Elissoma gilva, 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 : 22

Elissoma gilva sp. n.

( Figs 11E, F ; 20 ; 25F ; 28F ; 32F ; 36 )

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Diagnosis. Flagellum white apically, flagellomere VII slightly longer than combined length of flagellomeres V–VI; scutellum orange; hind basitarsus black, remaining tarsomeres white; face flat; scutellar spines minute.

Description. Body length = 12.0– 12.5 mm. Head. Female frons flat with slight doming medially, yellowish with ‘inverted-Y” shaped blacking marking medially extending dorsally through black ocellar tubercle; face slightly invaginated medially, yellow, black medially, with sparse pale setae; parafacial yellow; occiput black, carinate postocular ridge yellow, covered with fine dark setal pile; antenna (length = 6.2 mm) with scape and pedicel brown; flagellomeres I–VIII black brown with dark microtrichia, flagellomere VIII white apically, flagellomere VII slightly longer than combined length of flagellomeres V–VI, ratio of length of flagellomere VII to VIII is 1: 39, flagellomere VIII elongate and deeply plumose with microtrichia. Thorax. Female thorax yellow base colour with extensive black markings on antepronotum, postpronotum, anteriorly on anepisternum and katepisternum, katatergite, and most of scutum, scutal markings as broad medial stripe, and quadrangular markings laterally, anterior and posterior to transverse suture, dark band along transverse suture; scutellum orange, spines poorly developed, equal to 1/6 of scutellum length; coxae and legs dark yellow to orange, hind basitarsus black, remaining hind tarsomeres white; haltere dark yellow; wing hyaline, pterostigma dark brown; wing vein M 3 present. Abdomen. Female abdomen narrowed at base but not strongly petiolate, segment 4 widest and slightly wider than scutum; segment 1 with lateral flange well developed; abdomen orange, tergite 4 predominantly glossy black medially, smaller black posterolateral spots sometimes present on tergites 2–3. Female genitalia. Not dissected.

Etymology. This species epithet is derived from the Latin gilvus —dull yellow to reddish tan; referring to the reddish-yellow abdomen.

Comments. Elissoma gilva sp. n. is one of the largest species in the genus, with very long antennae. Only two female specimens are known. The body colouration and patterning is similar to E. australis . The white apex of the flagellum, orange scutellum with minute spines and distinctive markings of the head and scutum differentiate this species from congeners.

Type material— Holotype female, AUSTRALIA: New South Wales: Mt. Tomah [-33.5499, 150.4171], 23.XII.1983, N.W. Rodd, Malaise trap ( AM).

Paratype. AUSTRALIA: New South Wales: female, Lane Cove [-33.8117, 151.1651], 27.X.1926 ( CSCA) .

Figures

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 25. Heads of Ampsalis and Elissoma. A. Ampsalis acta sp. n., male; B. Ampsalis acta sp. n., female; C. Ampsalis wallacei sp. n., male; D. Ampsalis wallacei sp. n., female; E. Elissoma australis sp. n., female; F. Elissoma gilva sp. n., female; G. Elissoma danielsi sp. n., male; H. Elissoma danielsi sp. n., female; I. Elissoma ichneumonoides sp. n., female; J. Elissoma hespera sp. n., male; K. Elissoma brunnea Hardy, male; L. Elissoma brunnea Hardy, female; M. Elissoma minuta sp. n., male; N. Elissoma lauta White, 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 32. Ampsalis and Elissoma abdomens. A. Ampsalis wallacei sp. n., male; B. Elissoma australis sp. n., female; C. Elissoma brunnea Hardy, male; D. Elissoma lauta White, male; E. Elissoma minuta sp. n., male; F. Elissoma gilva sp. n., female; G. Elissoma hespera sp. n., male; H. Elissoma ichneumonoides sp. n., female; I. Lagenosoma clitellum sp. n., male; J. Lagenosoma clitellum sp. n., female.

FIGURE 36. Distribution of Elissoma species.