Opacifrons compacta, Papp, 2012

Papp, L., 2012, Five New Afrotropical Species Of Opacifrons (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae), Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 58 (2), pp. 121-143 : 127-129

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.5735739
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039187E2-FB05-FFF2-D319-FDABFE3DFC13
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Opacifrons compacta
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Opacifrons compacta View in CoL sp. n.

( Figs 9–16 View Figs 9–16 , 47–51 View Figs 47–55 )

Holotype male ( HNHM): Ethiopia, Ambo, No. 513, 25. XI. 1980, leg. [ANDRÁS] DEMETER [abdomen and genitalia in a plastic microvial with glycerol].

Paratypes ( HNHM, several males and a female with abdomen and genitalia in a plastic microvial each with glycerol): 4 males 2 females: Ethiopia, Ambo, No. 513, 25. XI. 1980, leg. [ANDRÁS] DEMETER; 4 males: ibid., 23. XI.; 1 male 1 female: Abyssinia, Kovács – Dire-Daua, “ 1911. 11. 19. ” – “ O. coxata St. ?” det. Dr. O. DUDA . R . S.A: 2 males: KwaZulu Natal, N Drakensberg, Cathedral Peak Park, on cow pats, Jan 31, GPS33, S28° 55’ 55.7” E29° 16’ 06.2”, 1359 m, No. 47, leg. L. PAPP GoogleMaps & M. FÖLDVÁRI; 2 males: KwaZulu Natal, N Drakensberg, along eNdumeni River, on sedge and on mud, Jan 31, 2007, No. 45, leg. L. PAPP .

Measurements in mm: body length 1.61 (holotype), 1.32–1.65 (paratypes), wing length 1.63

(holotype), 1.54 –1. 81 (paratypes), wing width 0.68 (holotype), 0.64 –0.72 (paratypes).

A species rather close to O. dilatata sp. n., features not mentioned below may be found in the description of that species, and vice versa.

Body dark grey, incl. facial plate, frons anteriorly and fore coxa and tarsi.

Four rather long interfrontal pairs, longest pair 0.12 mm long. Facial plate shiny. Gena 0.09 mm below eye, longest (oblique) diameter of eye 0.24 mm. Arista 0.60 mm long (holotype). Aristal cilia shorter, at most 0.025 mm, cilia on apex of first flagellomere of the same length.

Prealar callus similar to that of O. subserrata sp. n., i.e. much higher than in O. dilatata sp. n.. Prescutellar acrostichal pair very short, 0.08 mm.

Costal index 0.45 mm / 0.60 mm, i.e. 0.75 only (slightly more on paratypes). Intercrossvein section of M 0.20 mm, crossvein M-M 0.08 mm. Knob of halter dirty yellow, stalk grey.

Male mid tibia with a complete row of anteroventral setae but less dense than in O. dilatata . Anterodorsal setae on mid tibia at 5/18, 5/6, a more anterior (short) one at 25/36, a strong posterodorsal seta at 26/36. Ventral seta on mid basitarsus 0.06 mm, i.e. slightly shorter than in O. dilatata sp. n.. As in its congeners, hind basitarsus and 2nd tarsomere with a row of perpendicular setulae. Claws short and slightly curved, usually parallel with sides of 5th tarsomere.

Abdominal tergites without long marginal setae. Sternite 5 ( Fig. 12 View Figs 9–16 ) rather simple, without caudal processes and medial caudal part is with some very short setae only. Postabdominal sclerites (synsternite with “right-side sclerites”, Fig. 11 View Figs 9–16 ) have specific features: sternite 6 part comparatively broad (actually: long), sternite 7 part broad and curved laterally, sternite 8 part comparatively long. Right side sclerites (see PAPP 2008) slightly but definitely sclerotised. Subepandrial sclerite ( Fig. 9 View Figs 9–16 ) rather broad. Modified cerci ( Fig. 10 View Figs 9–16 ) with a few setae only, blunt and broad apically. Surstylus ( Fig. 15 View Figs 9–16 ) rather simple, sub-triangular, without special apical structures but with rather strong setae both cranially and caudally. Phallus small, compact ( Fig. 13 View Figs 9–16 ). Distiphallus ( Figs 13–14 View Figs 9–16 ) much smaller than in O. dilatata , not broad with dark sclerotised walls. Distiphallus with long flat and broad basal (caudal) extension, which reaches epiphallus base. Basiphallus robust. Postgonite ( Fig. 16 View Figs 9–16 ) short 0.1 mm for Figs 9–10, 13–16 View Figs 9–16

(shorter than 0.1 mm) and broad with a broad apical and a short but sharp caudal projections. Female abdomen rather short, without long setae. Sternite 7 ( Fig. 47 View Figs 47–55 ) rather long, much longer than tergite 7, causing the anal opening to turn dorsally. Epiproct comparatively large ( Fig. 50 View Figs 47–55 ), sagittally less melanised and sclerotised, houseroof-shaped when at rest. Cerci ( Figs 50–51 View Figs 47–55 ) short, not much longer than broad, upright (slightly pressed down on Fig. 50 View Figs 47–55 ) with indistinct hairs but with 2 pairs of thick thorns, whose apices lengthened in thin curved projections. In addition, cercal pegs with1 definite ventral incisions each. Spectacles shaped sclerites well-formed, medial sclerite small ( Fig. 49 View Figs 47–55 ). Spermathecae ( Fig. 48 View Figs 47–55 ) long, longer than pear-shaped, rather racket-shaped, common duct of paired spermathecae rather short.

Etymology. This new species is named after its compact distiphallus.

Remark. Until the last phase of preparing the present paper a male from Tanzania ( Tanzania: Kwasambia, Tanga region, 1–18. II. 1987, leg. Mahunka, Zicsi) had been relegated to the paratypes. However, I found minor differences in the male genitalia and so I did not designate it as a paratype. More material collected in Tanzania and from between those two parts of East Africa is needed to make a good decision.