Protomiltogramma nigriseta (Baranov)

Johnston, Nikolas P., Wallman, James F., Szpila, Krzysztof & Pape, Thomas, 2021, Integrative taxonomy reveals remarkable diversity in Australian Protomiltogramma (Diptera: Sarcophagidae), Zootaxa 5043 (1), pp. 1-104 : 22-24

Protomiltogramma nigriseta (Baranov)

( Figs 9 , 15M–P )

Setulia nigriseta Baranov, 1938: 414 . Darwin, NT, Australia.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other Australian Protomiltogramma through the combination of: arista dual-coloured, orange on basal 0.5 and black on distal 0.5, white microtomentum on parafacial plate, distinct red-brown patch laterally on T1+2 and 3 and 1st flagellomere 3x pedicel length.

Type material examined. ♀, Darwin, NT, Australia, 19.xii.14, G.F. Hill [label indicates ‘larvae live on spiders stored in underground nests’] ( NHMUK) [holotype of P. nigriseta ; examined from photographs] .

Other material examined. See Table 2.

Redescription. Body length: 7–10 mm (n = 30).

Male. Head ( Fig. 9B, D, G ). Frontal vitta yellow-brown, 0.1 of head width at height of anterior ocellus; frontoorbital plate with white microtomentum; 2 proclinate FO setae, a patch of unordered reclinate FO setae, slightly weaker than proclinate FO setae; ocellar setae weaker than reclinate FO setae; 12–13 frontal setae; 3rd aristomere orange on basal 0.5, black on distal 0.5, thickened on basal 0.75, fine and hairlike on distal 0.25, slightly shorter than 1st flagellomere; 1st flagellomere yellow-brown and 3x length of pedicel; pedicel setose, with a single strong seta and multiple weak setulae; scape without setae; parafacial plate with white microtomentum, width 0.75 of distance between antennal insertion and eye margin; gena and postgena grey with black setae; genal groove and facial ridge slightly darker than parafacial plate; vibrissa located midway between tip of 1st flagellomere and lower facial margin; 0–1 supra-vibrissal setae.

Thorax ( Fig. 9A, C ). Dorsum dark grey with some silver microtomentum in anterior 0.25; a major median, two major lateral and two minor lateral stripes (mediad to lateral major stripes and approximately half their width), major lateral stripes ending at anterior margin of scutellum, minor lateral stripes ending just posterior to suture; scutellum with some darkening on lateral margins; notopleuron with two strong setae; proepisternum bare; katepisternal setae 1+3, numerous weaker setae covering entire katepisternum. Legs: black; fore-tarsal claws as long as tarsomere 5; pulvilli 0.5 of tarsal claw length; mid tibia with 1 AD and 1 V setae. Wing ( Fig. 9F ): hyaline; dorsal surface of vein R 1 bare, R 4+5 with a patch of setae basally.

Abdomen ( Fig. 9A, C, E ). Black with silver microtomentum on anterior margins of T3–5 (occupying approximately 0.3 of each tergite); median stripe absent, but medial absence of microtomentum gives appearance of stripe on T3 and T4; reddish-brown patch on lateral margins of T1+2 and entire lateral area of T3; backward and up-curved setae on T5 well developed. Terminalia ( Fig. 15M–P ): cercus (lateral view) long and narrow, with a curved tip and distinct triangular ventral bulge at mid length, dorsal surface densely covered with setulae; cerci (posterior view) fused along basal 0.5, separate on distal 0.5; surstylus (lateral view) slightly shorter than cercus, with one distinct setose lobe on anterior margin, narrow proximally and broad in distal 0.25; surstyli (posterior view) curved inwards towards cerci; acrophallus thin and needle-like, slightly shorter than cercus, with proximal sclerotisation.

Female. As male but without backward and up-curved setae on T5.

Remarks. Verves (1987) erroneously identified the male terminalia of this species as belonging to P. cincta .

Biology. Males were collected while perching on sticks and rocks on loose sandy trails. Females were also collected in similar situations, but showed a preference for perching near the entrances of insect nests constructed in the ground (primarily hymenopteran). The label data of many specimens indicate their collection on hilltops. The label data of the holotype indicates that G.F. Hill collected larvae feeding on spiders stored in underground nests of Hymenoptera .

Distribution. Australasia— Australia (NSW, NT, QLD, SA, VIC, WA).

Figures

FIGURE 9. Protomiltogramma nigriseta (Baranov), male, Inkerman Hill, QLD, 10.i.2017, N.P. Johnston, J.F. Wallman and T. Pape (ANIC). A. Habitus, lateral view. B. Head, lateral view. C. Habitus, dorsal view. D. Head, dorsal view. E. Abdomen, dorsal view. F. Wing, dorsal view. G. Head anterior view. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURE 15. Protomiltogramma spp., male terminalia. A–D. Protomiltogramma kapnos sp. n. E–H. Protomiltogramma laticeps Malloch. I–L. Protomiltogramma nigrisensa sp. n. M–P. Protomiltogramma nigriseta (Baranov). Abbreviations: c = cercus, s = surstylus and p = acrophallus. Scale bars = 100 µm.