Elissoma hauseri, Winterton, 2023

Winterton, Shaun L., 2023, Wasp-mimicking soldier flies of the Australian Region: revision of Ampsalis Walker, Elissoma White and Lagenosoma Brauer (Stratiomyidae: Clitellariinae), Zootaxa 5246 (1), pp. 1-63 : 24

Elissoma hauseri sp. n.

( Figs 4 ; 11G, H ; 20 ; 23B ; 27K ; 28H ; 36 )

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Diagnosis. Flagellum entirely black, flagellomere VII slightly longer than combined length of flagellomeres V–VI; thorax and abdomen yellow-green with black markings; legs yellow, hind tibia and tarsi black; face flat; scutellar spines small.

Description. Body length = 10.0 mm. Head. Frons flat, yellow; face slightly rounded, with short, pale setae; parafacial light yellow with margin of silver pubescence along eye; ocellar tubercle black; occiput flat, yellow, covered with fine setal pile (white in male); postocular ridge not carinate in male; antenna (length = 5.1 mm) with scape and pedicel dark yellow, flagellomeres I–III dark yellow with dark microtrichia, flagellomeres IV–VIII black, flagellomere VII equal to combined length of flagellomeres V–VI, ratio of length of flagellomere VII to VIII is 1:24, flagellomere VIII elongate and shallowly plumose with microtrichia. Thorax. Bright yellow with greenish suffusion, black markings on scutum as broad medial stripe, narrower posteriorly, subtriangular marking laterally on notopleuron; black band extending ventrally on anepisternum and katepisternum; scutellum yellow with black medial stripe, scutellar spines relatively small, equal to 1/4 of scutellum length and slightly upturned; coxae and legs yellow, hind femur with black band basally, hind tibia and tarsus black; haltere yellow; wing hyaline, venation and pterostigma brown; wing vein M 3 present. Abdomen. Male abdomen narrowed anteriorly but not strongly petiolate, segment 1 slightly wider than scutellum with segment 4 widest and equal to width of scutum; segment 1 with lateral flange well developed; abdomen yellowish green with black markings on tergites 2–5, paired anteriorly and increasing in size becoming a single mark posteriorly. Male genitalia. Epandrium relatively short and flat; gonocoxites elongate with angular posterolateral processes; gonostylus small and subtriangular; medial phallus longer than lateral lobes.

Etymology. This species is named in honour of Martin Hauser, who provided his valuable expertise and assistance during this study.

Comments. Live individuals of this species have the scutellum, haltere and membranous areas of abdomen mostly green. This species is known from a single male and a photograph of a female. The entirely black antennae and mostly black hind leg as well as distinctive thoracic and abdominal markings readily differentiate this species from other members of the genus, particularly E. australis , which is very similar in appearance.

Type material— Holotype male, AUSTRALIA: Queensland: Moggill State Forest , 26 km W Brisbane [- 27.5791, 152.8841], 17.X.1983, M. Irwin ( QM).

Other material examined. Victoria: 1 female, Selby, [-37.9221, 145.3711], digital image ( Fig. 4 ) .

Figures

FIGURE 4. Elissoma hauseri sp. n., female, Selby, Victoria (image copyright: Cameron Rodda).

FIGURE 11. A. Elissoma australis (Kertész), female, lateral view; B. Elissoma australis, female, oblique view; C. Elissoma brunnea Hardy, male, dorsal view; D. Elissoma brunnea, male, oblique view; E. Elissoma gilva sp. n., female, lateral view; F. Elissoma gilva sp. n., female, dorsal view; G. Elissoma hauseri sp. n., male, oblique view; H. Elissoma hauseri sp. n., male, lateral view.

FIGURE 20. Stylised illustrations of the antenna of Eudmeta, Ampsalis, Elissoma and Lagenosoma.

FIGURE 23. Male genitalia, (dorsal and ventral views). A. Elissoma brunnea Hardy; B. Elissoma hauseri sp. n.; C. Lagenosoma danielsorum sp. n.

FIGURE 27. Heads of Elissoma and Lagenosoma. A. Lagenosoma eklemmum sp. n., male; B. Lagenosoma eklemmum sp. n., female; C. Lagenosoma geminatum sp. n., male; D. Lagenosoma geminatum sp. n., female; E. Lagenosoma pictum Brauer, male; F. Lagenosoma pictum Brauer, female; G. Lagenosoma propinquum Brauer, male; H. Lagenosoma propinquum Brauer, female; I. Lagenosoma varigatum sp. n., male; J. Lagenosoma varigatum sp. n., female; K. Elissoma hauseri sp. n., male; L. Lagenosoma propius sp. n., male.

FIGURE 28. Ampsalis and Elissoma scutellums.A. Ampsalis acta sp. n.; B. Ampsalis wallacei sp. n.; C. Elissoma australis sp. n.; D. Elissoma brunnea Hardy; E. Elissoma danielsi sp. n., F. Elissoma gilva sp. n.; G. Elissoma hespera sp. n.; H. Elissoma hauseri sp. n.; I. Elissoma ichneumonoides sp. n.; J. Elissoma lauta White.

FIGURE 36. Distribution of Elissoma species.