Scatopsciara (Xenopygina),

Menzel, Frank, Smith, Jane E. & Chandler, Peter J., 2006, The sciarid fauna of the British Isles (Diptera: Sciaridae), including descriptions of six new species, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 146 (1), pp. 1-147 : 128

SCATOPSCIARA (XENOPYGINA) GABYAE (HELLER, 1998)

Literature: Menzel & Heller (2005): 353 [combination in Scatopsciara (Xenopygina) ].

New to British list.

Material examined: Llyn Pencraig , Gwynedd, 2 males, 6.vii.1988, Holmes, Boyce & Reed leg. ( DEI, PPWM) .

Ecological notes: found in wetland with Molinia and Phragmites . vii.

Taxonomic note: This species has been transferred from Bradysia to the subgenus Xenopygina Frey on the basis of several Scatopsciara characteristics that suggest a close relationship to the species complex of Sc. paradoxa (Frey) , Sc. simillima (Tuomikoski) and Sc. weiperti Menzel & Mohrig [redescription in Menzel & Heller (2005)]. These include different length of middle and posterior tibial spurs [one spur on middle leg more distinctly reduced than one on posterior leg]. The wide-compact and trapezoid tegmen, the shape of the aedeagus [stronger-shorter genital apodeme with wide-funnel-shaped base], the widely rounded apex of the gonostyle with dense bristles, strong spines and missing apical tooth, the narrow comb on the anterior tibia, the absence of spines on the anterior tibiae as well as the many bristles on the basal segment of the palpi and missing sensory pit are also typical for the subgenus Xenopygina .