Hydrotaea maculithorax Stein, 1913

Vikhrev, Nikita E., 2024, Review of Hydrotaea dentipes species group (Diptera, Muscidae), Amurian Zoological Journal XVI (4), pp. 1008-1020 : 1015-1016

Hydrotaea maculithorax Stein, 1913

Fig. 4

TANZANIA, Makete , 9.26 º S, 34.12 º E, 2250 m, 19– 24.12.2021, N. Vikhrev, 4♂ .

Distribution. Known from Zimbabwe (Salisbury = Harare, 1500 m) and Tanzania, Makete, 2250 m.

Remarks. H. maculithorax was described from a single female from Zimbabwe.

Unfortunately, I have not properly examined the type in ZMHU where it is stored. According to the description by Stein ( Stein 1913: 506), the female of H. maculithorax differs from the similar H. fasciata by smaller size, shining fronto-orbital plates and postsutural spots fused in black transversal band.

Four males collected in Makete have these characters and certainly differ from males of H. fasciata . I identified Tanzanian males as H. maculithorax .

Description of male. Body length 6 mm. Head. Eyes with long and dense hairs. Distance between eye margins less than width of antenna. Fronto-orbital plates narrow, shining. Arista virtually almost bare. Thorax with Anthomyia -like pattern, which is similar to that in H. fasciata , but more distinct (Fig. 4). Presutural part with median and small lateral spots; postsutural median and lateral spots fused in black transversal band. Scutal chaetotaxy: 2+4 dc; 2 prst ac; notopleuron entirely bare; prealar seta absent; katepimeron bare. Wing with vein M slightly curved forward at apex. Calypters yellow, halter black. Legs. f1 with apical tooth; t1 emarginated in basal half, without p seta. f 2 in basal half with: outward directed a setae; av and pv setae fine and short. t2 with 2–3 pd and in apical quarter with a row of 5–6 fine av. f3 with av and pv setae fine, about as long as femur width, near apex with 4–5 long av and pv setae. t3 densely setulose, with av, ad and pv rows, 1 strong pd. Abdominal tergites 3 and 4 densely whitish-grey dusted, with black median vitta and black bands at posterior and anterior margins.