Herniosina pollex Rohacek , 1993

Rohacek, Jindrich, 2016, Herniosina Rohacek: revised concept, two new species, new key and atlas of male and female terminalia (Diptera, Sphaeroceridae), ZooKeys 609, pp. 69-106 : 84-86

Taxon classification Animalia Diptera Sphaeroceridae

Herniosina pollex Rohacek, 1993 Figs 37-39, 40-42, 43-46

Herniosina pollex Roháček, 1993: 186 [both sexes, phylogenetic notes, illustr.]. Type locality: Slovakia, Slovenský kras, Stará brzotínska jaskyňa (cave); Roháček et al., 2001: 149 [catalog].

Type material.

Holotype ♂ labelled: "CS: Slovakia or., Slovenský kras, Stará brzotínská jask., V. Košel leg." (obverse of the label, handwritten), "16/87, 9.6.1987, 2-5 m" (reverse of the label, handwritten), "Holotypus (red printed), Herniosina pollex sp. n. ♂, J. Roháček det. 1991 (handwritten)" (label with red margin), deposited in JRO (intact). Allotype ♀ (JRO) and 11♂20♀ paratypes with the same data, deposited in JRO, PKBS, SMTD (several with genit. prep.). For data of other paratypes (20♂63♀, deposited in JRO, PKBS, SMOC) from the Czech Republic and Slovakia see Roháček (1993).

Other material examined.

6♂4♀ - CZECH REPUBLIC: 3♂2♀ (FSBC, MBP), for localities see Roháček (1996, 1999), Roháček & Barták (2001). RUSSIA: C. Caucasus, Kabardino-Balkariya, Nalchik env., canyon of upper course of Nalchik River, Omega-12 Cave, soil traps, 30.vii.1998-25.vi.1999, 2♂, A. G. Koval leg. (SMOC). SLOVAKIA: 1♂1♀ (SMOC), for localities see Roháček (2009).

Diagnosis.

Smaller species, body length: male 1.90-2.18 mm, female 2.10-2.86 mm. Male: abdomen with T5 and S8 distinctly shorter than in Herniosina bequaerti ; S1+2 protruding but with bulge reduced (Fig. 41); S5 with a pair of small, shortly digitiform processes (Fig. 42); epandrium with dorsolateral seta distinct (Fig. 37); male cerci large, each with 2 divergent projections (Figs 37, 38), medial robust, long, digitiform and projecting posteroventrally, lateral also long but terminally slender, having 1 extremely long curved seta inserted in short lateral process (Fig. 37); gonostylus with similarly (although shortly) lobate posteroventral part as that of Herniosina horrida but with subdorsal internal projection keel-like and anteroventral seta much shorter (Fig. 39); hypandrial rod very long and (particularly basally) slender (Fig. 37); phallapodeme very long and with dorsal keel (Fig. 40); postgonite relatively long, straighter than in other species and with apex simply pointed (Fig. 40); distiphallus with longer lateral and ventral lobes and slender funnel-shaped apex (Fig. 40). Female: postabdomen slender, with relatively narrow sclerites of 7 th– 8th segment (Figs 43, 46), with T6 relatively broad; T8 complete but medially narrowly paler-pigmented (Fig. 43); S8 relatively large, simple, more trapezoidal (Fig. 46) than that of Herniosina horrida ; spermathecae shortly pyriform with conical base (Fig. 44); S10 undivided, horseshoe-shaped (Fig. 46); cerci long and slender (Figs 43, 45, 46).

Biology.

Although the majority of known specimens originate from caves in Slovakia the species is not troglophilous because it occurs on decayed vegetation only in the entrance zone of caves ( Roháček 1993, 2011); it can also be found on rotten wet leaves in other cold and shaded places such as ravines or narrow valleys of torrents. Hitherto, it has not been recorded from runs or burrows of mammals. In Central Europe adults were collected in March, June–August.

Distribution.

Known only from Central Europe (Czech Republic, Slovakia) and northern part of Central Caucasus Mts (Russia: Kabardino-Balkariya). Roháček et al. (2001) incorrectly also listed Germany but this record belongs in fact to Herniosina horrida (see above).