Sarcophaga (Heteronychia) rosellensis, Whitmore, Daniel, 2011

Whitmore, Daniel, 2011, New taxonomic and nomenclatural data on Sarcophaga (Heteronychia) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae), with description of six new species, Zootaxa 2778, pp. 1-57 : 12-13

Sarcophaga (Heteronychia) rosellensis sp. nov.

( Figs 24–29 )

Type material. Holotype 3: ITALIA – Abruzzo ( CH) [= Chieti prov.] / Abetina di Rosello / Fonte Volpona, 930 m / 17.V.2005 retino [= hand net] / D. Birtele, M. Bardiani & / D. Whitmore leg. // [red label] HOLOTYPE 3 / Sarcophaga / ( Heteronychia ) / rosellensis sp. n. / det. D. Whitmore 2010 (CNBFVR). Paratypes: 3 3: Italy, Abruzzi, Chieti prov., Abetina di Rosello, nr. Fonte Volpona, 930m, 18.V.2005, D. Whitmore, M. Bardiani & D. Birtele leg. (2 CNBFVR, 1 ZMUC); 1 3: Italy, Abruzzi, Chieti prov., Abetina di Rosello, hill top, 1000m, 21.V.2005, D. Whitmore, M. Bardiani & D. Birtele leg. ( ZMUC) [terminalia dissected, placed on a stub and coated for SEM examination].

Diagnosis (3). A medium-sized species of Heteronychia with a narrow frons and narrow parafacial; lower facial margin at most slightly protruding in lateral view; scutellum with a pair of apical setae; wing vein R1 usually bare; costal spine short; microtrichosity of abdomen not very dense, lateral black markings covering whole length of tergites 3−4 in posterior view; abdominal tergite 3 with a pair of strong median marginal setae; epandrium red; tip of cercus with a lateral keel and slight subapical indentation; distiphallus: apical process of harpes sharply tapering, of medium length, directed first apically then ventrally; juxta short, with small triangular lateral processes.

Description (3). Length. 8.0−8.5mm. Colour. Ground colour black, with grey microtrichosity on parafacials, fronto-orbital plate, thorax and abdomen. Thorax with three longitudinal dark vittae; microtrichosity of abdomen forming typical chequered pattern changing with the incidence of light, lateral black markings covering whole length of tergites 3−4 when viewed posteriorly; tergites 3−4 with a continuous atomentose posterior strip when viewed posteriorly. Protandrial segment with a large rounded patch of microtrichosity near margin; epandrium red. Cercus black; surstylus, phallus and gonites dark brown. Head ( Fig. 24 ). Arista thickened on approximately basal 1/4–1/3. Postpedicel ca. 1.5–1.8 times as long as pedicel. Frons at its narrowest point about 0.40–0.45 times the width of an eye in dorsal view. Lateral vertical setae weak, only slightly longer than postocular setae. Parafacial at its narrowest point about 0.15–0.25 times eye width. Lower facial margin at most slightly protruding in lateral view below vibrissa. Gena in profile about 0.25–0.35 times height of eye; postgena entirely covered with white setulae. Occipital setulae white below the first two rows. Thorax. Scutum with 0 + 1 acrostichal, 4 + 3 dorsocentral, 1–2 posthumeral (outer one weak or absent), 1 presutural, 4 notopleural, 2 intraalar and 3 supraalar setae. Scutellum with a pair of apical setae; discal setae situated far from margin. Legs. Mid femur without a subapical posteroventral comb. Mid tibia with 3 anterodorsal, 3–4 posterodorsal, 1 dorsal and 1 anteroventral setae. Hind trochanter with a ventral brush of tightly-spaced, spine-like setae. Hind femur with several strong anteroventral setae in addition to subapical one. Hind tibia with 1–4 anteroventral setae; hind tibia with a single row of long, wavy setulae on posteroventral surface. Wing. Costal spine short. Vein R1 bare on dorsal surface, rarely (one paratype) with a single seta. Second costal section approximately the same length as fourth costal section. Abdomen. Tergite 3 with a pair of strong median marginal setae. Terminalia. Setae on sternite 5 thickened and shortened, forming a tight brush-like structure; marginal setae only slightly longer than others. Protandrial segment with a row of setulae along posterior margin. Epandrium with an elongated ventral margin. Cercus ( Fig. 25 ) with a flat dorsal surface; setae unevenly distributed, with a lateral bare patch in upper half extending to level of apex of surstylus; tip downcurved, with a lateral keel and small subapical indentation. Surstylus ( Fig. 25 ) subtriangular. Pregonite ( Fig. 26 ) with a distinctly widening, ventrally-curved tip, and with an undulated middle section; setae present on proximal half only. Distiphallus ( Fig. 27 ) with a slightly swollen ventral membrane; proximal part of harpes well developed and continuous with distal part; apical process of medium length, tapering and directed first apically, then ventrally; juxta short, with small triangular lateral processes, trilobate in apical view ( Fig. 28 ), with large blunt lateral processes and a subtrapezoidal median process; vesica ( Fig. 29 ) flat and short, subrectangular, with blunt corners.

