Empis (Coptophlebia) aspina, Daugeron & Grootaert, 2005

Daugeron, Christophe & Grootaert, Patrick, 2005, Phylogenetic systematics of the Empis (Coptophlebia) hyalea-group (Insecta: Diptera: Empididae), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 145 (3), pp. 339-391 : 357-359

EMPIS (COPTOPHLEBIA) ASPINA CLADE

Monophyly: The monophyly of this clade is supported by one character found in the proboscis: labium strongly sclerotized, bare or only with sparse minute bristly hairs [character 1(1)].

Distribution ( Fig. 15 ): Species included in this clade are recorded from South-east Asia ( Laos, Thailand) with one representative [ E. (C.) urumae ] in Japan (Ryukyu Islands).

EMPIS (COPTOPHLEBIA) ASPINA SP. NOV.

( FIG. 12 )

Type material: Holotype: male, Laos, Sayaboury Province , Sayaboury, xii.1965 ( BPBM) . Paratype: 1 male, Laos, Nongtevada , 18.ix.1965, J.A.Rondon ( BPBM) .

Etymology: aspina is a combination of a (privative sense) and the Latin word spina meaning spines in reference to the absence of minute spines at tip of male cercus.

Description: Blackish-brown species of rather large size with dark brown wing. Scape and pedicel pale brown, first flagellomere lengthened, labium strongly sclerotized, bare, fore tibia with characteristic strong dorsal bristles apically, hind tibia ventrally and dorsally covered with numerous strong, long bristles, cercus without spines at tip, epandrium with pair of long dorsal projections. MALE: HEAD. Occiput black. Ocellar triangle black. Face shiny black to dusty grey in lower part. Palpus blackish. Scape and pedicel dark brown, flagellum black, first flagellomere somewhat conical, second and third flagellomeres aristiform. Proboscis brown to black. Labrum length twice head height. Labium strongly sclerotized with minute bristly hairs. THORAX blackish. All bristles black. Antepronotum with short lateral bristles. Proepisternum and prosternum with 2 distinct bristles. Acrostichals uni- to biserial, fine. Dorsocentrals uni- to biserial, fine, ending with 3 strong, long bristles, 2 of which in prescutellar depression. Anterior and posterior spiracles brown. LEGS dark brown-black, fore and mid femora yellowish-brown. Fore tibia with c. 6 strong, long dorsal bristles apically, densely covered with short ventral bristly hairs; fore tarsomeres densely covered with short ventral bristly hairs; first fore tarsomere with long antero- and posterodorsal bristles; first three fore tarsomeres with apical circlet of 3 strong bristles, last three tarsomeres with 2 ventral rows of spine-like short bristles. Mid tibia with dorsal row of 4 strong, long bristles, 1 strong, long ventral at middle; mid tarsomeres with strong spine-like ventrals and apical circlet of strong bristles. Hind femur with 2 ventral rows of fine, rather long bristles; hind tibia enlarged apically, ventrally and dorsally covered with very strong, long bristles especially in apical two-thirds; hind tarsomeres thickened; first hind tarsomere with same pilosity pattern as hind tibia; other tarsomeres with 2 ventral rows of short spine-like bristles. WING (length = 5) deeply brown. A1 complete, feebly sclerotized apically. Halter black to yellowish at base. ABDOMEN dark brown-blackish. Sternite 8 with strong, long posterior bristles. HYPOPYGIUM ( Fig. 12 ). Cercus without minute spines at tip. Epandrium with pair of pointed anterodorsal projections bearing fine bristles; 4 strong, long bristles at tip. Hypandrium reduced ventrally. Phallus truncate at tip, recurved.

KEY TO SPECIES OF THE EMPIS (COPTOPHLEBIA) ASPINA CLADE (MALE ONLY) 1. Legs with pennate bristles ( Daugeron & Grootaert, 2003a: fig. 4).................................................................................. 2 Legs without pennate bristles............................................................................................................................................ 3

2. Legs partly yellow; first mid tarsomere with anterolateral pennate bristles; hind tibia with dorsal pennate bristles apically; first hind tarsomere, ventrally and dorsally covered with pennate bristles; mid tibia without pennate bristle .............................................................................................................. E. (C.) pulchra Daugeron & Grootaert ( Thailand) Legs brown (hind tarsus can be yellowish); only mid tibia with antero- and posteroventral pennate bristles at apical third ( Daugeron & Grootaert, 2003a: fig. 4) .................................... E. (C.) miranda Daugeron & Grootaert ( Thailand)

3. Wing clear to feebly dark.................................................................... E. (C.) nganga Daugeron & Grootaert ( Thailand) Wing brown.......................................................................................................................................................................... 4

4. Epandrium with a very long dorsal projection ( Fig. 14 ) ............................. E. (C.) urumae sp. nov. ( Japan: Ryukyu) Epandrium with a shorter dorsal projection..................................................................................................................... 5

5. Fore tibia with 3 short anteroventral spines at middle, phallus with lateral projection ( Fig. 13 )............................... ......................................................................................................................... E. (C.) projecta sp. nov. ( Laos, Thailand) Fore tibia only ventrally covered with short bristly hairs, phallus without lateral projection .................................... 6

6. Fore tibia with a group of strong dorsal bristles apically .............................................. E. (C.) aspina sp. nov. ( Laos) Fore tibia without a group of strong dorsal bristles apical ...... E. (C.) ratburiensis Daugeron & Grootaert ( Thailand)

FEMALE: unknown.

Figures

Figure 12. The Empis (Coptophlebia) aspina clade, male of E. (C.) aspina sp. nov. A, epandrium and cercus in lateral view; B, hypandrium and phallus in lateral view. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

Figure 13. The Empis (Coptophlebia) aspina clade, E. (C.) projecta sp. nov. phallus in lateral view. Scale bar = 0.1 mm.

Figure 14. The Empis (Coptophlebia) aspina clade, E. (C.) urumae sp. nov. male hypopygium in lateral view. Scale bar = 0.1 mm.

Figure 15. Distribution of the Empis (Coptophlebia) aspina clade: E. (C.) aspina sp. nov. = 1; E. (C.) miranda Daugeron & Grootaert = 4; E. (C.) nganga Daugeron & Grootaert = 6; E. (C.) projecta sp. nov. = 2; E. (C.) pulchra Daugeron & Grootaert = 5; E. (C.) ratburiensis Daugeron & Grootaert = 3; E. (C.) urumae sp. nov. = 7.