Tipula (V.) leucoprocta, Mik Mannheims, 1889

Starkevich, Pavel, Podenas, Sigitas & Gelhaus, Jon K., 2020, Taxonomic review of Tipula (Vestiplex Bezzi) crane flies (Diptera: Tipulidae) in Mongolia, Zootaxa 4837 (1), pp. 1-88 : 27-28

Tipula (V.) leucoprocta species group

The leucoprocta species group was proposed by Savchenko (1960, 1964) and includes the following Palaearctic and Oriental species: T. (V.) aldrichiana Alexander, 1929 , T. (V.) balioptera Loew, 1863 , T. (V.) coronifera Savchenko, 1960 , T. (V.) kashkarovi Stackelberg, 1944 , T. (V.) kiritshenkoi Savchenko, 1960 , T. (V.) laccata Lundström & Frey, 1916 , T. (V.) leucoprocta Mik, 1889 , T. (V.) mitchelli Edwards, 1927 , T. (V.) sintenisi Lackschewitz, 1933 , T. (V.) subcentralis Alexander, 1918 , T. (V.) tanycera Alexander, 1961 , T. (V.) tchukchi Alexander, 1934 and T. (V.) wrangeliana Stackelberg, 1944 . Tipula (V.) aldrichiana and T. (V.) balioptera are also recorded from the Nearctic Region. Males of the leucoprocta species group are characterized by the following features: gonocoxite simple, unarmed; tergite 9 forming a large concave sclerotised plate with extensive saucer embracing the entire mid-dorsal area, its anterior and lateral portions raised into sclerotised border; the border laterally produced into slender acute teeth so that tergite 9 shows two points in lateral view. Additional features for the leucoprocta group are listed here for the first time: male gonocoxal fragment with lateral sclerite well-developed, bilobed; medial sclerites fused into conspicuous anterior apodeme with posterior (distal) parts forming arched structure; some species have additional posterior apodeme; female with bursa copulatrix and associated structures specific: basal parts of spermathecal ducts sclerotised, in some cases wall of bursa copulatrix at connection sites with spermathecal ducts also sclerotised.

Mongolian species of the leucoprocta species group may be separated into two subgroups based on the shape of tergite 9 and the gonocoxal fragment. Tipula (V.) coronifera , T. (V.) kiritshenkoi , T. (V.) leucoprocta and T. (V.) subcentralis have tergite 9 with saucer crescent-shaped and the gonocoxal fragment is without posterior apodeme. Tipula (V.) sintenisi has an unusually narrowed tergal plate, but the shape of the gonocoxal fragment is the same as for the previously mentioned species. Tipula (V.) balioptera , T. (V.) laccata and T. (V.) tchukchi have nearly rectangular or polygonal tergal saucer and gonocoxal fragment with additional posterior apodeme.