Aphaniosoma fissum Collin, 1949

Ebejer, Martin J., 2023, The genus Aphaniosoma Becker, 1903 (Diptera: Chyromyidae) in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East, with descriptions of new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 872, pp. 1-161 : 62-65

Aphaniosoma fissum Collin, 1949

Fig. 31

Material examined

Lectotype (here designated)

EGYPT • ♂, head and all legs missing; Fayoum, Lake Karun; 2–23 Sep. 1945; R.L. Coe leg.; NHMUK, B.M. 1946–39 , bar code 013435850 .

Paralectotypes

EGYPT • 3 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, one ♂ and all ♀♀ headless; same collection data as for lectotype; NHMUK, bar codes 013435851–56 • 1 ♂; Siwa Oasis ; 24 Apr. 1935; J. Omer-Cooper leg., Armstrong College Expedition; NHMUK, B.M. 1935–354 , bar code 013435857 .

Other material

EGYPT • 1 ♂, 5 ♀♀; Cairo, 20 km S; 29.52° N, 31.17° E; 31 Mar. 1996; M. Barták leg.; semi desert; CULSP • 3 ♂♂; Cairo, 20 km S; 29.52° N, 31.15° E; 31 Mar. 1996; M. Barták leg.; riverbank; CULSP • 2 ♂♂; Cairo, El-Marg ; 30.16° N, 31.23° E; 29 Mar. 1996; M. Barták leg.; margin of field; CULSP • 1 ♂; Tanta, 12 km SE; 30.41° N, 31.02° E; 27–28 Mar. 1996; M. Barták leg.; orchard; CULSP • 4 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; Cairo, Golo Island, along Nile river ; 29.58° N, 31.15° E; 21 Mar. 1996; M. Barták leg.; CULSP • 1 ♀; Kafr Elsheikh; 30.48° N, 31.14° E; 28 Mar. 1996; M. Barták leg.; garden vegetation; CULSP • 3 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀; Alexandria, Abu Kir ; 20 Oct. 2003; P. Gatt leg.; beach, wrack; PG • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; MJE • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀; Alexandria, Ras Rashid ; 21 Oct. 2003; P. Gatt leg.; beach; PG • 1 ♂, 5 ♀♀; Sinai, Taba , 10 km S; 1 May 1996; I. Yarom leg.; SMNHTAU • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; A. Freidberg leg.; SMNHTAU • 2 ♂♂; Sinai, Ras Umm ; 1 May 1996; I. Yarom leg.; SMNHTAU • 10 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Sinai, El Ma‘ agan ; 1 May 1996; A. Freidberg leg.; SMNHTAU • 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; I. Yarom leg.; SMNHTAU .

