Poecilosomella duploseriata, Papp, 2010

Papp, L., 2010, Seven New Afrotropical Species Of Poecilosomella Duda (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae), Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 56 (1), pp. 9-41 : 29-33

Poecilosomella duploseriata sp. n.

( Figs 46–51 , 70 )

Holotype male ( NMSA): S AFRICA [ Republic of South Africa]: Natal #45, Mhlatuzana, (18.xii. ’90, 29 48’S: 30 45’E, 500 m. Reared out: 18. I. 1991, Coll: A. E. Whittington, from hyrax faeces.

Paratypes: 2 males 2 females ( NMSA, 1 male in HNHM): data as for the holotype . 1 male 2 females ( NMSA, 1 female in HNHM): SOUTH AFRICA: Natal #45, Royal Natal Nat. Park, 28°41’S: 28°47’E, 1400 m, 3.ix.1992. Rock scree at Main Office Area , Barraclough Whittington . 1 male ( NMSA): “TOWNBUSH, PIETERMARITZBURG, 29.10.71, M. E. IRWIN ” . 1 female ( NMSA): SOUTH AFRICA:W. Cape, 12km sw. Clainwilliam, Kransvlei R., 3218 BB, 5-X–1977, R. M. Miller .

Measurements in mm: body length 2.91 (holotype), 2.93–3.30 (paratypes), wing length 2.25 (holotype), 2.37–2.83 (paratypes), wing width 0.96 (holotype), 1.02–1.23 (paratypes).

Head mainly brown, frons brown, anteriorly reddish yellow, interfrontal and the oblique orbital plates as well as ocellar triangle silvery. Anterior and posterior fronto-orbital setae equal in length. 4 medium-long interfrontal pairs. Gena rather broad, 0.15–0.20 mm just below eye. No genal seta, i.e. upcurved genal seta shorter then 1st peristomal setae behind vibrissa. Antennae reddish brown, lunule broad triangular, facial carina low. Aristal cilia c. 0.02 mm long.

Mesonotum with the usual Poecilosomella pattern but sagittal and dorsocentral silvery lines rather thin. Anterior dorsocentral pair rather strong. Anterior katepisternal seta 0.22 mm long (holotype).

Wings ( Fig. 70 ) patterned. Wing membrane light greyish (dirty) brown, no light “windows” but some darker diffuse dark brown spots discernible: basally, around H vein down to anal vein, around apical parts of R 1 down to R fork, around transverse apical part of R 2+3. Veins dark brown on areas of dark spots. Second costal section slightly longer than third (0.63 mm vs. 0.58 mm). Costa distinctly overruns apex of R 4+5, by 0.065 mm. Sub-basal thorn on costa conspicuous, 0.21 mm and 0.15 mm. Apical part of R 2+3 curved up, arched, without a vein appendage. Vein M S-shaped. Inter-crossvein section of M 0.20 mm, hind cross-vein 0.17 mm long. Basal 2/5 of anal vein thickened and continued into a less dark brown spot (not a vein); darker colour (in the form of a curved spot) not closing cubital cell.

Both ends of tibiae yellowish, other parts mainly dark browns, as follow. Fore tibia otherwise all dark, mid tibia with some lighter diffuse brown hue at about basal 1/3. Hind tibia with a distinct yellowish band around basal 2/5. Tarsi dirty yellow, except for 5th tarsomeres. Mid basitarsus and 2nd tarsomere with rather distant rows of thick black setulae. 5th tarsomeres are divided by the proximal darker colour; pulvilli longer than the distal light part of tarsomeres on mid and hind legs. Mid tibia (of the holotype) with anterodorsals at 11/80 (very short), 17/80 (short), 26/80 (long), 45/80 (short), 5/8 (long); an extremely long (0.32 mm) dorsal at 64/80, a thinner dorsal at 61/80; posterodorsals: medium-long at 38/80, 52/80, very long at 4/5.

Abdomen definitely longer than broad, dark brown, caudal margins narrowly lighter.

Both epandrium and anal opening are slightly asymmetrical. Cercal part of epandrial complex low ( Fig. 46 ), latero-caudal epandrial processes distinct. Caudal edge with a slight rounded sagittal emargination. Subepandrial sclerite comparatively high ( Fig. 46 ). Medial part of hypandrium slightly asymmetrical ( Fig. 49 ). Surstylus ( Fig. 47 ) with an inner medial triangular process, whose base joins subepandrial sclerite with a pair of short dorsal and a pair of longer blunt ventral processes. Apical half of surstylus in two lobes: caudal lobe short with a rather small black thorn apically, cranial process longer, rounded with medium long hairs; surstylus rather narrow in caudal view ( Fig. 48 ). There is a round swelling between apical processes, which bears medium-long setae. Otherwise all the thicker (stronger) setae of surstylus are rather short, caudal edge without setae. Postgonite ( Figs 50–51 ) with narrow medial part and broad apical half. At least a half of its apical half with distinct hairs. Basiphallus ( Fig. 51 ) compact with comparatively few peg-like thornlets. Thread-like process of distiphallus very long, spiralic when at rest. Dorsal surface of the basal half of distiphallus with light spines.

Female cerci short, longest (apical) hairlike setae 0.22 mm long.

Etymology. Its specific epithet ‘duploseriata’ refers to the two rather distant ventral rows of dense short setae of its mid basitarsus. This is the main differentiating character for the species and also details of the male genitalia separate it from the 3 species of “ Other Poecilosomella spp. ” in the key below.

