Mafikengia ciliata, Rognes, 2011

Rognes, Knut, 2011, A review of the monophyly and composition of the Bengaliinae with the description of a new genus and species, and new evidence for the presence of Melanomyinae in the Afrotropical Region (Diptera, Calliphoridae) 2964, Zootaxa 2964 (1), pp. 1-60 : 9-16

Mafikengia ciliata sp. nov.

Figs. 1–37 .

Holotype male, Mafikeng , North West Province, South Africa ( ZMUC), here designated. For details, see Type material below.

Etymology. The specific epithet ciliata is a latinised adjective, gender feminine, in the nominative singular. It is derived from cilium (Latin, meaning eyelid, carrying eyelashes) and is referring to the fine setulae (cilia) along the vein R 4+5 on both surfaces of the wing extending all the way to the costal margin, as well as to the very long dorsal preapical setae on the hind tibia.

Diagnosis. Mafikengia ciliata is recognisable on the following combination of characters which is unique among oestroid flies: Ground colour yellow, except much of thoracic dorsum, all of the mediotergite, anatergite, katatergite and meron, and narrow hind bands on the abdominal tergites which are blackish. Eye very small. Frons at narrowest point 0.53x head width. Fronto-orbital plate with two lateroclinate orbital setae. Genal dilation 0.9x eye height. Palpus dorsoventrally flattened and projecting far beyond lower facial margin. Hind tibia with a very long dorsal preapical seta, longer than first tarsomere. Vein R 4+5 ciliate on both surfaces of the wing all the way to the wing margin. Anal vein reaching the wing margin. Vein M gently curved at bend. Cell r 4+5 opening at the wing tip. Cerci fused in the midline, except for a narrow slit at the tip. Surstylus undivided, posterior part flat, broad and bare, separated from the epandrium by unsclerotised membrane. Distiphallus with a narrow ring-like ventral plate, a distinct rather broad mesohypophallic sclerotisation proceeding distally from its ventralmost point narrowing to a ridge below the ejaculatory opening and for much of its course situated in a deep groove in the ventral surface of the distiphallus. Lateral wall of distiphallus strongly sclerotised and almost a circular structure with serrated margin distally and ventrally. A short, strongly serrated hypophallic lobe on each side. The hypophallic lobes and the ventral part of the sclerotised lateral wall of the distiphallus form two dentate ridges ventrally on each side converging towards the midline in ventral view.

Description.

Male. Body length: 4 mm. Ground colour. Yellow, sometimes with various shades of light brown or reddish yellow, with the following major exceptions. The basal thickening of the arista yellow, but the distal 5/6 of the stalk and all the aristal hairs black. Head black at the upper third or half of the occiput, except for a yellow semicircular area in the middle of the upper occiput; this area being a backward continuation of the yellow frontal vitta ( Figs. 2, 3 ). Ocellar triangle black. The black area of the occiput reaching forward to the hind edge of the eye and to the hindmost part of the fronto-orbital plates, enclosing the outer vertical seta and reaching forward to the hindmost lateroclinate orbital seta. The latter seta and the inner vertical seta both standing on the border between the yellow and black area. Scutum black, except for the following sclerites which are yellow ( Fig. 7 ): the postpronotal lobe (“humeral callus”) and the area immediately behind it; the notopleuron; the narrow lateral area above the wing carrying the supra-alar setae; the postalar callus and the scutellum. In addition a small wedge-shaped yellow area on each side of the suture. The anterior two-thirds of the postalar wall dark. The mediotergite, anatergite, katatergite and meron black or very dark. The abdominal segments T1+2, T3, T4 and T5 with very narrow brownish black posterior bands; on T3 and T4 with triangular forward brownish projections, reaching at most the middle of each tergite; on T5 the posterior band interrupted in the middle ( Figs. 15, 16 ).

Pollinosity. Most of the body covered with a very thin layer of white pollinosity. Parafacial waxy and almost without pollinosity. The abdominal segments also almost without pollinosity except for very narrow areas laterally on the extreme anterior parts of T3–5, visible in a very low angle of view.

Setae. Black, except when noted otherwise.

