Homoneura (Homoneura) stepheni, Shi & Gao & Shen, 2017

Shi, Li, Gao, Xue Feng & Shen, Rong Rong, 2017, Four new species of the subgenus Homoneura from Jiangxi Province, China (Diptera: Lauxaniidae: Homoneura), Zootaxa 4365 (3), pp. 361-377 : 370-375

Homoneura (Homoneura) stepheni sp. nov.

( Figs 29–39 )

Diagnosis. Fore femur with 3–4 strong posteroventral setae and mid femur with 4 anterior setae; basal edge of brown apical spot on R 2+3 at same vertical level of crossvein dm-cu and size of apical spot on R 2+3 distinctly larger than those on R 4+5 and M 1; surstylus consisting of a wide knife-like process with many short ventral hairs and a triangular process, incurved apically in lateral view.

Description. MALE. Body length 5.8 mm, wing length 6.3 mm. FEMALE. Body length 6.5 mm, wing length 6.4 mm.

Head (30, 31) yellow. Frons brownish yellow except for pale yellow anterior margin, as long as wide; ocellar triangle yellow; ocellar setae proclinate, well developed, as long as anterior fronto-orbital setae; anterior frontoorbital setae slightly shorter than posterior fronto-orbital setae; gena about 1/6 height of eye. Antenna yellow; 1 st flagellomere 2.5 times longer than height; arista dark except for brownish basally, short plumose with longest setulae slightly shorter than height of 1 st flagellomere . Proboscis yellow, with yellowish and blackish setulae; palpus yellow, with blackish setulae.

Thorax ( Fig. 32 ) yellow. Mesonotum with 0+3 dorsocentral setae (anteriormost dorsocentral setae distinctly behind transverse suture), acrostichal setulae in irregular 10 rows, prescutellar acrostichal seta as long as anteriormost dorsocentral seta. Legs yellow, tarsi brownish yellow. Fore femur with 3–4 strong posteroventral setae, 8 posterodorsal setae, and ctenidium with 19 short seta; fore tibia with 1 long preapical anterodorsal seta and 1 short apicoventral seta. Mid femur with 4 anterior setae and 1 apical posterior seta; mid tibia with 1 strong preapical anterodorsal seta and 3 strong apicoventral setae. Hind femur with 1 anteroventral seta and 1 preapical anterodorsal seta; hind tibia with 1 preapical anterodorsal seta and 1 short apicoventral seta. Wing ( Fig. 34 ) pale yellow, basal edge of brown apical spot on R 2+3 at same vertical level of crossvein dm-cu and its size distinctly larger than those on R 4+5 and M 1; brown apical spots on R 2+3 separated from apical spot on R 4+5, two brown apical spots on R 4+5 and M 1 confluent, forming a brown area at vein tip; wide brown stripe on crossvein dm-cu (slightly constricted in male and distinctly in female); subcostal cell slightly brown; costa with 2nd (between R 1 and R 2+3), 3rd (between R 2+3 and R 4+5) and 4th (between R 4+5 and M 1) sections in proportion of 5.4:1.5:1; r-m before middle of discal cell; ultimate and penultimate sections of M 1 in proportion of 1:1.5; ultimate section of CuA 1 about 1/6 of penultimate. Halter yellow.

Abdomen ( Fig. 29 ) yellow. Male genitalia ( Figs 33–39 ): syntergosternite 7+8 a complete ring with a few dorsal setulae, a large ventral membranous area and 2–3 setulae around spiracle; epandrium slightly broad; surstylus consisting of a wide knife-like process with many short ventral hairs and a triangular process, incurved apically in lateral view; hypandrium nearly H–shaped; pregonite subuliform and postgonite furcated apically; phallus broad apically with a pair of dorso-medial processes; phallapodeme longer than phallus.

Type material. Holotype ♂ ( USNM, antennae broken and partly damage on mesosternum and legs after photos), CHINA, Kiangsi S.E., Hong San , 25. VI. 1936, A. L. Melander (N 24°56'3.35", E 115°48'55.31") . Paratypes: 1 ♀ ( USNM), Kiangsi S.E., Hong San, 26. VI. 1936, A. L. Melander .

Distribution. China (Jiangxi).

Remarks. The new species is similar to Homoneura (Homoneura) dadongshanica Shi & Yang , but the latter has the following characters: the palpus is black at apex; the surstylus is broad, sheet-like with short apical setulae; the pregonite is short with three long setae and the postgonite is long columnar ( Shi & Yang, 2014).

Etymology. The new species is named after dipterist Stephen D. Gaimari, who makes great contributions to research on flies in the world fauna. The author Li Shi gives him sincere thanks for his kind help and support for so long.

Figures

FIGURES 29–34. Homoneura (Homoneura) stepheni sp. nov. Female. 29. body, lateral view; 30, 31. head, lateral and dorsal view; 32. thorax, dorsal view; 33. apex of male abdomen, lateral view; 34. wing.

FIGURES 35–39. Homoneura (Homoneura) stepheni sp. nov. Male. 35. syntergosternite and epandrium, lateral view; 36. syntergosternite, anterior view; 37. epandrial complex, posterior view; 38. phallus complex, ventral view; 39. phallus complex, lateral view. Scale bar =0.1mm.