Aphaniosoma incudisternum Ebejer, 2008

Ebejer, Martin J., 2023, The genus Aphaniosoma Becker, 1903 (Diptera: Chyromyidae) in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East, with descriptions of new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 872, pp. 1-161 : 79-81

Aphaniosoma incudisternum Ebejer, 2008

Figs 44–45

Material examined

ISRAEL • 17 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Dead Sea , Zomet Zohar; 31°08ʹ N, 35°21ʹ E; alt. - 338 m; 25 Mar. 2000; M.J. Ebejer leg.; on Tamarix sp. ; MJE • 5 ♂♂; same collection data as for preceeding; SMNHTAU • 2 ♂♂, preserved in glycerine; same collection data as for preceding; MJE • 2 ♂♂; N. Arava valley ; 30°46ʹ N, 35°14ʹ E; 25 Mar. 2000; M.J. Ebejer leg.; on Tamarix and chenopods; MJE .

Remarks

A yellow species ( Fig. 44 ) with pale brown scutal vittae and bands on the abdominal tergites; mediotergite dark. The frons has a pair of longer setae in front of the anterior ocellus. It is one of the most difficult species to identify because of the pale structures of the male hypopygium (only the postgonite dark) ( Fig. 45 ), their small size and the ease with which maceration destroys some diagnostic features. It is one of the four species described from the United Arab Emirates. Identification requires examination of the dissected male abdomen where the easiest feature to appreciate is the structure of abdominal sternites 3–5 ( Ebejer 2008: 687, fig. 9).

Distribution

United Arab Emirates ( Ebejer 2008). New record for Israel.

Figures

Fig. 44. Aphaniosoma incudisternum Ebejer, 2008, ♂ (MJE), habitus, lateral view.

Fig. 45. Aphaniosoma incudisternum Ebejer, 2008, ♂ (MJE), hypopygium in situ A. Posterior view. B. Postero-lateral view.