Cyaforma shenonica Wang, 1989

Chen, Xiaolin, Wang, Yong & Huangfu, Ning, 2024, A review of Cyaforma Wang (Diptera: Tephritidae), with some biological notes on the genus, Zootaxa 5543 (2), pp. 247-256 : 253

Cyaforma shenonica Wang, 1989

( Fig. 6 )

Cyaforma shenonica Wang, 1989 b: 359 . Type-locality: Shennongjia, Hubei, China. Holotype male in IZCAS.— Norrbom, 1994: 10.— Wang, 1996:114.

Diagnosis. This species is readily distinguished from other known Cyaforma by having 2 postpronotal and 1 postsutural supra-alar setae; intrapostalar setae absent; scutum black, with 2 submedian yellow vittae extending from anterior margin almost to prescutellar acrostichal setae; katepisternum and meron yellow; scutellum, subscutellum and mediotergite entirely black; wing predominantly black, with only narrow hyaline area along posterior margin and hyaline spot in cell m 1 ( Fig. 6 A–D ). Male epandrium and latreal surstyllus somewhat narrow in profile, lateral surstylus nearly rounded at apex in profile, medial surstylus well developed and with 2 black different-sized prensisetae. Aculeus greatly expanded at base, strongly curved dorsally and apically tapered to a point; 3 pale, subspherical spermathecae present.

Distribution. China (Hubei, Sichuan, Shaanxi). Shaanxi is a new province record.

Material examined. Holotype ♂, CHINA: Hubei: Shennongjia, 27.VII.1977, Leyi Zheng and Hanhua Cheng; paratypes: 1 ♂ and 2♀ (one of these as allotype), same data as holotype; 9 ♂ and 8♀, CHINA: Sichuan: Mt. Emei , 1860– 1780m, 9–28.VI–VII.1957, Leyi Zheng and Hanhua Cheng ( IZCAS) . Other material: 1 ♂, same data with holotype, 1640 m, 12.VII.1981, Y. H. Han ; 3 ♂, Sichuan: Mt. Emei , 1783–2000m, 21–28. VI – 4.VIII.1957, Youcai Lu and Shuyong Wang ( IZCAS) ; 7 ♂ and 4♀, CHINA: Shaanxi, Ningshan, Huoditang , 1552m, 7–22.VII.2016, Yong Wang ( IZCAS) ; 1 ♂, 1♀, CHINA: Sichuan, Chong qing, Yintiaoling , 2153m, 20.VIII.2022, Feng Yuan ( IZCAS) ; 1♀, CHINA: Hubei, Xing Shan, Wang Chaoshan , 1330–1420m, 28. VI. 2023, Feng Yuan ( IZCAS) .

Biology. The flies of this species ( Fig. 6 A–C ) were observed in Huoditang, Shannxi Province, China by Xiaolin Chen and Yong Wang in the summer of 2016. The collection site had high humidity and dense vegetation, located at an elevation of 1552m. The habitat was a broad-leaved forest along a small walking path. We found two closely related species, Ortalotrypeta costamacula Chen & Wang, 2021 and C. shenonica in the grass under trees. They lived in the habitat where Pilea and graminaceous plants were the dominant vegetation. There were also some sawfly larvae in the habitat. Several flies and sawfly larvae were collected and maintained together in a cage. One female C. shenonica was observed to prick the body of a sawfly larva using its abdomen ( Fig. 6D ) which is perhaps evidence of parasitic habits for this species. In addition, when C. shenonica was maintained together with O. costamacula in a cage, C. shenonica seemed more aggressive than O. costamacula .

Figures

FIGURE 6. Cyaforma shenonica Wang, 1989 A–C. Living adult in field at Shannxi, China on leaves of different plants; D. living female prick body of a sawfly larva using its abdomen in a cage