Porricondyla diversicornis, Jaschhof & Jaschhof, 2020

Jaschhof, Mathias & Jaschhof, Catrin, 2020, The Porricondylini (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae: Porricondylinae) of Sweden revisited: descriptions of nineteen new species of ten genera, including a new genus, Zootaxa 4728 (2), pp. 151-182 : 168-170

Porricondyla diversicornis sp. nov.

Figs 32–33

Diagnosis. Possessing one single, solid tooth at the gonostylar apex, P. diversicornis belongs to species group B ( Jaschhof & Jaschhof 2013: 219 ff.). Among the many, similar-looking members of that group, this new species is distinguished by asymmetrical parameres, the right one being considerably broader subapically than the left one ( Fig. 32 , ↓ 3). The only other species we know that is similar in this respect is P. errabunda Mamaev ( Jaschhof & Jaschhof 2013: fig. 104C), which in Sweden occurs in the same sites as P. diversicornis (see the remarks below). Another peculiarity of P. diversicornis is that the gonocoxal processes have small hooks dorsally ( Fig. 32 , ↓ 4). We do not know any other Porricondyla with exactly that feature, but some species were described to have gonocoxal processes with triangular, lateral outgrowths, such as the Central Asian P. bifurcata Mamaev and P. petiolata Mamaev ( Mamaev & Zaitzev 1996: figs 19–20). As a third character diagnostic of P. diversicornis , the gonostylus is conspicuously slender, almost three times as long as broad ( Fig. 32 ). Females and larvae of this new species are unknown.

Other male characters. Body size 1.8–2.5 mm. Head. Eye bridge 6–7 ommatidia long at vertex. Antenna about as long as body. Scape and pedicel lighter than flagellum. All flagellomeres with circumfila. Neck of fourth flagellomere 1.5–1.6 times as long as node ( Fig. 33 ). Palpus 1.5 times as long as head height, 4 setose, subcylindrical segments, apical segment longest of all. Thorax. Presutural windows distinct. Pronotum with 2–4 setae; anepisternum with 2–5 setae; anepimeron with 3–4 setae. Wing about as long as body. Length / width ratio 2.9. M 1+2 absent. Hind fork complete. Legs. Foreleg: femur slightly shorter than tibia, tibia 1.2 times as long as T 2. Claws with 1 large and 2–3 smaller teeth basally. Empodia broad, as long as claws. Genitalia ( Fig. 32 ). Gonocoxal synsclerite: setae confined to ventrolateral and dorsal portions; narrowed ventrobasal portion long, with a few lateral setae; ventral emargination shallow, evenly rounded, reinforced basally; processes long with rounded apices; ventrobasal edge straight; dorsal apodemes long, slightly projecting beyond ventrobasal edge. Gonostylus: medial surface more sparsely setose compared with outer surface; 2–3 inconspicuous, long bristles mediosubapically; apical tooth slightly flattened, blunt-ended. Parameral apices oriented dorsolaterally. Aedeagal apodeme about as long as gonocoxae, slightly broadened basally, apex unmodified. Ducts of accessory glands inconspicuous.

Etymology. The Latin adjective diversicornis means ̒asymmetrical horns’, referring to the dissimilar parameres found in this species.

Type material. Holotype. Male , Sweden, Uppland , Älvkarleby , Båtfors, pine forest, 17 July–16 August 2005, Malaise trap, Swedish Malaise Trap Project (trap 7, collecting event 1593) (spn. CEC 2289 in NHRS) . Paratypes. 4 males, same data as the holotype (spns CEC2290 – CEC 2291 in NHRS, CEC2292 – CEC 2293 in SDEI) .

Other material. Sweden: 1 male, Skåne, Ystad, Sandhammaren strand, Järahusen , pine forest bordering coastal dunes, 30 July–26 September 2005, MT, SMTP (trap 1005, collecting event 1421) (spn. CEC 2295 in NHRS) ; 1 male, Öland, Mörbylånga, Frösslunda alvar, grazed alvar, 28 July–24 August 2004, MT, SMTP (trap 20, collecting event 982) (spn. CEC 2294 in SDEI) ; 1 male, Gotland, Roleks , grazed pine forest, 2–19 August 2004, MT, SMTP (trap 1005, collecting event 1459) (spn. SE 182 in NHRS) .

Remark on the occurrence. All the four sites where P. diversicornis was collected are dry habitats, and three of the sites are pine forests. As another overlap, all the specimens were captured rather late in summer, between 17 July (at the northernmost locality) and 26 September (at the southernmost locality).

Figures

FIGURES 30–33. Male morphology of Porricondyla bidentula (30–31) and Porricondyla diversicornis (32–33), holotypes. 30: Fourth flagellomere, lateral. 31: Genitalia, ventral. 32: Genitalia, ventral. 33: Fourth flagellomere, lateral. Scales 0.05 mm. Arrows refer to characters described in the diagnoses.