Poecilosomella pallidimana ( DUDA, 1925 )

Papp, L., 2010, Seven New Afrotropical Species Of Poecilosomella Duda (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae), Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 56 (1), pp. 9-41 : 14

Poecilosomella pallidimana ( DUDA, 1925)

( Figs 9–14 )

Material studied: Holotype male (HNHM): Marako Abyssinia (Ethiopia), see Papp (1990); 6 males 3 females: as given in Papp (1990: 147); 1 male (HNHM): S. AFR.: Forest mega, dung trap, 31. xii. 1979, S. Peck; Republic of South Africa, 2007, leg. L. PAPP & M. FÖLDVÁRI (all HNHM): 2 males 2 females: Eastern Cape Prov., Bloukrans Pass, in a side valley, Jan 14–16, GPS16, S33°57’09.6” E23°37’59.4”, 70 m, No. 23; 1 male: RSA: Eastern Cape Prov., beside Bloukrans River, Jan 14, GPS17, S33°57’20.9” E23° 38’18.8”, 28 m, No. 24; 1 male 3 females: ibid., in a forest nr R102, Jan 15–16, GPS19, S33°56’57.3” E23°36’20.8”, 224 m, No. 25; 1 female: KwaZulu Natal, N Drakensberg, over and along iMpofane River, Jan 29, GPS32, S29°03’12.7” E29°23’06.2”, 1531 m, No. 42; 1 female (HNHM): SOUTH AFRICA, Limpopo Prov., Magde Blaskloof, 13. 12. 2003, leg. Mikó I. & Melika G. 1 male (NMSA): Port St. Johns, South Africa, B. & P. Stuckenberg, 20–25. Nov. 1961; 1 male (NMSA): Cape Prov., 3 km E Grahamstown, 3326BC 2& 5. i. 1986, J. & B. Londt, Belmont Valley, Malaise; 1 female (NMSA): Cape Prov., 8 km S. Alexandria, 3. XI. 1978, 3326 CD, R. Miller & J. Londt, road & forest margin.

Abdominal tergites 1 and 2 with a large broad desclerotised area. Lateral setae on tergite 4 and tergite 5 only moderately long. Male sternite 5 ( Fig. 9 ) strongly asymmetrical, with a larger than semicircular medio-caudal black setulose process; its most caudal medial setae thick with hairlike apices ( Fig. 9 ). Sternite 6 with a large bilobed medial plate almost perpendicular to body axis (i.e. almost horizontal). Sternite 8 part comparatively long. Epandrium strongly asymmetrical, right half much larger (longer). Medial part of hypandrium comparatively large, as long as phallapodeme. Cerci large, protruding in lateral view ( Fig. 3 ). Cerci protruding along the sagittal line, with fine hairs there, otherwise bare medially, strongly emerging from the caudal contour ( Fig. 10 ). Consequently a sagittal high process visible in caudal view ( Fig. 10 , cf. Fig. 4 ). Subepandrial sclerite high with rather long dorsal processes. Apical half of surstylus in 2 lobes ( Figs 10–12 ), cranial process well-sclerotised with numerous setae longer than those of P. additionalis ; caudal lobe (process) long and rather thin in caudal view ( Figs 4–6 ) with a comparatively small apical thorn. Also setae of caudal lobe longer. Inner (medial) plate of surstylus rather large (covered in lateral view, Fig. 11 ). Postgonite long, broadened at its middle ( Fig. 13 ), apical third with minute hairs. Basiphallus curved ( Fig. 14 ), ventral caudal part with short thornlets.

Female epiproct setal pair thin and at least 0.09 mm long. Female cercus with a 0.15 mm long wavy setal pair.

Distribution. Hitherto reported from Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zaire, Zimbabwe, Republic of South Africa, and Madagascar. The latter record seems doubtful.

Figures

Figs 9–14. Poecilosomella pallidimana (DUDA), male postabdomen and genitalia. 9 = sternite 5, ventral view (outset: medial lobe in higher magnification), 10 = epandrium with modified cerci, subepandrial sclerite, anal plates and surstyli, subcaudal view, perpendicular to cerci (most of the epandrial setae omitted), 11 = surstylus in broadest extension, 12 = same, caudal process in higher magnification, 13 = postgonite, in broadest (sublateral) view, 14 = basiphallus, lateral view. Scales: 0.2 mm for Figs 9–11, 0.1 mm for Figs 12–14

Figs 1–4. Poecilosomella additionalis sp. n., paratype male, postabdomen and genitalia. 1 = sternite 5, ventral view, 2 = postabdominal sclerites, ventral view, 3 = contours of epandrium, cercus and surstylus, lateral view (i.e. when caudal borders of epandrium overlapping), 4 = epandrium with modified cerci, subepandrial sclerite, anal plates and surstyli, subcaudal view, perpendicular to cerci (most of the epandrial setae omitted). Scales: 0.2 mm for Figs 1–2, 4, 0.4 mm for Fig. 3