Head ( Figs. 1–6 ). Rather globose, with small eyes. Frons width at vertex / head width ratio 0.53. Frontal vitta reddish yellow, contrasting slightly with yellow fronto-orbital plates, narrowing slightly towards lunula, bare, at level of anterior ocellus twice as wide as fronto-orbital plate. 4 frontal seta on right side, 6 on left (2 of the latter weak). 2 strong lateroclinate orbital setae on each side, anteriormost seta at level with posteriormost frontal seta. Outer and inner verticals strong. Ocellar setae strong. Lunula bare. Fronto-orbital plate with scattered setulae continuing down for the whole length of the parafacial, and also invading the area below the eye. Parafacial broad, in broadest aspect 0.6x width of fore femur. Vibrissal corner slightly projecting, but situated well in front of lower facial margin, which is not projecting. Vibrissa large, distance between vibrissae greater than length of first flagellomere. Face broad, hollow, and without a keel. Facial ridge with 5 small supravibrissal setulae ascending almost halfway to lunula. Buccal cavity wider than long. 2 subvibrissal setulae and 3 setulae along sides of buccal cavity. Genal height 0.9x height of eye in lateral view. Genal dilation short and high, clothed with scattered setulae. Area between posterior eye margin and postocular row of setae bare. The single postocular row of setae proceeding medially behind the outer and inner verticals as several rows of small setulae to a level slightly medial to the inner vertical, very few setulae invading the yellow occipital area. Occiput convex with black setulae all over, some pale ones below in middle.

Scape with a few very short setulae, scapes touching in midline. Pedicel with a long seta and scattered small setulae. First flagellomere (“third antennal segment” = postpedicel) 3x as long as wide, lower end separated from lower facial margin by twice the width of the basal part of the arista. Arista very long, almost 2x length of first flagellomere ( Figs. 2, 4 ), moderately long plumose almost to the tip; its basal 1/6 conspicuously thickened.

Palpus white, long, broad distally, longer than antenna, strongly flattened dorsoventrally and projecting far beyond lower facial margin. On upper side with numerous short setae all over, longer setae along margin. On underside palpus almost bare.

Prementum long and broad, boat-shaped, labellum half as long.

Thorax ( Figs. 7–12 ). Scutum with sparse microtomentum behind suture. In front of suture more conspicuous white microtomentum, reaching suture in medial part, but widely separated from suture laterally. A dark vitta in midline from the presutural acr to the suture, which can be followed in some lights also on the postsutural part of scutum; another much longer vitta between acr and dc rows. Ground setulae sparse.

Postpronotal lobe (“humeral callus”) with 2 strong h on the lateral part, the outermost seta the strongest one; with short stubby setae medial to and between the h, and on the anterior and lateral slopes. No setulae on the surface directly behind the h. Notopleuron, apart from 2 npl, bare (right side) or with 1–2 minute ground setulae (left side). Anterior npl 1.5x as long as posterior npl. 1 + 3 acr, equally strong, the first pair well in front of suture. 2 + 3 dc, becoming slightly stronger posteriorly. Rows of acr slightly closer to each other than to the row of dc. 1 ph only present (the inner). prst strong. No further setae in the area between the inner ph and the prst. 0 + 2 ia. 3 sa: the first (pra) weak, shorter than posterior npl and a little longer than ground setulae, the second strong and long, the third weak; all on one line; no distinct Hough seta (discussed below) to the inside of the area between the first and second postsutural sa ( Rognes 1997: 52, fig. 11), although a few setulae are present closer to the suture. 2 pa (both strong and long). Scutellum with two equally strong marginal scut, of which the apical reaches a little farther back than the basal, and a discal pair of weaker setae. A regular row of small setulae following lower edge of the lateral scutellar declivity forwards ( Fig. 11 , arrow). No setulae on the underside of the scutellum. Postalar wall with 2–3 minute setulae on right side ( Fig. 12 , arrow), the left side could not be examined. Lateral surface of thorax with thin layer of white microtomentum on all sclerites. One strong and upturned proepisternal and one proepimeral seta present, each accompanied by a much smaller supplemental seta just below each of them curving in the same direction. Proepisternal depression bare ( Fig. 8 ). Anterior (prothoracic) spiracle small and white. The suture running from fore coxa to the lower end of prothoracic spiracle is a conspicuous brown and shining line ( Fig. 8 ). Anepisternum ( Fig. 1 ) with 3 marginal setae in upper half, the second from top the largest and of about the same size as the fore npl, and one strong marginal seta in lowermost half. Area between the 3 upper and the single lower seta with an irregular group of 3–5 small thin marginal setae. A few setulae in front of marginal row. Upper anterior part of anepisternum with a group of black setulae (covered with white residues from stay in ethanol). Anepimeron bare in anterior half; posterior half below lesser ampulla with a bundle of 4–5 short black setulae, no strong seta among them; behind and below this bundle with some thin pale setulae. Mediotergite bare. No swollen or protruding subscutellum, just a narrow flat sclerotisation below a broader unsclerotised membrane and above the mediotergite ( Figs. 10, 12 ). Anatergite with a few small black and pale setulae below underside of base of lower calypter ( Fig. 10 , arrow). Katatergite (supraspiracular convexity) bare. Katepisternum with a few long black setulae in upper part and 1+1 kepst. Anterior kepst weak, posterior strong. Lower part with rows of long strong setae in front of mid coxa. Meron with a row of 4–5 strong black meral setae ( Fig. 9 ). Katepimeron bare with white microtomentum. Coxopleural streak absent. Metathoracic spiracle twice as long as broad, lappets white, and posterior lappet much smaller than anterior one ( Fig. 9 ). Metakatepisternum (area above hind coxa) bare. Metasternal area (in front of hind coxae) bare. Prosternum bare.

