Asynapta taigensis, Jaschhof & Jaschhof, 2019

Jaschhof, Mathias & Jaschhof, Catrin, 2019, New and rarely found species of asynaptine Porricondylinae (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) in northern Europe, Zootaxa 4604 (2), pp. 281-300 : 286

Asynapta taigensis sp. nov.

Fig. 4

Diagnosis. This is a typical Asynapta , evidently closely related to both A. baltica and A. rickebasta as the helmetshaped gonostylus and the triangular projections on both sides of the gonocoxal emargination indicate. A peculiarity of A. taigensis is the subapical position of the gonostylar claw, caused by the strong swelling ventroapically ( Fig. 4 , ↓ 3). As another distinctive structure, the ventral parameres form a sclerotized V-shape with a small, loop-like appendage at the base ( Fig. 4 , ↓ 4). Larvae and females of the new species are unknown.

Other male characters. Body size 1.8 mm. Head. Eye bridge 9–10 ommatidia long dorsally. Scape and pedicel lighter than flagellum. Flagellomeres 15 (holotype) to 22. Neck of fourth flagellomere 0.8 times the length of node. Palpus 4-segmented, 1.4 times longer than head height. Thorax. Metepisternum non-setose. Wing slightly longer than body, 2.5 times longer than wide. Genitalia ( Fig. 4 ). Gonocoxal synsclerite: ventral emargination U-shaped; ventral bridge almost non-setose; dorsoposterior portions extended into subtriangular lobes. Tegmen twice as long as broad, apex rounded, faintly contoured. Ejaculatory apodeme hardly traceable.

Etymology. The species name, taigensis , is an adjective derived from taiga, the Russian word for the boreal coniferous forest where all the specimens known of this species were collected.

Type material. Holotype. Male , Sweden, Lule Lappmark , Sorsele, Bissitjbäcken, 6 km N Ammarnäs, oldgrowth taiga predominated by pine, spruce and birch, 23 July–15 August 2016, Malaise trap, M. & C. Jaschhof (spn. no. CEC 1632 in NHRS).

Other material. Finland: 2 males, Lapponia enontekiensis, Kilpisjärvi, Saana, SW slope, 1–15 July 2006, MT , J. Penttinen (in MZH) .

Figures

FIGURES 1–4. Genitalic morphology of Asynapta spp. 1: Gonostylus of A. inflatoides, ventral, paratype. 2: Gonostylus of A. rickebasta, ventral, holotype. 3: Aedeagus and parameres of A. rickebasta, ventral, holotype. 4: Genitalia of A. taigensis, ventral, holotype. Scales for 1–3, 0.025 mm, for 4, 0.05 mm. Arrows refer to characters described in the diagnoses.