Protearomyia withersi, Macgowan, Iain, 2014

Macgowan, Iain, 2014, Three new species of Protearomyia McAlpine, 1962 (Diptera: Lonchaeidae) with a key to males of the Palearctic species, Zootaxa 3796 (2), pp. 337-348 : 340-343

Protearomyia withersi sp. nov.

Description. Male: Head. Eyes bare. Frons matt black, 8–10 frontal setulae one third length of orbital seta, a scattering of shorter interfrontal setulae. Orbital plate not greatly differentiated from the frons, subshining, bare apart from the orbital seta. Lunule black, without setulae. Anterior genal setulae forming a single row of 5–6 along mouth edge, the basal of these the strongest setulae on genae. Antennae entirely black apart from a small, obscure basal orange spot on the internal surface, 1st flagellomere 1.5x longer than deep, with rounded apex. Arista yellowish basally, with microscopic pubescence.

Thorax. Thoracic dorsum subshining black, covered in setulae approximately 0.5x length of orbital seta. Anepisternum with no apparent anterodorsal setae, three strong posterior setae. Katepisternum with three setae arranged laterally along dorsal margin, these becoming weaker anteriorly, sclerite otherwise bare. One seta on proepimeron and one on proepisternum. Scutellar disc slightly brown dusted contrasting with blue-black of thorax, four strong marginal setae. Calypteres slightly greyish with a light brown fringe. Wings slightly fumose, veins yellow. Legs entirely black, fore and hind basal tarsomeres ventrally with a dense fringe of pale setulae.

Abbreviations; C = cercus, E= epandrium, H = hypoproct, P = phallus. PG = phallic guide, PN = prensisetae, S = surstylus, VL = ventral lobe.

Abdomen. Tergite 5 3x length of t4, narrowing gradually towards apex, apically with marginal comb of 10 short stiff setulae on each side.

Male terminalia ( Figs. 13–17 ). Epandrium in lateral view ( Fig.13 ) twice as wide as high, bearing a row of setulae along posterior margin, ventral lobe almost the same height as epandrium, rectangular in lateral view with a slight rounded process posteroventrally bearing approximately 8 long, strong, curved setulae, the remainder of the outer surface being covered in very short, rather evenly distributed setulae, inner surface with one short strong setae situated close to where the epandrium overlaps the surstylus. Surstylus ( Figs. 14 & 16 ), outer margin with obvious serrations and a prominent projection anteriorly, two large prensisetae posteroventrally, one lying dorsal to the other. Cerci small, extending only slightly posteriorly from shell of epandrium, bearing a row of fine setulae apically. Hypoproct ( Fig. 13 : H) forming a long curving rod through the shell of the epandrium, in posterior view broadening to form a pair of strong, curved and diverging ventrally directed projections ( Fig. 15 ). Phallus ( Fig. 17 ) lightly sclerotized, rather straight, apical section arising almost directly from the small basal plate. Apical section broad at base becoming thinner and more rod-like apically. Phallic guide ( Fig. 17 ), in lateral view with a pair of large blunt curved processes.

Measurements: Body length 3.6 mm Wing length 3.4 mm.

Differential diagnosis. The two curved, pointed processes at the apex of the hypoproct and the structure of the phallus distinguish this species from others with a square ventral lobe of the epandrium.

Type material: Holotype ♂. GREECE: Neo Petritsi, Midway site, 41°18'49.8''N 23°16'35.6''E, alt. 750m, 12–18.v.2008, leg G. Ramel ( NMS).

Paratypes: GREECE: ♂ with same data as holotype; ♂ with same data as holotype but 19–25.v.2008 ( NMS). ANDORRA: Santa Coloma, Malaise trap, 16–31.v.1993, ♂, leg. J. Pujade, col. M. Carles-Tolrá. FRANCE: Drome, Montauban-sur-L’Ouvèze, 1000m, piege á vin, 15–30.vi.2001, ♂; Drome, Chamoure, 15–30.vi.2001, ♂; Ardeche, Les Blaches, 15–30.vi.2001, ♂; Dordogne, Bagatelle, 28.v–14.vi.2012, 2 ♂, all leg. P. Withers, col. P.Wit hers. SPAIN: Montseny (Barcelona), 16.vi.1990, flight interceptor, 2 ♂, leg. J.A. Barrientos and C. García, col. M. Carles-Tolrá. SWEDEN: Skane, Tomelilla kommun, Drakamöllan, Agrostis capillaris heath. N55°45’70’’ E14°07’06’’, (Trap ID 38), 24–31.v.2005, 3 ♂, 15–23.vi.2004, ♂. Skane, Ystads kommun, Sandhammaren, Järahusen. Mixed forest. N61°42’72’’ E13°98’30’’, (Trap ID 1006), 30.vii–26.ix.2005, ♂. Skane, Simrishamns kommun, Stenshuvuds National Park, broad-leaved deciduous forest. N55°39’61’’ E14°16’53’’ (Trap ID 39), 20–26.vi.2005, ♂. Skane, Klippans kommun, Skäralid, valley below northern Lierna, rich beech forest, N56°01’63’’ E13°13’40’’ (Trap ID 37), 14.iv–23.vi.2005, ♂. All Swedish material derived from the Swedish Malaise Trap Project ( NMS / SMNH).

Etymology. This species is named after Phil Withers who first observed the differences in the genitalia of French specimens.

Figures

FIGURES 13 – 17. Protearomyia withersi spec. nov. Male genitalia. 13. Epandrium and associated structures, ventral view. 14. Same, posterior view. 15. Surstylus, inner margin to right. 16. Phallus and phallic guide lateral view. Abbreviations; C = cercus, E = epandrium, H = hypoproct, P = phallus. PG = phallic guide, PN = prensisetae, S = surstylus, VL = ventral lobe.