Limonia sylvicola (Schummel, 1829)

Ren, Jinlong & Yang, Ding, 2020, Two new species of Limonia Meigen, 1803 from Northwest China (Diptera, Limoniidae), ZooKeys 971, pp. 31-58 : 31

6. Limonia sylvicola (Schummel, 1829) Figures 45-47 , 48-52 , 53

Limnobia sylvicola Schummel 1829: 605.

Limnobia affinis Zetterstedt 1838: 605 (synonymy).

Limnobia tripunctata Zetterstedt 1838: 605 (synonymy).

Diagnosis.

Flagellar verticils 2 times longer than corresponding segment, but shorter in some specimens. Prescutum with one very broad brown mid-longitudinal stripe. Wings yellow variegated with grayish smoky markings, and three grayish spots at basal Rs, apical Sc and R2; Sc1 apically reaching 1/2-3/4 of Rs. Gonostylus long and slender. Posterior margin of tergite 9 emarginated. Gonostylus with sharp apex and swollen base. Apex of paramere ended at 3/4 of aedeagus. Ventral margin of aedeagus with H-shaped. Female, hypogynial valve 2.3 times longer than wide at base.

Redescription.

Male (n = 13): body length 6-8 mm, wing length 7-8 mm.

Head dull brown (Figs 45 , 46 ). Vertex dull brown, with two yellow markings at outer margin near eyes (Fig. 46 ). Occiput dull yellow, covered with black setulae. Antenna yellow and 14-segmented; scape and pedicel dull brown; flagellomeres nearly cylindrical; flagellar verticils grayish yellow, 2 times longer than corresponding segment but short in some specimens. Nasus 1/2 as long as rostrum. Rostrum brown or dull brown. Labella pale yellow, except inner margin brown. Palpi brown, with black setulae.

Thorax mostly brownish yellow (Figs 45 , 46 ). Cervical sclerite pale brown, with black outer margin. Pronotum dark brown, with black setulae. Prescutum with broad, brown longitudinal stripe, and with black setulae at lateral margin. Scutum brown, with black setulae at outer margin. Scutellum pale yellow, but mid-anterior margin with round, yellow marking. Mediotergite dull brown (Fig. 46 ). Mesopleura dull yellow; subspiracular sclerite brownish yellow; anepimeron and katepisternum with black setulae. Legs with coxae and trochanters yellow, except frontal coxae brown; femora yellow, with one dark-brown subapical ring; tibiae yellow, with reddish-brown subapical ring; tarsi yellow to dark brown onwards. Setulae on legs black. Wings yellow, variegated with grayish smoky markings, and three grayish spots at basal Rs, apical Sc, and R2; Sc1 apically reaching 1/2-3/4 of Rs; basal deflection of CuA1 beyond branching point of M; some specimens R2 absent in some specimens (Fig. 47 ). Halter: stem white; knob dull gray.

Abdomen mainly brown (Fig. 45 ). Sternite 8 reddish brown. Each abdominal segment with one pale-brown ring at posterior margin. Abdomen covered with golden setulae. Abdominal segments 7-8 reddish brown.

Hypopygium reddish brown (Figs 49-51 ). Posterior margin of tergite 9 emarginated (Fig. 48 ). Gonocoxite long cylindrical. Gonostylus with sharp apex and swollen base covered with black setulae (Figs 48 , 49 ). Paramere with fan-shaped base and sharp apex, ending at 3/4 of aedeagus (Figs 49-51 ). Aedeagus forked; ventral margin with mid-protrusion triangular in lateral view; ventral margin with uniquely H-shaped pattern in middle and anterior margin fish-tail-like in shape (Figs 49 , 51 ).

Female (n = 4): body length 9 mm, wing length 8-10 mm.

Female resembling male in head, thorax, and wing. Female terminalia pale yellow. Cercus yellow with slightly arched dorsally at apex, slender and 2.4 times longer than wide at base. Hypogynial valve 2.3 times longer than wide at base; lateral margin with broad, black marking (Figs 53 , 54 ).

Biology.

This species is often collected with L. phragmitidis (Schrank, 1781) and L. stigma (Meigen, 1818), and it is a dominant species in Hemu (China: Xinjiang, Burqin). These species often aggregate in shaded understory plants in white birch forests during the day (Fig. 46 ).

Material examined.

1 male, China: Xinjiang, Habahe, Baihabacun, 48.68N, 86.79E, elev. 1350 m, 2016.VII.11, Jinlong Ren (CAU). 1 male, China: Xinjiang, Habahe, Baihabacun, 48.67N, 86.80E, elev. 1020 m, 2016.VII.12, Jinlong Ren (CAU). 1 male, China: Xinjiang, Habahe, Baihabacun, 48.67N, 86.79E, elev. 1630 m, 2016.VII.12, Jinlong Ren (CAU). 1 male China: Xinjiang, Habahe, Baihabacun, 48.66N, 86.79E, elev. 1730 m, 2016.VII.13, Jinlong Ren (CAU). 2 males, China: Xinjiang, Burqin, Kanas, 48.68N, 86.99E, elev. 1470 m, 2016.VII.16, Jinlong Ren (CAU). 7 males, 2 females, China: Xinjiang, Burqin, Kanas Lake, 48.74N, 87.01E, elev. 1390 m, 2016.VII.17, Jinlong Ren (CAU). 2 males, China: Xinjiang, Burqin, Kanas, 48.66N, 87.00E, elev. 1310 m, 2016.VII.19, Jinlong Ren (CAU). 1 female, China: Xinjiang, Burqin, Hemu, 48.43N, 87.57E, elev. 1040 m, 2016.VII.21, Jinlong Ren (CAU). 12 males, 9 females, China: Xinjiang, Burqin, Hemu, 48.58N, 87.45E, elev. 1160 m, 2016.VII.21, Jinlong Ren (CAU). 103 males, 58 females (CAU), China: Xinjiang, Burqin, Hemu, 48.56N, 87.44E, elev. 1150 m, 2016.VII.22, Jinlong Ren. 1 male, 1 female, China: Xinjiang, Burqin, Hemu, 48.572530N, 87.433929E, elev. 1090 m, 2016.VII.22, Jinlong Ren (light trap) (CAU). 276 males, 152 females, China: Xinjiang, Burqin, Hemu, 48.56N, 87.44E, elev. 1200 m, 2016.VII.23, Jinlong Ren (CAU).

Distribution.

China (Xinjiang: Burqin, Habahe), Japan (Hokkaido), Kazakhstan, Russia.

Remark.

This is the first report of this species from China.

Figures

Figures 45 - 47. Limonia sylvicola, male 45 male habitus, lateral view 46 head and thorax, dorsal view 47 right wing. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

Figures 48 - 52. Limonia sylvicola, male 48 hypopygium, dorsal view 49 hypopygium, ventral view 50 hypopygium, lateral view 51 aedeagus and paramere 52 habitat, Hemu, Burqin, Xinjiang, China on 22 June 2017. Scale bars: = 0.1 mm (48 - 51).

Figures 53 - 54. Limonia sylvicola, female 53 cercus and hypogynial valves, lateral view 54 cercus and hypogynial valves, ventral view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.