Aphaniosoma interispina, Ebejer, 2023

Ebejer, Martin J., 2023, The genus Aphaniosoma Becker, 1903 (Diptera: Chyromyidae) in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East, with descriptions of new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 872, pp. 1-161 : 83-87

Aphaniosoma interispina sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:7386E214-7A75-4065-A35E-9B15A465461E

Figs 46–47

Diagnosis

A yellow species with brown longitudinal scutal vittae appearing pale owing to dense yellowish white microtomentum; 2 well-developed fronto-orbital setae and a pair of long setae in front of anterior ocellus. Male with the 6 th tergite bearing a small black spine on its ventro-medial margin; epandrium small, round at base and shining black; surstylus broad-based, black and triangular. In general appearance and chaetotaxy, this species is similar to A. falciferum , but it does not have the long black postgonite of the other species. The three long setae on the ventral margin of tergite 6 are similar to those of A. trisetum Ebejer, 1998 , but in all other respects it differs from that species.

Etymology

The species epithet is a combination of the Latin ‘ interior ’ (‘inside’) and ‘ spina ’ (‘spine’) and refers to the spine within the lower margin of tergite 6.

Material examined

Holotype

ISRAEL • ♂; Western Negev , Nahal Lavan; 30°58ʹ N, 34°24ʹ E; 24 Mar. 2000; M.J. Ebejer leg.; shrubs on sand; OUMNH DIPTO801 .

Description

MEASUREMENTS. Body length: male 1.1 mm. Wing length 1.2 mm.

Male, holotype

HEAD ( Fig. 46B ). Yellow, ocelli partly ringed with black; gena about half height of eye at middle and with scattered pale yellowish white setulae; a pair of vibrissal setae on each side; frons narrow at anterior margin about 0.5 × as wide as at level of anterior ocellus; ocellar setae about as long as anterior fronto-orbital, 2 well-developed fronto-orbital setae and 2 very short and inconspicuous setulae anterior to these; about 12 setae on frons and a longer pair in front of the anterior ocellus; 1 inner and 1 outer vertical well-developed; paravertical setae short and convergent, postocular setae strong and in one row; face short, poorly sclerotized and depressed; median carina distinct, sharp and low, reaching clypeus; antenna yellow, pedicel paler than basal flagellomere and with distinct short dark seta dorsally; basal flagellomere with fine pubescence along anterior margin a little longer than diameter of base of arista; arista all brown and minutely pilose.

THORAX ( Fig. 46 ). Mostly yellow; scutum with brown longitudinal vittae separated by narrow yellow lines and covered with dense yellowish microtomentum; scutellum yellow and pleura yellow; mediotergite brown; chaetotaxy: 1 postpronotal with fine short seta adjacent, 1 presutural with a short fine seta close and anterior to it, 1 incurved intra-postpronotal, 2 notopleurals, the anterior quite strong; 1+4 intra-alars, 1 postalar, 2+6 dorsocentrals with only posterior seta well-developed, 0+4 acrostichals, no prescutellars, 4 scutellars, anepisternal seta short and inconspicuous short, 1 very strong katepisternal at upper posterior corner and a short fine seta far anterior to it.

WING. Veins all pale; distance on costa between R 2+3 and R 4+5 about 0.4 × that between R 4+5 and M 1; distance between crossveins about 1.4 × as long as posterior crossvein, which is about 0.4 × as long as apical section of M 4. Haltere pale yellow.

LEGS. Numerous pale-yellow scattered setulae, with longer posterior setulae on fore femur; apico-ventral seta on mid tibia present; claws black and pulvilli normal; tarsi yellow; hind trochanter not modified.

ABDOMEN. Basal tergites brown dorsally, becoming much narrower laterally; tergites 4–6 mostly yellow; tergite 6, laterally on its ventral margin with 3 close set long white setae ( Fig. 47A ) and on medial aspect of ventral margin (inner surface), bearing a small black spine ( Fig. 47B ); tergites with relatively few fine pale setulae.

HYPOPYGIUM ( Fig. 47 ). Not dissected as the holotype is the only specimen and it exhibits enough diagnostic features externally; epandrium small, round and shining black, bearing a narrow black and curved surstylus that is bluntly truncated apically; pregonite pale and with apical setulae; postgonite broad-based, shining black, curved and pointed; aedeagus not visible; cercus pale yellow, fused with the opposite side and setulose but without any exceptionally long setae.

Female

Unknown.

Distribution

Israel.

Figures

Fig. 46. Aphaniosoma interispina sp. nov., ♂, holotype (OUMNH DIPTO801). A. Habitus, lateral view. B. Head and thorax, dorsal view.

Fig. 47. Aphaniosoma interispina sp. nov., ♂, holotype (OUMNH DIPTO801), hypopygium in situ. A. Ventro-lateral oblique view. B. Posterior view.