Neolimnophila alaskana ( Alexander, 1924 ) Starý, 2019

Starý, Jaroslav, 2019, Neolimnophila alaskana (Alexander, 1924) stat. nov., a species new to the Palaearctic Region (Diptera: Limoniidae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae (Acta. Ent. Mus. Natl. Pragae) 59 (1), pp. 53-58 : 56

Neolimnophila alaskana ( Alexander, 1924) stat. nov.

( Figs 7–9 , 12 )

Limnophila (Neolimnophila) ultima alaskana Alexander, 1924: 10 (description).

? Crypteriella Sverdrupi Soot-Ryen, 1928:6 (description), Figs 1 (wing), 2 (antenna), 3 (tibial spur), 4 (ovipositor).

Type material examined: HOLOTYPE: ♁, U.S.A.: ALASKA: Healy, 24.vi.1921, specimen + slide (J. M.Aldrich leg.) ( USNM) [the date given in the description ( ALEXANDER 1924: 10) is “ July 24, 1921 “], labelled “Healy Alaska / VI-24-21” (partly printed, white label), “ HOLOTYPE / Limnophila / ultima / alaskana / C.P. Alexander ” (partly printed, red label). The specimen is pinned, without right wing, left fore and right hind legs, and apex of abdomen. The slide ( Canada balsam) with wing (right) under one circular coverslip and male terminalia under another, labelled as for the specimen, with the inscription “ HOLOTYPE 2287” . PARATYPE: U.S.A.: ALASKA: Flat, 5.viii.1919, 1 ♀ (+ slide) (A. H. Twitchell leg.) ( USNM), labelled “Flat Alaska / Aug 5 1919 ” (printed, white label), “A H Twitchell / Collector” (printed, white label), “ PARATYPE / Limnophila / ultima / alaskana / C.P. Alexander” (partly printed, blue label). The specimen is glued onto a triangular cardboard point, without antennae, right wing, and with only left mid femur + tibia, and left hind femur. The slide ( Canada balsam) with wing (right) under a circular coverslip, labelled as for the specimen, with the inscription “ PARATYPE 2287”.

Other material examined (3 ♁♁ 1 ♀): CANADA: NORTHWEST TERRITORIES: Aklavik, Mackenzie River, 4.ix.1929, 1 ♀ (+ slide), Aklavik, 27.viii.1931, 1 ♁ (+ slide) (both O. Bryant leg.) (both USNM). CZECH REPUBLIC: MORAVIA: Moravskoslezské Beskydy Mts, Dolní Bečva, “Kamenné” (650 m), 29.vi.1994, 1 ♁ (J. Starý leg., at light) ( JSOC). RUSSIA: EAST SIBERIA: Yakutia, Srednekolymskiy District,Agrakhtakh, 20.vi.1971, 1 ♁ (P. Polyakova & Bobrova leg.) ( JSOC).

Material not examined by the author (4 ♁♁; for explanation see under N. placida ): KAZAKHSTAN: AKMOLA REGION: Atbasar, 30.viii.1936, 1 ♁ (P. D. Rezvoy leg.) ( ZISP). RUSSIA: CENTRAL EUROPEAN RUSSIA: Moscow Region, Orekhovo-Zuyevo District, Smolevo village env., 55.5788°N, 38.6662°E, 16.–20.viii.2011, 1 ♁ (in ethanol) (K. Tomkovich leg.) ( ZMUM). NORTH EUROPEAN RUSSIA: Murmansk Region, Khibiny Mts, basin of Vudyavr Lakes, 26.vii.1933, 1 ♁ (V. Y. Fridolin leg.) ( ZISP). EAST SIBERIA: Zabaykalskiy Krai, Sretenskiy District, between Ivanovka and Kara Rivers (tributaries of Shilka River), 27.viii.1926, 1 ♁ (R. F. Hecker leg.) ( ZISP).

Diagnosis. Antenna moderately long, with verticils rather long, longest ones subequal in length to their respective segments. Dorsum of thorax heavily suffused with bluish dark grey pruinosity, prescutum with four brown stripes. Wing rather broad, width-length ratio about 1: 3. Male terminalia with two spines at base of gonocoxite, ventral spine about two thirds length of dorsal one, outer gonostylus slender and rather long, paramere broad, its distal outer extension smaller than that in N. placida . Wing length 7.8–8.7 mm.

Redescription. Male. Head dark brown, suffused with bluish dark grey pruinosity on frons and vertex. Palpus and rostrum dark brown. Antenna dark brown throughout, moderately long, reaching to about base of wing, scape greyish pruinose. Flagellum consisting of basal fusion element and subsequent 10 elongate flagellomeres, with verticils sparse, longest ones subequal in length to their respective segments.

Thorax generally dark brown, heavily suffused with bluish dark grey pruinosity, especially on dorsum, indistinctly paler on anterior paratergite and postrerolaterally on scutal lobes. Prescutum with four brown stripes. Wing rather broad, width-length ratio about 1: 3, sometimes with faintly indicated stigma. Venation usual for Neolimnophila . Sc 1 ending about opposite fork of Rs. R 2 (cross-vein r) at or slightly before fork of R 3+4. R 3 slightly shorter than R 3+4. Latter vein sinuous, upturned distally. Cross-vein m-cu at from one fourth to one third length of discal cell ( Fig. 12 ). Halter pale throughout. Legs brown, with setae on femora comparatively long and projecting, about twice diameter of femur.

Abdomen dark brown. Male terminalia ( Figs 7–9 ). Tergite 9 interrupted medially. Gonocoxite with two spines at base: longer, positioned dorsally, subequal in length to corresponding spine in N. carteri and N. placida , about one third length of gonocoxite; shorter, about two thirds length of dorsal spine, positioned more ventrally and medially. Both spines with delicate membranous scales distally. Outer gonostylus long and slender, about three fifths length of gonocoxite, almost parallel-sided for about three fourths its length, with apical hook, microscopically serrate at outer margin. Paramere rather broad, truncate at apex, its distal outer corner less extended outwardly than in N. placida .

Female resembling male in general appearance, including length and structure of antenna and outline of wing. Female terminalia not essentially different externally from those of other species.

Distribution. So far only listed from Alaska, so probably new to Canada. First records from the Palaearctic Region.

Figures

Figs 7–9. Neolimnophila alaskana (Alexander, 1925) stat. nov., male terminalia (Czech Republic: Moravia: Dolní Bečva): 7 – general view, dorsally; 8 – paramere, dorsal view; 9 – hypopygial spines, dorsal view. Scale bars 0.25 mm.

Figs 10–12.Wing: 10 –Neolimnophila carteri (Tonnoir, 1921); 11 – N.placida (Meigen, 1830); 12 – N. alaskana (Alexander, 1925). Photos by M. Tkoč.

Figs 1–6. 1–3 – Neolimnophila carteri (Tonnoir, 1921), male terminalia (Czech Republic: Moravia: Hrubá Voda nr.Olomouc): 1 – general view, dorsally; 2 – paramere, dorsal view; 3 – hypopygial spine, dorsal view. 4–6 – N. placida (Meigen, 1830), male terminalia (Czech Republic: Moravia: Lazníky nr. Přerov): 4 – general view, dorsally; 5 – paramere, dorsal view; 6 – hypopygial spines, dorsal view. Scale bars 0.25 mm.