Medomega averyi, Winterton, Shaun L. & Lambkin, Christine L., 2012

Winterton, Shaun L. & Lambkin, Christine L., 2012, New Australian stiletto flies: revision of Manestella Metz and description of Medomega gen. n. (Diptera, Therevidae, Agapophytinae), ZooKeys 240, pp. 1-119 : 21-22

Medomega averyi sp. n. Figs 68697073747576

Type material.

Holotype male, AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: Talbot Road Nature Reserve, O’Connor Road, Stratton [-31.874, 116.044] Banksia open woodland, on white sand, feeding on Oleria pauddentata , 27.iv.2012, F. Hort, #328 (WAM83222, WAM).

Paratypes. AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: male, female, same data as holotype (WAM83214, 83215, CAS); 8 females, same data as holotype (WAM83216-83221, 83223-83224, (WAM).

Other material examined.

AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: male, Geraldton Dist. [District] Glenfield [-28.692, 114.611], 18.iv.1973, N. McFarland (MEI_032074, BMNH).

Diagnosis.

Wing white translucent with irregular brown marginal mottling; most head and body setae white; scutum with narrow medial stripe and spots laterally; scape yellow, brown laterally, longer than flagellum; posterior surface of mid coxa with setae; extensive silver setae on abdomen.

Description.

Body length= 5.0-5.7 mm (male), 5.5-7.0 mm (female). Head. Male frontal pubescence silver-grey, slightly rounded in profile, patch of fine white setae between antennal base and eye margin; female frons silver-grey laterally, brown-tan medially, frons flat, short dark setae laterally, concentrated above antennal base; male frons width at narrowest point narrower than anterior ocellus, sometimes contiguous; male with single row of white postocular macrosetae immediately laterad of ocellar tubercle, female with scattered dark and pale macrosetae; occipital pubescence grey, narrow marking medially; genal and parafacial setae white, elongate and fine; antennal scape longer than flagellum, orange-yellow, usually with dark suffusion laterally, overlain with sparse grey pubescence admixed with numerous large white setae, several dark setae dorsally; flagellum orange-yellow, distal half dark. Thorax. Scutal pubescence silver-grey with narrow brown medial stripe and irregular spots laterally; numerous elongate white setae covering scutum, macrosetae white (male) or black (female), setal bases dark; pleuron with silver-grey pubescence; katatergite setae uniformly white; anepisternum with grey-brown marking; coxae overlain with silver-grey pubescence, setae white, mid coxa with setae on posterior surface; fore femur dark brown-black, mid and hind femora dark yellow, black apically, dense long white setae on anterior and posterior surfaces, hind femur with single av setae apically, grey pubescence on all femora; tibiae yellow, black basally and apically; tarsi dark, basitarsus dark yellow basally; wing white translucent, faint mottled infuscation marginally and along wing veins, darker and more extensive in female;scutal chaetotaxy (pairs): np, 3; sa, 1; pa, 1; dc, 3; sc, 1. Abdomen. Male abdomen base colour darkish, obscured by dense silver velutum on tergites 2-7, admixed with extensive long erect or semi-appressed silver-white setae; terminalia dark yellow with grey pubescence; female abdomen brown with grey pubescence laterally and posteriorly on segments 1-6; terminalia dark yellow. Male genitalia. Epandrium not elongate; gonocoxite with trapezoid shaped outer gonocoxal process.

Comments.

Medomega averyi sp. n. can be distinguished by the extensive silver-white pile on the head and body, elongate scape, male with white macrosetae on head and thorax, wings mostly white translucent and setae on the posterior surface of the mid coxa. See additional comments under Medomega chlamydos sp. n.

Etymology.

It is an honour to name this species after the grandfather of the senior author, Avery “Joe” Winterton.