Limnophora obscurisquama Stein, 1908

Michelsen, Verner, 2021, Macaronesian Muscidae (Diptera). II. The genus Limnophora Robineau-Desvoidy with description of a new Canarian endemic species, Zootaxa 4952 (1), pp. 101-127 : 109

Limnophora obscurisquama Stein

( Figs 4D‒F )

Limnophora obscurisquama Stein ; Becker 1908a: 100 (Tenerife); Hennig 1959: 375; Báez 1981: 627, pl. 1 fig. 7 (Tenerife); Couri & Pont 2020: 11 , 13 figs 65‒68 (male syntype, habitus).

Material examined. Type material [ ZMHU, 2 paratypes]: CANARY ISLANDS: TENERIFE: La Orotava, 1♂ v.1904 ( T. Becker); Güimar, 1♀ vi.1904 ( T. Becker) .

Diagnosis. Medium sized, wing length 5.5‒6.0mm (n=2). Male: Arista short-pubescent, longest branches 1.5‒2 times greatest width of arista. Head suffused with dark brown pruinosity on vertex, frons and parafacial plates. Frons at narrowest point about same width as ocellar tubercle. Entire mesonotum and dorsal abdomen also brownish black pruinose; paired trapezoid dark marks on the abdomen still visible in oblique views as illustrated by Báez (1981: pl. 1, fig. 7). Also wing and calypteres smoky dark brown, contrasting with yellow halter. Dorsocentral setae 4 behind the suture; presutural acrostichal area with setulae only, arranged in two close-set rows. Mid femur with 3 pv setae on basal third; mid tibia with 2 p setae inserted above and one below middle. Hind femur with 5‒7 av setae on distal two-thirds and 3‒4 pv setae on basal third. Sternite I bare. Male terminalia ( Figs 4D‒F ). Female: Extensively dark-coloured as male, but dark marks on abdomen larger, partly confluent and shiny. Hind femur ventrally only with 3 distal av setae. Ovipositor not examined.

Distribution. Endemic Canarian species recorded only from Tenerife: La Orotava, La Laguna and Güimar ( Becker 1908a), and Las Mercedes ( Báez 1981). A detailed review of the existing type material is given by Pont (2013).

Figures

FIGURE 4. Limnophora nitidithorax (Stein) (A‒C), L. obscurisquama Stein (D‒F). Males. Hypopygium, caudal (A, E) and lateral (B, F); sternite V (C, D). Separate scales for A‒C and D‒F.