Aprionus tyri, Jaschhof & Jaschhof, 2017

Jaschhof, Mathias & Jaschhof, Catrin, 2017, New species of Aprionus (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae, Micromyinae) from Sweden and other parts of the Palearctic region, European Journal of Taxonomy 378, pp. 1-38 : 28-29

Aprionus tyri sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:1157FB7B-98F0-4060-8260-9F4CE291B881

Fig. 16

Diagnosis

Aprionus tyri sp. nov. is extremely similar to A. magnussoni Jaschhof & Jaschhof, 2015 .The most obvious distinction is the shape of the gonostylus, which in A. tyri sp. nov. is essentially elongate, i.e., three times as long as wide, with the posterior margin slightly convex (↓, Fig. 16A ) and in A. magnussoni is compact, i.e., two times as long as wide, with the posterior margin strongly convex ( Jaschhof & Jaschhof 2015: fig. 3A). Another distinction, but one that is hard to depict because the relevant structures are tiny, is the gonostylar tooth, which is rather straight and with the base broadly adpressed to the gonostylar body in A. tyri sp. nov., while beak-shaped and protruding from the gonostylar body in A. magnussoni . The tegmen of A. tyri sp. nov. is slightly bulkier and has a pair of dark (refractive) margins ventrally (↓, Fig. 16A ); these are absent in A. magnussoni ( Jaschhof & Jaschhof 2015: fig. 3A). The subanal plate of A. tyri sp. nov. is broader and has a narrow, V-shaped sclerotization on the posterior margin (↓, Fig. 16A ); in A. magnussoni this margin is broadly U-shaped ( Jaschhof & Jaschhof 2015: fig. 3A). Nongenitalic morphology (see Jaschhof & Jaschhof 2015: 164) is identical in both species.

Etymology

Tyr, whose one-handedness is an important defining attribute, is regarded as one of the principal war gods.

Material examined

Holotype

SWEDEN: ♂, Halland, Laholm, Mästocka heathland, 56.36° N, 13.14° E, heath near grove, Malaise trap, Swedish Malaise Trap Project (trap 34, collecting event 1091), 4–15 Jun. 2004 ( NHRS, no. CEC180 ).

Paratypes

SWEDEN: 2 ♂♂, same data as for the holotype ( NHRS, nos CEC 181, CEC 190).

Other material studied

SWEDEN: 1 ♂, Öland, Mörbylånga, Ottenby, Södra lunden, 56.13° N, 16.25 °E, nemoral grove, MT, SMTP (trap 21, collecting event 991), 27 May–7 Jun. 2004 ( NHRS, no. CEC 189); 2 ♂♂, Östergötland, Ödeshög, Omberg, Stocklycke meadow, 58.18° N, 14.37° E, calcareous meadow, MT, SMTP (trap 13, collecting event 909), 25 May–8 Jun. 2003 ( NHRS, nos CEC 187–188); 5 ♂♂, Lule Lappmark, Jokkmokk, Norden, Sikan river, swampy birch forest, MT, MCJ leg., 12 Jul.–9 Aug. 2005 ( DEI, nos CEC 182–186).

Remarks

Specimens described here as A. tyri sp. nov. were first thought to be atypical A. magnussoni , until we discovered that both morphotypes occur sympatrically (even in one and the same Malaise sample) without showing intermediate characters. Our decision to consider these two morphotypes to be distinct species is based on the study of 11 males of A. tyri sp. nov. from four different localities, and 10 males of A. magnussoni from two different localities. Sympatric occurrence was observed at the type-locality.

Specimens of Aprionus magnussoni studied

SWEDEN: all types (see Jaschhof & Jaschhof 2015); 2 ♂♂, same data as for the types, but 4–15 Jun. 2004 (DEI, nos CEC125–126); 1 ♂, Öland, Mörbylånga, Frösslunda alvar, 56.32° N, 16.34° E, alvar pasture, MT, SMTP (trap 20, collecting event 1495), 9 May–3 Jun. 2005 (NHRS, no. CEC124).

Distribution and phenology

Sweden (Halland, Öland, Östergötland, Lule Lappmark). This species was found to occur in various types of open woodland and scrubby grassland from the nemoral to the boreal zones, with adults collected in late spring (in the south) and summer (in the north).

Figures

Fig. 16. Aprionus tyri sp. nov., holotype, ♂. A. Genitalia, ventral. B. Fourth flagellomere, lateral. Scale lines: 0.05 mm. Arrows indicate diagnostic characters.