Female unknown.

Distribution. Abruzzi (central mainland Italy).

Etymology. A Latin adjective referring to the type locality of the new species.

Differential diagnosis. Sarcophaga (Heteronychia) rosellensis sp. nov. is very similar and possibly closely related to S. (H.) vagans Meigen, 1826 , with which it shares the same combination of external morphological characters and the overall shape of the cercus and distiphallus. It differs from S. vagans ( Figs 76–77 ) by the visibly less swollen membrane of distiphallus, and the stouter cercus (in lateral view) and pregonite.

Figures

FIGURES 24 – 29. Sarcophaga (Heteronychia) rosellensis sp. nov. 24. Head, holotype, scale bar 0.5 mm. 25. Cercus and surstylus, paratype from Italy, Abruzzi, Fonte Volpona (ZMUC), scale bar 0.25 mm. 26 – 29. Paratype from Italy, Abruzzi, Fonte Volpona (CNBFVR). 26. Gonites, scale bar 0.1 mm. 27. Distiphallus (lateral), scale bar 0.1 mm. 28. Juxta (apical), scale bar 0.05 mm. 29. Distiphallus (ventral), scale bar 0.1 mm (arrow showing vesica).

FIGURES 66 – 77. 66 – 68. Sarcophaga (Heteronychia) pseudobenaci (Baranov). 66. Cercus and surstylus, specimen from Greece, Hortiatis (CNBFVR), scale bar 0.15 mm. 67 – 68. Specimen from Greece, Stávros (ZMUC), scale bars 0.1 mm. 67. Distiphallus (lateral). 68. Juxta (dorsal). 69 – 71. Sarcophaga (Heteronychia) benaci Böttcher, specimens from Croatia, Krk (NHRS). 69. Cercus and surstylus, scale bar 0.1 mm. 70. Distiphallus (lateral), scale bar 0.05 mm. 71. Juxta (dorsal), scale bar 0.05 mm. 72 – 73. Sarcophaga (Heteronychia) infantilis Böttcher, specimen from Austria, Steinernes Meer (NHRS). 72. Cercus and surstylus, scale bar 0.1 mm. 73. Distiphallus (lateral), 0.05 mm. 74 – 75. Sarcophaga (Heteronychia) shnitnikovi (Rohdendorf), specimen from Kyrgyzstan, Kaindy (ZIN). 74. Cercus and surstylus, scale bar 0.25 mm. 75. Distiphallus (lateral), scale bar 0.1 mm. 76 – 77. Sarcophaga (Heteronychia) vagans Meigen, specimen from Austria, Niedere Tauern (ZMUC), scale bars 0.25 mm. 76. Phallus and gonites. 77. Cercus and surstylus.