Laishania angustithorax, Kung & Brown, 2005

Kung, Giar-Ann & Brown, Brian V., 2005, Three unusually divergent new genera of phorid flies (Diptera: Phoridae) from Costa Rica, Zootaxa 1019 (1), pp. 43-52 : 48

Laishania angustithorax new species

Figs. 3–4 .

Description. Female (male unknown). Body length 1.98 mm. Head elongate, rounded, lacking differentiated frontal area. Median furrow of frons absent. Twelve frontal setae present, although along dorsal row it is difficult to distinguish between the inner and outer vertical setae. One pair of dorsally­directed supra­antennal setae present. Ocelli absent. Postocular setae absent. In addition to the postocellar setae, there are ten additional setae from the posterior part of the head to the anterior margin of the gena, including two vertical setae. Eyes reduced, slightly smaller in diameter than flagellomere 1. Flagellomere 1 round, apically pointed with apical arista. Palpus thin, yellow, with six setae, apicalmost almost equal in length to palpus. Proboscis relatively small, yellow. Thorax lacking many sutures. A clearly visible, dark, anterior pleural suture (possibly the anterior margin of the anepisternum) extends dorsally, and slightly posteriorly, from forecoxa to posterior to spiracle. Scutum golden brown, with few long, thin scattered setae. Scutellum and notopleural cleft absent. Anepisternum without setae. Katepisternum and meron elongate, approximately twice as long as wide. Wing and halter both absent. Legs extremely long, thin, yellow, with sparse, long, thin setae. Forefemur with broad ventral triangular process at approximately midpoint. Foretibia with broad ventral triangular process in distal twothirds; narrowed proximally, almost three times as broad distally. Distal one­third of foretibia expanded, with anteroventral patch of dense, fine, orange setae. Tarsomere 1 of foreleg with length approximately three times that of tarsomere 2; proximal one­half dorsoventrally broad, forming a broad triangular process; distal half narrow, with dense, fine, long, orange anteroventral setae. Foretarsomeres otherwise normal; tarsomeres 2–5 subequal, tarsomere 5 approximately 1.5 times longer than wide. Tarsomere 1 of midleg with short, fine, slightly dense patch of orange setae in proximal half. Hind tibia with fine posteroventral orange setae in distal one­fifth. Tarsomere 1 of hind leg narrowed distally, with short, fine, dense orange setae posteroventrally. Tergites brown, matte, with scattered short, thin setae. Tergite 1 extremely short, barely visible. Tergite 5 with anteromedial crescent­shaped flap over gland opening ( Fig. 4 ). Tergite 7 band­shaped, membranous medially. Venter of abdomen whitish, with few scattered thin setae. Ovipositor mostly membranous, not parasitic­type.

Geographic distribution. Costa Rica.

Derivation of names. This genus is named for our friend and scientific illustrator, Lai Shan Mui. The specific name is from the Latin word angustus meaning narrow, and thorax, referring to the slender thorax of the species.

Holotype: ♀, COSTA RICA: Alajuela: Peñas Blancas Valley , 10.32°N, 84.76°W, 14.v.1988, E. Cruz, Malaise trap, 700 m [ LACM ENT 195810 ] ( LACM).

Figures

FIGURE 4. Laishania angustithorax new species. Thorax and abdomen, dorsal.

FIGURES 1–3. Laciniomyia dilata new species. 1. Abdomen, dorsal. 2. Body, lateral. 3. Laishania angustithorax new species. Body, lateral.