Wing ( Figs. 1 , 13, 14 ). Membrane glassy and covered with microtrichiae all over. Costa pale yellow, most other veins yellow basally, more brownish distally. Basicosta yellow, tegula yellow. Anterior edge of costa with two regular (anterodorsal and anteroventral) rows of almost erect strong setulae longer than costal diameter. These are alternating for a long distance beyond exit of vein R 1 with 2–3 thin and much less erect setulae. The remainder of the anterior edge of costa only with thin setulae of the latter type. Costal spine prominent, 2x length of erect setulae. Upper and lower side of costa with small setulae for a long distance beyond exit of vein R 1 . Stem-vein bare on both surfaces of wing. Node at base of humeral crossvein bare .

Subcostal sclerite yellow, bare, no setulae or setae, only pale microtomentum present. Subcosta slightly sinuous with an inconspicuous forward bend at middle. Vein R 1 brownish with a pale spot at middle. Vein R 4+5 with thin rather long setulae on both surfaces of wing all the way to costa. Bend of vein M a gentle curve. Distal section of vein M (posterior crossvein) slightly sinuous distally so that the section closest to costa is running almost parallel to vein R 4+5. Cell r 4+5 opens close to wing tip, opening as wide as length of r-m crossvein. dm-cu crossvein slightly sinuous, a little closer to bend of vein M than to r-m crossvein. Anal vein reaching margin ( Fig. 14 , arrow). Upper calypter small, brownish yellow. Lower calypter brownish yellow, much larger and longer than upper calypter, about as broad as long, inner edge converging with longitudinal axis of body; bare on both surfaces [many mites covering much of the upper surface making much of it invisible]. Halter with pale yellow stem and knob.

Legs ( Figs. 17–22 ). All yellow, with black setae. Hind coxa bare on posterior surface. All femora thickened. No pv ctenidium on mid femur, setae in this position long and thin and widely spaced. Tibial setae moderately long. Tarsi much longer than tibiae. Claws and pulvilli on each tarsus about half as long as the distal tarsomere. Fore femur with complete row of pv setae; double row of ad setae in distal half. Fore tibia with 2 small ad, about as long as tibial diameter, and 1 pv twice as long; preapical ad, d (latter 1.5x length of former), pv and v setae (both about the size of the ad preapical) present. Mid femur with one ad at middle; a complete av row with distal 4–5 setae stronger than the rest; one a preapical seta; complete pv rows of setae shorter than femoral diameter; 2–3 p preapicals. Mid tibia with 2 ad [can also be described as 1 a and 1 ad], 2 pd and 1 v seta, all longer than tibial diameter. Hind femur with complete rows of ad setae, partly doubled in middle; 5–6 strong av setae in distal half, av in proximal half weak; complete rows of pv setae, those in proximal two-thirds stronger than the rest; one weak pd seta in preapical position. Hind tibia with 2 strong ad setae; strong ad, d and pd preapical setae, the d preapical remarkably long, 1.2x as long as first tarsomere ( Figs. 1 , 21, 22 ); 2 weak a preapicals and 1 av preapical as strong as the ad preapical. A thin and short p preapical close to and just below the pd preapical, and also a short and weak pv preapical.

