Apolysis turkmenica ( Paramonov, 1947 ) Gibbs, 2023

Gibbs, David, 2023, A world review of the bee fly tribe Usiini (Diptera, Bombyliidae) - Part 3: Parageron Paramonov s. lat., European Journal of Taxonomy 863 (1), pp. 1-162 : 154-155

Apolysis turkmenica ( Paramonov, 1947) comb. nov.

Parageron turkmenicus Paramonov, 1947: 218 .

Type material

Holotype

TURKMENISTAN • ♂; “ Askhabad , Transcaspia 23 April 1926 1 ♂ (leg. S.J. Paramonov)/ Oligodranes modestus Lw. S. Paramonov det. ♂ / Parageron turkmenicus sp. Nov ♂ S. Paramonov det./ Holotypus / Zool. Mus. Berlin”; ZMHB.

Other material examined

UZBEKISTAN • 1 ♂; “Samarkand, along river Zeravshan N39°38′ E67°04′ 22 May 1989 1 ♂ ”; NHMUK • 1 ♂; “ 2 km E, pasture N39°39′ E67°01′ 22 May 1989 1 ♂ (leg. Barták, coll. D.J. Greathead)”; NHMUK • 1 ♀; “Kisilkum, Fedchenko/Coll. H.Loew/ Typus / Oligodranes modestus cotypus Lw ♀ /КиЗилъкумъ [Kizilkum]/ Usia sp. Dr. E.O. Engel det/Zool. Mus. Berlin [this specimen is part of the type series of Oligodranes modestus Loew, 1873 (placed in Parageron by Evenhuis & Greathead (1999), Evenhuis & Greathead (2015) and in Protypusia in this review) but is certainly an Apolysis and very likely an example of A. turkmenicus ]”; ZMHB.

Remarks

Unfortunately, the holotype now lacks antennae making a generic diagnosis difficult. However, it is a very small, slender-bodied species with holoptic eyes, a long, narrow discal cell and broadly developed anal lobe, all characters typical of Apolysis . The genitalia are very small and in the undissected specimen were retracted into the apical tergites rendering them invisible. Upon dissection, it became evident that the genitalia are of the Apolysis type, rotated 90°, gonostylus sub-bifurcate, and epiphallus simple. A particularly interesting feature is the apparent absence of the lateral ejaculatory apodeme, a condition found in other Apolysis but never in Usiini . Comparison with two further males from the Greathead collection (in NHMUK) and dissection of a probable female provide further evidence for the placing of this species in Apolysis .

Distribution

Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.