Fannia altaica Pont & Vikhrev, 2009

Sorokina, Vera S. & Pont, Adrian C., 2011, Fanniidae and Muscidae (Insecta, Diptera) associated with burrows of the Altai Mountains Marmot (Marmota baibacina baibacina Kastschenko, 1899) in Siberia, with the description of new species, Zootaxa 3118, pp. 31-44 : 34-36

Fannia altaica Pont & Vikhrev, 2009

Figs 2 A–C

This species was described from a single male from the Kosh-Agach district (Lake Zerlyukol’-Nur, 2300–2400m, 49º56'N, 88º20'E). The authors pointed out that treeless mountain tundra was a most unusual habitat for Fanniidae and that F. altaica might be associated with burrows of Marmota species ( Pont & Vikhrev 2009). This does indeed appear to be the case according to the new material reported here, as several males and one female have been collected at the entrance to burrows of the Altai Marmot.

Material examined. 4 males and 1 female, RUSSIA, Respublika Altai, Kosh-Agachskiy rayon, verkhov’ya r. Naryn-Gol [upper River Naryn-Gol], 2520 m, 49º49'N 89º32'E, na surchinakh [from Marmot burrows], 15– 19.vii.2009, V. Sorokina (2 males OUMNH & BMNH, rest SZNM); 4 males, the same, V. Sorokina, T. Novgorodova ( SZNM); 1 male, Respublika Altai, Kosh-Agachskiy rayon, dolina r. Tara [River Tara valley], 2300 m, 49º39'N 88º13'E, na surchinakh [from Marmot burrows], 11.vii.2009, V. Sorokina, T. Novgorodova ( SZNM).

The series of males enables us to add some taxonomic details to the original description: parafacial without setulae in 6 males from Naryn-Gol, with setulae in 2 males from Naryn-Gol and the male from River Tara valley. Prealar usually with a short setula behind it or in front of it. Basal quarter of fore and mid tibiae reddish-yellow and hind tibia wholly reddish-yellow, or all tibiae wholly yellowish. Hind femur with the pv setae less than twice as long as femoral depth. Hind tibia with the ad seta slightly basad or slightly apicad of the submedian d seta, and usually with 2 av. Sternite 1 densely setulose. Abdomen (ventral view) and terminalia as in Figs 2 A–C.

Description. Female: The female has not previously been described. It differs from the male as follows:

Head: Frons broad, at middle half of head width at this point. Fronto-orbital plate and parafacial yellowishgrey dusted. Frontal vitta at narrowest point slightly broader than a fronto-orbital plate. 3 strong and 5-7 weak frontal setae; lower orbital seta slightly closer to inner margin of fronto-orbital plate than to eye-margin; fronto-orbital plate otherwise with numerous short setulae that descend far down on to parafacial. Parafacial and gena slightly broader than in male.

Thorax: Grey dusting tinged with yellow.

Burrows of

Marmota bai- Marmota bai- Marmota caudata Marmota mar- Species of flies bacina baibacina bacina centralis aurea Blandford mota Linnaeus

Kastschenko Thomas (Pamir)2 (Alps)3 (Altai) (Tien Shan)1

Fanniidae

Sources: 1) Sychevskaya & Vtorov (1969); 2) Sychevskaya (1966, 1970); 3) Pont & Ackland (1995). * — Fannia sp. of Pont & Ackland (1995) was subsequently shown to be a new species, described as Fannia monticola by Pont (1996).

** —This is probably Phaonia nigrirostrata Zinoviev (Zinoviev 1983) .

Legs: All tibiae mainly yellow. Fore tibia with a stronger ad setula at apical fifth. Mid femur bare ventrally except for a few short av on basal third, shorter than femoral depth. Mid tibia without the ventral mat of hairs, without ventral setae. Hind femur without pv; on av surface with 4 short setae in basal half and 3 well-spaced strong setae in apical half.

Abdomen: Completely grey dusted, tinged with yellow, without trace of any dark markings. Tergites 4 and 5 without long setae ventrally. Sternite 1 bare.

Other characters are as described for the male ( Pont & Vikhrev 2009).

Measurements: Length of body, 7.5 mm. Length of wing, 7.0 mm.

Distribution. Russia, Altai Mts.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Fannia altaica Pont & Vikhrev, male. A. Sternite 5, ventral view. B. Abdomen, ventral view. C. Terminalia, posterior view.