Pseudacteon botulpalpatus Disney et Michailovskaya

Liu, Guang-Chun & Disney, R. Henry L., 2022, Revision of the ant-parasitizing genus Pseudacteon Coquillett (Diptera, Phoridae) from China, Zootaxa 5138 (3), pp. 201-237 : 213-214

6. Pseudacteon botulpalpatus Disney et Michailovskaya

( Figs. 8A–G )

Pseudacteon botulpalpatus Disney et Michailovskaya, 2000: 36 .

Diagnosis. Female. Apical seta longer than maximum width of palpus; fore tarsomere 5 a little longer than fore tarsomere 1; setal palisade 1/2 length of mid tibia; setulae below basal half of hind femur shorter than those of anteroventral row of outer half; tergite VI narrow, weakly sclerotized, each lateral quarter with 3 long and 5–6 shorter setulae; sternite VI divided into two pieces, with 2–3 long and 4–5 short setae; dorsum of oviscape with 12 short setulae on sub-apex of each side.

Female. Body length 1.25 mm. Frons ( Fig. 8A ) brown, with 22–26 setulae. Supra-antennal setae as strong as adjacent frontal setae, upper pair slightly higher on frons than lower fronto-orbital setae. Lower interfrontal seta directly under fronto-orbital setae. Second row of frontal setae slightly concave, with lower interfrontal setae clearly further apart than either is from a lower fronto-orbital seta. Flagellomere 1 brown and subglobose. Palpus pale yellow, with 5 long setae, apical one longer than maximum width of palpus. Labrum and labella pale yellow.

Thorax brown. Scutellum with two pairs of setae, posterior twice length of anterior. Legs yellowish brown to brown. Ratios of lengths of fore tarsomeres 0.93: 0.67: 0.66: 0.57: 1, with all five bearing a posterodorsal setal palisade ( Fig. 8C ). Setal palisade 1/2 length of mid tibia ( Fig. 8D ). Setulae below basal half of hind femur shorter than those of anteroventral row of outer half ( Fig. 8E ). Wing ( Fig. 8B ) length 1.00– 1.02 mm, width 0.47–0.48 mm, width/length 0.47. Costal index 0.37. Costal ratio 1.56: 1, second section with 4 dorsal setulae. Costal cilia 0.044– 0.045 mm long. Alula with 2 setae. Veins brown, thin veins being paler. Membrane brownish gray. Haltere brown.

Abdominal tergites brown and tergites I–V with sparse minute setulae only. Tergite VI reduced to a narrow transverse strip, bearing 3–4 long setae and 4–5 short setulae each side. Sternite VI divided into two oval pieces, each with 2 long setae ( Fig. 8F ). Oviscape brown. The dorsum of the oviscape 3–4 small setulae each side. The venter of the oviscape with 6 fine setulae each side ( Fig. 8G ).

Distribution. China (Liaoning).

Specimens examined. 1♀, Liaoning, Tieling, Mt. Longshou (42°17′39.0″N, 123°51′47.50″E), 27-July-2018, Jiao Zhang .

Remarks. This species is similar to P. reticulatus sp. nov., it differs from the latter by more frontal setulae, longer second section of wing vein costa, two rounded pieces of sternite VI and no extended membranous apex. It looks also similar to the female of P. pullum Michailovskaya, 2000 , it differs from the latter by narrower abdominal tergite VI, oval sternite VI and smaller vein costal ratio.

Figures

FIGURES 8A–G. Pseudacteon botulpalpatus Disney et Michailovskaya, female.A. head, anterior view; B. wing, dorsal view; C. fore tarsus, posterior view; D. mid tibia, posterior view; E. hind femur, anterior view; F. tergite VI and sternite VI; G. ovipositor, right view. Scale bar = 0.1mm.