Sigmoleia peterjohnsi Jaschhof & Kallweit

Jaschhof, Mathias & Kallweit, Uwe, 2009, The Cycloneura Marshall group of genera in New Zealand (Diptera: Mycetophilidae: Leiini), Zootaxa 2090, pp. 1-39 : 17-18

Sigmoleia peterjohnsi Jaschhof & Kallweit sp. n.

( Figs 17 , 27 , 69–70 )

Diagnosis. This species differs from S. separata in several details of the male terminalia; the basal portion of the gonocoxites is larger and the ventrolateral processes are shorter ( Fig. 69 ), the stalk of the gonostylus is not distinguished from the main portion ( Fig. 70 ), and the tegmen apex is rounded ( Fig. 69 ).

Description. Male. Head. Fig. 27 . Nodes of antennal flagellomeres 1.1–1.2 times as long as wide. Maxillary palpus short; apical segment shorter than preceding segment.

Wing. Fig. 17 . Length 1.3–2.2 mm. C ending clearly before wing apex. M-stem longer than M2. M-fork V-shaped. Ventral setae present on R1 and R5.

Terminalia. Sclerotized portions of tergite 9 interconnected by narrow membranous portion ( Fig. 70 ). Basal portion of gonocoxites large, with few setae; ventrolateral processes as long as basal portion, strongly curved mesally and with apices approaching each other ( Fig. 69 ). Stalk not distinguished from main portion of gonostylus, with 3–4 subbasal setae ( Fig. 70 ). Tegmen apex rounded ( Fig. 69 ).

Female. Head. Nodes of antennal flagellomeres 1.4 times as long as wide.

Wing. Length 1.8–2.0 mm.

Distribution and phenology. Endemic to NZ: SO (MC). Uncommon, confined to central South Island. Adults collected in beech forest in November/December and May.

Etymology. We name this species to honour Peter M. Johns, entomologist and research associate of the Canterbury Museum, Christchurch, who contributed to our study by providing a large number of specimens and adviced on many rewarding collection sites.

Types. Holotype. Male*, New Zealand, South Island, Mid Canterbury, Cass, Middle Bush, in forest of black beech Nothofagus solandri , 10 Dec. 1998, by Malaise trap, P.M. Johns (in NZAC). Paratypes. 7* males, 1* female, same loc. but 17 Nov. 1998 (in NZAC); 2* males, same loc. but 30 May 1998 (in SMTD); 2* males, 1* female, MC, Craigieburn F. P., Broken R. skifield road, in secondary beech forest, 4 Dec. 2001, by sweepnet, M. Jaschhof (in SMTD).

Other material. SO. MC: 3 males, same data as the holotype.

Figures

FIGURES 13 – 18. Wings. 13: Paradoxa fusca Marshall, dorsal view. 14: Sigmoleia melanoxantha Edwards, ventral view. 15: Sigmoleia similis sp. n., ventral view. 16: Sigmoleia separata sp. n., dorsal view. 17: Sigmoleia peterjohnsi sp. n., vental view. 18: Cycloneura triangulata Tonnoir, ventral view.

FIGURES 26 – 29. Head in frontal view. 26: Paradoxa fusca Marshall. 27: Sigmoleia peterjohnsi sp. n. 28: Cawthronia nigra Tonnoir. 29: Waipapamyia dentata sp. n. Length of scale bar = 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 65 – 70. Morphology in Sigmoleia spp. 65 – 68: Sigmoleia separata sp. n.. 69 – 70: Sigmoleia peterjohnsi sp. n. 65: Male terminalia, ventral view. 66: Tegmen, ventral view. 67: Terminalia, dorsal view. 68: Flagellomeres 1 – 5, lateral view, male left, female right. 69: Male terminalia, ventral view. 70: Male terminalia, dorsal view. Length of scale bar = 0.05 mm (for 66) and 0.1 mm (for 65, 67 – 70).