Acupalpa yanchep, Shaun L., Winterton, 2011

Shaun L., Winterton, 2011, Revision of the stiletto fly genera Acupalpa Kroeber and Pipinnipons Winterton (Diptera, Therevidae, Agapophytinae) using cybertaxonomic methods, with a key to Australasian genera, ZooKeys 95, pp. 29-79 : 54

Acupalpa yanchep sp. n. Figs 222

Type material.

Holotype male, AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: Yanchep N.P., Malaise trap, [-31.576°, 115.693°] 18-29.xii.1999; J. & A. Skevington, C. Lambkin, P. Bouchard (MEI165189) (ANIC). Paratypes. AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: male, female, same data as holotype (MEI165190, 165191) (ANIC); female, Yanchep [-31.525°, 115.626°], 21.xi.2008, fore-dune, S. L. Winterton & S. D. Gaimari (MEI165192) (QM).

Diagnosis.

Frons profile rounded above antenna; antenna dark; scutum black with irregular brown and white pubescent markings; pleuron black; wing irregularly banded; legs dark, tibia pale basally; abdomen black [sometimes orange apically in female], silver velutum present in male.

Description.

Body length= 6.0-10.0 mm. Head. Frons wider than ocellar tubercle (female) or narrower (male), profile rounded above antenna (male) or transversely concave above antennae (female), pubescence as silver patches along eye margin, frontal vestiture as small dark setae, surface texture as irregular longitudinal striations (female) or smooth (male); face broadly rounded with dark or pale setae; gena with pale setae; parafacial overlain with silver pubescence; mouthparts length variable, but usually relatively short; palpus brown-black, acuminate; occiput overlain with sparse, silver-grey pubescence; antennal base raised; antenna longer than head; scape brown, length approximately equal to flagellum, scape with sparse black setae; flagellum black, base of flagellum with short, dark setae. Thorax. Scutum dark, overlain with pubescence of irregular brown to grey markings with pale broken lines and spots, setal bases glossy black; scutellum overlain with grey and matte black pubescence; pleuron dark, overlain with silver-grey pubescence; wing markings irregularly banded to apparently fenestrate; haltere knob white; coxae black, overlain with silver pubescence; femora brown to black; tibia black, yellow-orange dorsal stripe in basal 1/2; tarsi white, basitarsi dark in basal 3/4. Scutal chaetotaxy: np, 3-5; sa, 1 [rarely 2-3]; pa, 1; dc, 2-3; sc, 1. Abdomen. Black (segments 6-8 orange in some females), silver velutum dorsally on tergites (male) or absent (female); terminalia pale.

Comments.

Acupalpa yanchep sp. n. is morphologically similar to Acupalpa albitarsa , with females difficult to separate except for more pronounced white scutal patterning in many individuals. This species is found in western Australia while Acupalpa albitarsa is found in eastern and southern regions. There is a pronounced size difference in the sexes of Acupalpa yanchep sp. n. with males considerably smaller than females. The leg colouration and scutal patterning is distinctive for this species.

Etymology.

This species is named after the type locality, the township of Yanchep, Western Australia.