Abdomen ( Figs. 15, 16 ). Excavation at base of T1+2 very shallow, hardly present at all. Ground setulae quite long and more or less erect. Complete marginal rows of setae on all tergites, weak on T1+2, becoming stronger posteriorly, strongest on T5. Irregular transverse rows of weaker discal setae on T3–T5. T6 a small bare sclerite in front of TST7+8, the latter setose. ST1–3 cannot be described since mostly hidden by phoretic mites, but visible posterior half of ST3 with black short setae. ST4 lost. ST5 of usual shape with lateral lobes, without alpha-setae near anterior margin.

Genitalia ( Figs. 23–37 ). Cerci and surstyli. Cerci fused into a single structure ( Fig. 24 ). Proximal half narrowly oval with long upright setae. Distal half very narrow in dorsal view, also with long setae, at least basally. Distal half split for distal two-thirds into two very narrow pointed parts which do not diverge from each other. In lateral view distal half of cerci slightly curved downwards ( Fig. 23 ). Each surstylus composed of two, broadly connected parts. A narrow distal part, situated on a level lower than the proximal part, is curved upwards towards the cerci in lateral view ( Fig. 23 ), and curved slightly inwards in dorsal (posterior) view ( Fig. 24 ). It has moderately long setae on distal two-thirds. The proximal part of the surstylus (p.sur.) is a broad microtrichiose convex plate without setae, situated between the basal parts of the cerci and the epandrium ( Fig. 24 ). It is separated from both sclerites by unsclerotised membrane. There is a downward slope laterodistally that connects it with the distal part, thus placing the distal half at a lower level than the cerci. There is a similar, but narrower, downward slope mediodistally, i.e., close to the cerci, that connects it with the upper end of the bacilliform sclerite. The bacilliform sclerites proceed downwards, as two simple separate rods, towards the posterior end of the hypandrial arms ( Figs. 23, x; 25 , b.scl.). The connection between the upper end of each bacilliform sclerite is thus on the medial side of the surstylus.

Aedeagus. ( Figs. 25–33 ). Basiphallus difficult to describe since partly hidden. Epiphallus ( Fig. 25 ) elongate and curved, with a keel on anterior side. Distiphallus globose. Ventral plate narrow, ring-like. Mesohypophallic sclerotisation ( Figs. 26, 27 , 33 ) rather broad, proceeding distally from the ventralmost point of the ventral plate, narrowing to a ridge below the ejaculatory opening and for much of its course situated in a deep groove in the ventral surface of the distiphallus ( Fig. 32 ). Lateral wall of distiphallus (“paraphallus”) strongly sclerotised (except along its margins) and, in lateral view, an almost circular structure with a weakly serrated margin distally and a strongly dentate margin ventrally, the latter termed an external hypophallic lobe ( Figs. 30–32 , e.). In ventral view a conspicuous inward bulge present in the ventral part ( Figs. 30, 31 ). Each “paraphallus” diverging strongly from its counterpart on the opposite side in dorsal view ( Figs. 28, 29 ). Middorsally between the anterodorsal edges of the lateral sclerotised wall of the distiphallus, and at a slightly lower level, a broad, curved (in lateral view) shield-like hood ( Figs. 28, 29, 31 ), probably representing much of the dorsal sclerotised wall of the distiphallus. Below it the large opening of the ejaculatory duct ( Fig. 29 , ej.o.). Between the latter and the underside of the hood a strongly sclerotised median bridge connecting the two structures ( Figs. 28, 29 ). Between the external hypophallic lobes a short, strongly serrated internal hypophallic lobe on each side ( Figs. 30, 31 , i.). The external and internal hypophallic lobes forming two dentate ridges ventrally on each side, at least the inner lobes converging towards midline in ventral view.

