomen. Dark, tergites 2-3 red-brown laterally, gold-bronze velutum on tergites 4-7; terminalia pale.

Comments.

The gold-bronze abdominal velutum covering in both sexes and the dark orange pleuron and leg colouration make Pipinnipons fascipennis easily recognisable. This species is found in closed forest areas, including rainforest.