Platypalpus ionicus Grootaert, 2008

Barták, Miroslav & Kubík, Štěpán, 2018, Hybotidae (Diptera) from Turkey, with descriptions of seven new species, Zootaxa 4410 (3), pp. 453-482 : 471-472

Platypalpus ionicus Grootaert, 2008

Material examined. Adıyaman prov.: 2♀, Nemrut Daglari Mts., 30 km NE Kahta, Karadut 1800 m, B. Mocek, 9.v.1996 ; 1♀, Buruncayir steppe, B. Mocek, 10.v.1996; Mersin prov.: 1♀, 10 km E Mut, Bogcagiz 800 m, pine f. + pasture, B. Mocek, 1.v.1996 ; Muğla prov.: 4♂, Akyaka , pasture, 6 m, 37°03′19′′N, 28°20′07′′E, Barták, Kubík, 28.iv.–8.v.2013 ; 2♀, Muğla University campus, 700 m, SW + PT, 37°09′42′′N, 28°22′21′′E, Barták, Kubík, 29.iv.– 10.v.2013 ; 2♂, 1♀, same locality, YPWT, 700 m, 37°09′42′′N, 28°22′22′′ E, O.Dursun, iv.–v.2014 ; 1♂, 13 km NE of Muğla, pasture/pine wood, 1200 m, 37°14′50′′N, 28°30′E, Barták, Kubík, 23–27.vi.2015 — CULSP and MHK.

Remarks. This species is only known from Turkey. The species is very similar to P. dalmatinus (Strobl, 1902) and in the original description there is the following differential diagnosis: “The acr are 4-seriate in P. dalmatinus and the third antennal segment is 4–5 times as long as wide and has the arista as long as third segment. The arista is much shorter than the third antennal segment in P.ionicus ”. However, this diagnosis is confusing because Grootaert (2008) stated: “antenna .... 4–5 times as long as wide” which covers the variation found in P. dalmatinus ; moreover, acrostichals, stated as “triseriate in frons but otherwise biseriate” are in our specimens mostly 3–5 seriate in front part and 2–4 seriate in hind part, however, two of our specimens have almost biseriate acrostichals throughout. Stylus in specimens of P. dalmatinus from CULSP collections is 0.8–1.2X longer than postpedicel and in P. ionicus it is slightly sexually dimorphic: in males 0.6–1.0X (mean = 0.8) and in females 0.9–1.4X (mean = 1.1) longer than postpedicel. Postpedicel in P. ionicus is 4.5–5.9X longer than broad in males (mean = 5.0) and 3.1–4.3X longer than broad in females (mean = 3.8). Because of these findings, and considering variations of characters, we propose the following differential diagnosis and arrangement of both species in the key by Grootaert & Chvála (1992):

97a (97) Stigma-like swelling at tip of R1 blackish brown; katepisternal lustrous patch smaller, leaving broad hind margin of katepisternum microtrichose; ♂ right cercus broadened at about middle and narrowed apically, left epandrial lamella more squareshaped at apex ( Grootaert 2008, figs 7, 8)............................................. ionicus Grootaert, 2008

- Stigma-like swelling at tip of R1 yellow; katepisternal lustrous patch larger, reaching nearly hind margin of katepisternum; ♂ right cercus broadened towards tip, left epandrial lamella ovate apically ( Grootaert & Chvála 1992, figs 119, 120).................................................................................... dalmatinus (Strobl, 1902)