Pre- and postgonites. Postgonite a thickened elongate sclerite, curved at tip and with an apodeme at the proximal end articulating with the basiphallus. Postgonite lying alongside the epiphallus of the basiphallus ( Fig. 25 ) in its natural position, with a long seta at middle and a field of sensillae above the seta, near the bend ( Fig. 36 ). Pregonite ( Figs. 33–35 ) a complex structure carrying a row of 5–6 setae along its dorsal ridge. This ridge strengthened and carrying a flange laterally, which is also strengthened along the middle, this strengthening forming an angle with the first strengthening. Pregonite distally with a long pointed process beyond the distalmost seta. This process lies alongside the distiphallus ( Fig. 35 ). [It is lost on the left side.]

Ejaculatory sclerite narrow, weakly sclerotised distally ( Fig. 37 ).

Female. Unknown.

Biology. The capture of the specimen on the “chimney” of a termite nest ( Odontotermes sp. ) suggests that it is biologically associated with termites. Nothing else is known. The identity of the mites found on its body might shed some light on whether they have been received from mites usually living in the termite’s nest (cf. Haq et al. 1990).

Type material. Holotype: adult ♂, labelled: (1) “ SOUTH AFRICA: NORTH WEST PROVINCE // Mafikeng [as “ Mafeking ” on some maps] 24.ii.2007 // 25° 49' 10.10"S / 25° 37' 55.33"E, ca 1280m. // S. Dupont & J. Pedersen leg.” [printed] ( Fig. 1 , inset); (2) “ Neocordylobia sp. ” [printed]; (3) My red holotype label. The specimen was brought to ZMUC in 96% ethanol, and pinned and dried after dissection. The KOH macerated genitalia are now in glycerol in a glass vial on the pin. The left mid and hind legs were removed for molecular studies by ZMUC and have not been studied by me. All material is in ZMUC.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Mafikengia ciliata sp. nov., male holotype. Fly habitus, right lateral view. Inset: original label.

FIGURES 2–6. Mafikengia ciliata sp. nov., male holotype, head. 2. Dorsal view. 3. Detail of upper occipital region, posterodorsal view. 4. Right lateral view. 5. Detail of left parafacial. 6. Anterior view.

FIGURES 7–12. Mafikengia ciliata sp. nov., male holotype, thorax. 7. Scutum, dorsal view. 8. Anterior spiracle and proepisternal depression, right lateral view. 9. Posterior spiracle and parts of meron, right lateral view. 10. Mediotergite, anatergite and lower calypter, posterior view. Arrow points to pale and black setulae on anatergite below lower calypter. 11. Lateral scutellar declivity, right lateral view. Arrow points to regular row of setulae. 12. Postalar wall, right lateral view. Arrow points to group of minute black setulae.

FIGURES 13–16. Mafikengia ciliata sp. nov., male holotype, wing and abdomen. 13. Right wing from above. 14. Detail of right wing, from below. Arrow points to exit of anal vein near fold in wing. 15. Abdomen, dorsal view. 16. Abdomen, ventrolateral view.

FIGURES 17–22. Mafikengia ciliata sp. nov., male holotype, legs. 17. Left fore leg, posterior view. 18. Right fore leg, posterior view. 19. Right mid leg, anterior view. 20. Right mid leg, posterodorsal view. 21. Right hind leg, anterior view. 22. Right hind leg, dorsal view.

FIGURES 23–25. Mafikengia ciliata sp. nov., male holotype, cerci, surstyli, epandrium and bacilliform sclerites. 23. Cerci, surstylus, epandrium, left lateral view. The letter ‘x’ marks the position of the remainder of the bacilliform sclerite, most of it removed from figure. 24. Cerci and surstylus, dorsal (posterior) view. 25. Genital capsule, internal view.

FIGURES 26–32. Mafikengia ciliata sp. nov., male holotype, aedeagus. 26. Aedeagus, left lateral view. 27. Distiphallus, right lateral view. 28. Distiphallus, dorsal view. 29. Distiphallus, slightly oblique anterodorsal view. 30. Distiphallus, ventral view. 31. Distiphallus, oblique anteroventral view. 32. Anterior view.

FIGURES 33–37. Mafikengia ciliata sp. nov., male holotype, right pre- and postgonites, ejaculatory sclerite. 33. Right pregonite alongside distiphallus, dorsal view. 34. Same, oblique anterodorsal view. 35. Same, oblique dorsolateral view. 36. Right postgonite. 37. Ejaculatory sclerite.