Delia endorsina, Ackland, 2008

Ackland, D. M., 2008, Revision of Afrotropical Delia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 (Diptera: Anthomyiidae), with descriptions of six new species, African Invertebrates 49 (1), pp. 1-75 : 56-58

Delia endorsina sp. n.

Figs 91–98

Etymology: The specific name endorsina is an anagram of andersoni and indicates its close relationship with D. andersoni .

Diagnosis:

♂ Similar to D. andersoni and only reliably separated by examination of the genitalia.

Description:

Male.

Differs from D. andersoni as follows: mid tibia with distinct ad, pd, and 2 pv; these are not very long, but in the material available they are stronger than the setae (when present) on the mid tibia in D. andersoni . Surstyli ( Figs 91, 92 ) longer in proportion to length of cercal plate, length from the apex of the cercal plate to apex of surstyli is 2.2–2.4× length of cercal plate (in andersoni 1.76–1.86×); distal section of aedeagus ( Figs 96, 97 ) bearing long paraphalli (absent in andersoni ) which reach slightly beyond apex of distal section, and which are (in ventral view) strongly diverging, spines of the distal section beginning medially and ending well before the apex. Wing length 4.5 mm.

Female.

Head: As in the female of andersoni the setae on mid tibia are much stronger than in the male; 2 of the 3 ♀paratypes of endorsina differ from the ♀of andersoni in having a small but distinct prealar seta, darker and more distinct scutal stripes, the median one wider, especially its continuation onto the scutellum; frontal stripe darker, including the frontal triangle (which is not so clearly delineated), and the inner half of the parafrontals, the dusting being brassy brown. Wing length 5 mm.

Holotype: ♂ MALAWI: ‘ Nyika National Park / 2.iii.1987, 2607 m / J. & A. Londt, Nganda / summitgrassveld’ ( NMSA).

Paratypes: 1 ♂ 3♀same data as holotype ( NMSA) .

Discussion: D. endorsina differs from andersoni mainly in the structure of the distiphallus, which has two long narrow paraphalli (absent in andersoni ); the denticles on the distiphallus end below the dorsal prolongation, ending well before the tips of the paraphalli.

Life history: Unknown.

Distribution: Known only from the type locality in Malawi.

Figures

Figs 91–98. Delia endorsina sp. n., male paratype (Malawi): (91) cercal plate and surstyli; (92) ditto, lateral view; (93) sternites IV–V; (94) sternite V, lateral view; (95) gonites; (96) distiphallus, lateral view; (97) ditto, ventral view; (98) hind femur. Scale bar = 0.1 mm.