ISRAEL • 4 ♀♀; Elot; 18 Mar. 1995; B. Merz leg.; MHNG • 1 ♀; Iddan spring ; 19 Mar. 1995; B. Merz leg.; MHNG • 2 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; ‘ En Gedi / N. Arugot ; 31 May 2000; B. Merz leg.; MHNG • 1 ♂; ‘ En Mor; 11 Oct. 1994; F. Kaplan and A. Freidberg leg.; SMNHTAU • 1 ♂; Elot; 18 Mar. 1995; A. Freidberg leg.; on Tamarix sp. ; SMNHTAU • 1 ♂; Elot; 19 Mar. 1995; A. Freidberg leg.; SMNHTAU • 1 ♂; ‘ Enot Zuqim; 19 Mar. 1995; A. Freidberg leg.; SMNHTAU • 1 ♂; ‘ En Gedi, 19 Mar. 1995; A. Freidberg leg.; SMNHTAU • 1 ♂; Zomet Zohar; 19 Mar. 1995; A. Freidberg leg.; SMNHTAU • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀; ‘ Iddan; 19 Mar. 1995; A. Freidberg leg.; SMNHTAU • 1 ♂; ‘ En ‘Iddan; 20 Jun. 1995; A. Freidberg leg.; SMNHTAU • 4 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; Qalya; 28 Sep. 1995; I. Yarom leg.; SMNHTAU • 7 ♂♂; Qalya; 2 Jan. 1997; A. Freidberg leg.; SMNHTAU • 2 ♂♂; Ne’ot Semadar ; 21 Jun. 1995; I. Yarom leg.; SMNHTAU • 1 ♂; ‘ Enot Zuqim; 11 Oct. 1994; F. Kaplan and A. Freidberg leg.; SMNHTAU • 6 ♂♂, 13 ♀♀; ‘ Enot Zuqim; 30 Mar. 1995; I. Yarom leg.; on Tamarix sp. ; SMNHTAU • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Sappir pond; 9 Jul. 1996; A. Freidberg leg.; SMNHTAU • 3 ♂♂; Ne’ot Semadar ; 13 Oct. 1996; A. Freidberg leg.; SMNHTAU • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; ‘ Enot Zuqim; 22 Apr. 1998; N. Meltzer and V. Kravchenko leg.; on Tamarix nilotica ; SMNHTAU • 2 ♂♂; Ma‘ agan , Mikha‘el; 30 May 2000; N. Meltzer and V. Kravchenko leg.; on Tamarix tetragyna ; SMNHTAU • 1 ♀; Nahal , Neqarot; 3 May 1995; I. Yarom leg.; SMNHTAU • 9 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; Dead Sea , ‘ Enot Zuqim; 31°43ʹN, 35°27ʹE; alt. - 400 m; 25 Mar. 2000; M.J. Ebejer leg.; on Tamarix sp. ; MJE • 10 ♂♂, 15 ♀♀; N. Arava valley ; 30°46ʹ N, 35°14ʹ E; 25 Mar. 2000; M.J. Ebejer leg.; on Tamarix and chenopods; MJE • 3 ♂♂, preserved in alcohol; same collection data as for preceding • 1 ♀; Dead Sea , Zomet Zohar; 31°08ʹ N, 35°21ʹ E; alt. - 338 m; 25 Mar. 2000; M.J. Ebejer leg.; on Tamarix sp. ; MJE • 1 ♀; Western Negev , Ezuz; 30°46ʹ N, 34°29ʹ E; 24 Mar. 2000; M.J. Ebejer leg.; on grazed grass and dung; MJE .

SAUDI ARABIA • 1 ♂, preserved in glycerine tube; Aseer, Maraba ; 1–30 May 2004, H.A. Dawah leg.; Malaise trap; MJE • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Najran, Hay Alshurfa ; 17°31ʹ N, 44°15ʹ E; 7–28 May 2014; H.A. Dawah leg.; Malaise trap; NMWC • 9 ♂♂, 23 ♀♀, preserved in alcohol; Jazan, Farasan Island, Aziz Yousef village ; 16°40ʹN, 42°50ʹE; 6 Mar. 2017, H.A. Dawah leg.; Malaise trap; NMWC .

YEMEN • 3 ♂♂; Ta‘ Izz ; Aug. 1999; A. van Harten and A. Awad leg.; light trap; NMWC • 2 ♂♂; Mukalla ; Jun. 2003; A. van Harten and M. Hubaishan leg.; light trap; MJE .

Remarks

Aphaniosoma fissum appears to have a primarily Afrotropical distribution reaching the Middle East and North Africa. Although both sexes are very variable in their general body colour and size, it is the only species known so far that has only two pairs of short, fine, white setulae in front of the anterior ocellus, one pair anterior to the other ( Fig. 31A ) and no other setae on the frons; these setulae are sometimes long, but never as long as is usual of the single dark pair typical of A. approximatum and A. creperum Collin, 1949 , which are always darker and accompanied by several other short setulae scattered on the frons. The appearance of the male hypopygium, when visible in situ, is characteristic ( Fig. 31B–C ).

Pont (1995: 72) listed 5 males and 4 females as syntypes. Among the syntypes is a female specimen that has several setulae scattered on the frons and so it belongs to another species. This specimen is not included in the paralectotype series. The wide distribution and variablity of this species raise the possibility of a species complex where minor morphological differences may yet be found to define them. There may also be cryptic species. For these reasons, a lectotype to secure the concept of A. fissum is necessary. The specimen, which best matches the figure given by Collin, is here designated lectotype in spite of it being headless, but it is otherwise in good condition.

Distribution

Algeria, Egypt, Kenya, Namibia, Oman, South Africa, United Arab Emirates ( Collin 1949; Ebejer 1996, 2008, 2009; Baba Aissa 2017). New records for Israel and Yemen.

Figures

Fig. 31. Aphaniosoma fissum Collin, 1949. A–B.(MJE). A. Head and thorax, antero-dorsal view, head showing the two pairs of setae on middle of frons. B. Hypopygium, ventro-lateral oblique view. C. Different specimen, (MJE) with extended hypopygium in alcohol, lateral view.