Poecilosomella hyalipennis HACKMAN, 1965 . I had the opportunity to study its holotype male ( NMSA): Bainskloof, Wellington c. 2000 ft, W Cape, 4–5 Oct 1959, B & P. Stuckenberg. Distal half of abdomen cut. An uncovered [? balsam] preparation on a celluloid label under the specimen. Unfortunately, this preparation is unsatisfactory, being dirty and broken into pieces. Its label: [red] Holotype “ Poecilosomella hyalipennis Hackm. ” [HACKMAN’ s handwriting]. Paratype ( NMSA): GRAHAMSTOWN, South Africa, “ 2-x-1953 ”, B. Stuckenberg. Its second label is similar to the one on the holotype but paratypus. In a good state of preservation. A note: the apex of its fore basitarsus is also white .

Holotype. A small specimen. Antenna all dark, arista with very fine short cilia. Fronto-orbital setae subequal and comparatively short. Basal scutellar setae twice longer than distance of the basal and the apical scutellar setae. Wings clear but apex of vein R 2+3 diffuse brown. Vein R 2+3 curved angulate, without a short vein appendage (!). R 4+5 nicely curved up. Costa continued over R 4+5 on a distance equalling thickness of costa. Inter-crossvein / hind crossvein ratio c. 1.3. Legs dark brown, fore tarsomeres 2–5 white, also tarsomeres 3–5 of hind tarsi white, mid tarsomeres 2–5 yellow. Anterodorsals on mid tibia: an extremely long at distal 5/7, 1 long each at basal and distal third, short anterodorsals at c. basal 1/6 and distal 3/5; posterodorsals: a very log one just proximally to the ad, plus 3 short posterodorsals: at proximal 1/6, 1/3 and 1/2.

Male sternite 5 asymmetrical, but less so than that of the P. pallidimana species group. No medio-caudal rounded process; sternite 5 medio-caudally with a short but broad area of short sharp setae ( Fig. 52 ). Male genitalia figures ( Figs 53–57 ) are based on a specimen from Ethiopia. Cercal part of the epandrial complex without long setae, caudal edge with a small sagittal process ( Fig. 53 ). Surstylus ( Figs 53–54 ) most characteristic: caudal apical process long and thin its thorn is like an anvil, caudal process with some 4–5 long setae only, cranial process shorter with several long setae. for Figs 54–57

Postgonite ( Fig. 55 ) peculiar with narrow basal part and broad apical part. Apical part pointed in lateral view, actually with 2 edges, similarly to a skate ( Fig. 56 ). Threadlike process of distiphallus medium long but its apical half very thin and faint, hardly discernible ( Fig. 57 ).

Material studied: Ethiopia: 1 male 1 female ( HNHM): Addis Abeba, Akaki river , 13/ 29. IX. 1980, leg. A. DEMETER. Republic of South Africa, leg. L. PAPP & M. FÖLDVÁRI 2007: 1 male ( HNHM): KwaZulu Natal, S Drakensberg, a riverside meadow nr Garden Castle ( Mlambonja River ), Jan 20, 2007, GPS21, S29°44’59.4” E29°12’42.1”, 1811 m, No. 28; 1 female ( HNHM): ibid., Garden Castle, under overhanging rocks, Jan 23, No. 36; 1 male ( NMSA): Natal, Giant’s Castle Game Res., Injamuti area , SE2929AB, JGH Londt, 5–11. xii. 1983 .

Poecilosomella hyalipennis HACKMAN is a peculiar species in the genus. Its wings are clear (except for a diffuse spot under costa around apex of R 2+3), which is unique in the genus. The shape of its surstylus, its anvil-shaped apical thorn and other features of male genitalia define its special position. Its white fore tarsomeres 2 to 5 (and white hind tarsomeres 3 to 5) would suggest a relationship to the P. pallidimana group, but that is misleading.

Distribution. Ethiopia, South Africa.It is probably a widespread but nowhere common species.

Poecilosomella perinetica ( HACKMAN, 1967) ( Leptocera (Poecilosomella) ). – The holotype is deposited in the Natural History Museum (Basel) from Madagascar, Province of Diégo-Suarez, Mtge d’Ambre. This ninth formerly known species has hitherto been only known from Madagascar. Not seen during this study.

Figures

Figs 46–51. Poecilosomella duploseriata sp. n., paratype male, genitalia. 46 = ventral part of epandrium with cerci and subepandrial sclerite, caudal view, 47 = surstylus in broadest extension (a sublateral view), 48 = outline of surstylus, caudal view at its longest extension, 49 = hypandrium, ventral view, 50 = postgonite in broadest (sublateral) view, 51 = phallus, phallapodeme and post- gonite, lateral view. Scales: 0.2 mm for Figs 46–49, 51, 0.1 mm for Fig. 50

Figs 69–72. Wings of Poecilosomella spp. n. 69 = P. additionalis sp. n. (paratype female); 70 = P. duploseriata sp. n. (paratype male), 71 = P. setimanus sp. n. (holotype male); 72 = P. setosissima sp. n.

Figs 52–57. Poecilosomella hyalipennis HACKMAN, male postabdomen and genitalia.52 = outlineof sternite 5 in ventral view and medio-caudal part of the sternite in higher magnification, 53 = epandrium with cerci, surstyli and subepandrial sclerite, caudal view, 54 = surstylus in its broadest extension (a sublateral view), 55 = postgonite, in broadest view, 56 = same, caudal view, 57 = apical thread-like process of phallus with contours of distiphallus. Scales: 0.2 mm for Figs 52–53, 0.1 mm