Dacus (Ambitidacus) pseudomirificus, White, Ian M. & Goodger, Kim F. M., 2009

White, Ian M. & Goodger, Kim F. M., 2009, African Dacus (Diptera: Tephritidae); New Species and Data, with Particular Reference to the Tel Aviv University Collection, Zootaxa 2127, pp. 1-49 : 7-10

Dacus (Ambitidacus) pseudomirificus sp.n.

Figures 7 – 13 .

Diagnosis. As D. elegans Munro, 1984 , except: Thorax. Scutellum without any dark patterning (fig. 7). Thoracic setae. Anterior notopleural seta present. Wing. Cell bc and apical half of cell c coloured; broad crossband on R-M and a very short mark on M/DM-Cu junction (fig. 13). Legs. Forefemur pale with a preapical dark mark; mid- and hindfemora bicoloured (fig. 12).

Description. Size. Medium, wing length, 6.2 – 6.3 mm. Head (fig. 10). Pedicel+first flagellomere not longer than ptilinal suture. Face, antennal furrow without a dark spot. Frons, frontal setae 2, orbital setae absent. Thorax (figs 7, 11). Scutum red-brown with a large submedial black area (or areas) and medial orange stripe; postpronotal lobe yellow; notopleural callus yellow posteriorly, red-brown anteriorly; notopleural suture with a trace of possible xanthine isolated from notopleural callus; lateral postsutural vitta absent; medial postsutural vitta present (not always distinct as within medial orange stripe). Scutellum without any dark patterning. Anepisternum with a stripe from notopleural callus to katepisternum; anteriorly with a trace of yellow beyond level of anterior notoplural seta, which almost reaches postpronotal lobe; not always extended onto katepisternum. Laterotergal xanthine confined to katatergite. Thoracic setae. Anterior notopleural seta present; anterior supra-alar seta absent. Wing (fig. 13). Basal cells bc and c without an almost complete covering of microtrichia; cell bm without microtrichia. Narrow subbasal raised section of cell br with extensive covering of microtrichia. Crossvein R-M beyond middle of cell dm. Costal band complete; deep, extending to vein R4+5 before wing apex; apically expanded into a diagonal spot, narrowly reaching vein M. Anal streak present (colour extending beyond cell bcu) but very short. Cell bc and apical half of cell c coloured (almost as dark as costal band). Crossbanding; broad crossband on R-M and a very short mark on M/ DM-Cu junction. Legs (fig. 12). Forefemur pale with a preapical dark mark; mid- and hindfemora bicoloured (pale basally, black in apical quarter to third). Abdomen (fig. 8). Coalesced broad lateral black marks on terga II – V; medially reddish; tergite V apical half and oviscape reddish; shape similar to D. elegans . Tergites I – V all fused. Male. Unknown. Female (fig. 13). Aculeus pointed; no torsion.

Etymology. Descriptive name for its apparent resemblance (pseudo) to D. mirificus Munro, 1984 .

Material. Holotype female, TANZANIA: Mbeya, 35km. S., Rt.A345, 2200m., 1.ix.1996, A. Freidberg ( TAU). Paratype female, same data as holotype ( TAU).

Remarks. Like D. luteovittatus sp.n. this species has an anterior notopleural seta. Its anal streak is very reduced but present basally. It is similar in appearance to D. mirificus , except for the absence of microtrichia in cell bm.

Figures

FIGURES 7 – 13. Dacus (Ambitidacus) pseudomirificus sp. n., holotype female. 7. Mesonotum, dorsal view. 8. Abdomen, dorsal view. 9. Ovipositor with extended aculeus, dorsal view. 10. Head, anterior view. 11. Thorax, left lateral view. 12. Legs, left lateral view; fore, mid, hind. 13. Wing, dorsal view. Scale lines = 1 mm.