Onchopelma nitidum Evenhuis

Evenhuis, Neal L., 2002, Review of the genus Onchopelma Hesse, with descriptions of new species (Diptera: Mythicomyiidae), Zootaxa 64, pp. 1-12 : 9-10

Onchopelma nitidum Evenhuis , sp.n.

( Figs. 6 , 9 )

DIAGNOSIS. Separated from the female congeners by the presence of a small occipital white spot immediately posterior to the ocellar tubercle and the mesonotum lacking admedian pale vittae contrasting with the predominant dark color

DESCRIPTION. Female. Length: 3.15 mm. Head ( Fig. 6 ) higher than long; eyes dichoptic, separated at vertex by 1.25 x distance between lateral ocelli; vertex black; occiput black with white spot immediately posterior to ocellar tubercle, postmentum white, both areas with sparse white hairs, densest laterally; frons white on anterior onefourth, black on posterior three­fourths as extension of black color from vertex; face and tip of oral margin white; antenna with scape short, subtrapezoidal, yellowish; pedicel subrectangular, slightly longer than wide, brown; first flagellomere linear, length ca. 4 x than width, brown; second flagellomere linear­ovate, slightly shorter than first flagellomere, brown with small transparent apical style; proboscis dark brown, length slightly less than head length; labrum sclerotized, stiff, pointed apically; palpus not evident.

Thorax. Mesonotum yellow with black patterning as in Fig. 6 , short sparse white hairs on humeral and prescutellar areas; cervical sclerites black; scutellum yellow, black on extreme base as thin line, with sparse white hairs; pleura white except for black on katepisternum, meron, and mediotergite; coxae and legs white; halter stem and knob white.

Wing ( Fig. 9 ). Hyaline; veins pale yellowish; costa ends slightly beyond end of R4+5; vein Sc incomplete; crossvein dm­cu closing cell dm absent; CuA1 closing anal cell before wing margin leaving stalk; stalk length subequal in length to crossvein bm­cu; fringe of hair on posterior margin of wing in alular lobe and anal lobe areas sparse.

Abdomen ( Fig. 6 ). Yellow; tergites with black transverse bands on middle of segments 1­2, not quite reaching lateral margin; black on remaining segments as medial lateral spots; tergites with sparse short white hairs dorsally, longer and denser laterally; venter yellowish white.

Genitalia not dissected.

Male. Unknown.

Types. Holotype female from: NAMIBIA: 15 km E. of Karibib , 28 Feb 1990, W.J. Pulawski ( CAS) . Holotype (pinned) deposited in CAS.

Etymology. The species epithet derives from the Latin nitidus [= shining] referring to the shining black anterior portion of the mesonotum and frons.

Figures

FIGURE 9. Onchopelma nitidum, sp.n., wing.

FIGURES 5 ­ 8. Onchopelma, dorsal view (wings removed), showing color pattern of head, thorax, and abdomen. 5. O. majus, sp. n. female. 6. O. nitidum, sp. n., female. 7. O. pulchellum Hesse, female allotype. 8. O. trilineatum Hesse, female paratype.