Sarcophaga (Sarcorohdendorfia)

Pape, Thomas, 2013, Updates on the taxonomy and nomenclature of Australian Sarcophaga (sensu lato) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae), with descriptions of two new species, Zootaxa 3680 (1), pp. 139-147 : 143

Sarcophaga (Sarcorohdendorfia) clavus Meiklejohn, Wallman & Pape, sp. nov.

( Figures 3, 4 )

Type material. Holotype (3): Australia: Qld, Carnarvon NP, Mt. Moffatt, 1097m, 10.x.2002. T. Pape ( ZMUC 00022173). Paratype: 1 (3): same data as holotype ( ZMUC 00022174) [abdomen dissected from specimen and glued to a piece of card beneath the source specimen]. The holotype is deposited in QM, the paratype in ZMUC.

Differential diagnosis. Sarcophaga clavus is exclusively diagnosable within Sarcorohdendorfia Baranov, 1938 by the unique shape of its juxta with a pair of lateral ‘nail head’ shaped projections from the distal margin. Also, the vesica is unique within the subgenus by its rather simple, bowl-like shape with a distal tapering process.

Description. Male. Length. 10.0– 10.2 mm (n=2).

Colour. Ground colour black, with dense dull yellow microtrichosity on palps, parafacials, fronto-orbital plate, occiput, postgena, thorax and abdomen. Arista reddish brown. Thorax with three longitudinal black vittae; microtrichosity of the abdomen forming the typical checkerboard pattern changing with the incidence of light. Epandrium, cercus, surstylus, phallus and gonites reddish brown, protandrial segment black.

Head. Arista setose and thickened on approximately basal 0.25−0.30. Proclinate orbital setae absent and 8 frontal setae present. Lateral vertical setae the same length and strength as the longest postocular setae. Parafacial, at its widest point, about 0.25 the width of the eye to the width of the head and with only black setulae. Sub- and supra-vibrissa with only black setulae, approximately 0.30 the length of the vibrissa. Gena and occiput with only yellow setulae.

Thorax. Scutum with 1 presutural and 0 postsutural acrostichal setae; 3−4 presutural and 4 postsutural dorsocentral setae (2 posterior ones stronger); and 2 intraalar and 3 supraalar setae. Scutellum with a pair of apical setae and 2 pairs of subapical setae. Proepisternum with yellow setulae. Legs. Hind tibia with short setulae on ventral surface. Wing. Ve in R 1 without setulae and vein R4+5 with numerous setulae restricted to the base of the dorsal margin.

Abdomen. Tergite 3 without median marginal setae, but with one pair of lateral marginal setae. Tergite 4 with strong median marginal setae and two pairs of lateral marginal setae. Abdominal sternites 1−2 with black setulae. Terminalia. Inner margins of sternite 5 with evenly dispersed short and medium setae, with a slight medial projection half way along the margin. At apex, 2−3 long setae and long setulae. Surface of sternite 5 also with long setulae. Protandrial segment with grey microtrichosity and black setulae on entire surface. Epandrium with black setulae on entire surface. Cercus hollowed out on posterior surface and curved anteriorly on apical 0.30, with a small hooked tip. Distal part with long setulae and proximal part with distinctly shortened setulae. Surstylus subtriangular with black setulae confined to the ventral 0.60. Pre- and postgonite both curved anteriorly: pregonite wide along its entire length with black setulae on dorsal margin; postgonite with a pointed apex and some black setulae along dorsal margin. Distiphallus: vesica ‘bowl’ shaped and curved anteriorly with a short pointed extension distally; juxta distally with ‘nail head’ shaped lateral projections.

Female. Unknown.

Distribution. AUSTRALASIAN/OCEANIAN—Australia (Queensland).

Etymology. From the Latin clavus = nail or spike. The species epithet is a noun in apposition and refers to the shape of the lateral projections of the phallic juxta being reminiscent of the head of a nail.

Subgeneric affiliation. Pape et al. (2000) gave a preliminary diagnosis of the subgenus Sarcorohdendorfia , which in a slightly reworded version will include members of the genus Sarcophaga (sensu lato) (see diagnosis in Pape 1996) with 4–6 postsutural dorsocentral setae of which at least the anterior two are rather short; proepisternum setose; terminalia black or dark brown to reddish; harpes short, rarely with arm-like processes; juxta well developed and arching anteriorly; vesica distally with a median finger-like projection or recurving hook as well as a more proximal smaller process, never shaped like medially apposed plates; and lateral styli well developed, slender, often elongated, never short and stout. The shape of the vesica may be considered particularly diagnostic, and the condition in S. clavus may in this respect not be particularly well fitting, as the distal projection is straight and there is at most an indication of the proximal process. However, a similar condition is seen in S. emuensis Lopes and Kano, 1979a , and we see a subgeneric affiliation within Sarcorohdendorfia as currently the best supported. As noted by Pape and Kurahashi (2004), the subgenus Sarcorohdendorfia may still be insufficiently circumscribed in relation to certain other Australasian subgenera, in particular Johnstonimyia Lopes, 1959 and Lioproctia Enderlein, 1928 (see also Meiklejohn et al. 2012b; Meiklejohn et al. 2013).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 4. 1, 2 Sarcophaga (Sarcosolomonia) collessi sp. nov. 1 — Terminalia, left lateral view, holotype (NB: cercus with tip hidden behind phallus). 2 — Terminalia in glycerin, left lateral view, paratype. 3, 4 Sarcophaga (Sarcorohdendorfia) clavus sp. nov., paratype. 3 — Terminalia, left lateral view. 4 — Distiphallus, posterior view. Abbreviations: c = cercus, d = distiphallus, j = juxta, v = vesica, vp = ventral plate. (Photos: D. K. B. Cheung.)