Manestella incompleta, Winterton, Shaun L. & Lambkin, Christine L., 2012

Winterton, Shaun L. & Lambkin, Christine L., 2012, New Australian stiletto flies: revision of Manestella Metz and description of Medomega gen. n. (Diptera, Therevidae, Agapophytinae), ZooKeys 240, pp. 1-119 : 11-12

Manestella incompleta sp. n. Figs 3031323334

Type material.

Holotype male, AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: Walyunga National Park, [Darling Range], [-31.733, 116.083], 10. xi– 16.xi.1987, Malaise trap, M. E. Irwin, E. I. Schlinger. (MEI_023083, WAM).

Paratypes. AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: 1 male, 4 females, Walyunga National Park, [Darling Range], [-31.733, 116.083], 10. xi– 16.xi.1987, 24.xi.1987, Malaise trap, M. E. Irwin, E. I. Schlinger. (MEI_022836, 023104, 023106, 022854, 022855, ANIC); 2 males, 3 females, Kalamunda National Park, Darling Range, Helena River, [-31.95, 116.067], 16.xi.1987, 24.xi.1987, Malaise trap, M. E. Irwin, E. I. Schlinger (MEI_022835, 022837, 022851, 022856, 022858, CAS).

Other material examined.

AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: 2 females, Charles Darwin Reserve, 12km NE HQ, 29.509°S, 117.05°E, 325m 14-19.ix.2009, Malaise 18313, Jam, Acacia acuminata , flowering herbs C. Lambkin, G. Monteith (83249, WAM; T183050, QM); 1 male, same except 19-23.ix.2009, Malaise 18436 (T183051, QM); 2 females, Charles Darwin Reserve, Wanarra Rd, 29.58°S, 116.996°E, 300m 19-23.ix.2009, Malaise 18430, York Gums, Acacia , flowering herbs C. Lambkin, G. Monteith (83250, 83251, WAM); 1 male, Karara, 13km SE Boiada Camp, 29.26°S, 116.628°E, 292m 15-24.ix.2009, FIT trap 18352, York Gum/ Acacia woodland, near clay pan, G. Monteith C. Lambkin (T183047, QM); 1 female, Karara, 16.9 km SE Boiada Camp, 29.256°S, 116.675°E, 312m 15-24.ix.2009, Malaise 18359, Acacia woodland, flowering herbs, C. Lambkin G. Monteith (T183048, QM); 1 female, same except 18-24.ix.2009, Malaise 18407 (T183049, QM); 2 females, Lochada, 29.095°S, 116.547°E, 17.ix.2009, Sweep Net on Calycopeplus paucifolias 360, R. Leijs (83252, WAM; T183052, QM).

Diagnosis.

Wing dark mottled; frontal setae similar length to scape setae; male frons protruding in profile; multiple rows of postocular setae adjacent to ocellar tubercle in male; femora brown; abdomen grey-silver pubescent laterally, brown dorsally; gonocoxites without ventromedial projection; female frontal markings as narrow medial stripe, irregular brown quadrangle dorsally and brown band above antennae.

Description.

Body length= 3.5-4.5 mm (male), 4.0-5.0 mm (female). Head. Frontal pubescence silver-grey with dark brown markings, lower frons raised as rounded tubercle around antennal base, lower frontal markings brown medial stripe and spot above antennal base (male), or brown quadrangle dorsally, brown band above antennae (fe male); frontal setae dark, setae similar length to setae on scape (slightly weaker dorsally in female); male frons width at narrowest point narrower than anterior ocellus but not contiguous; male postocular setae as two or more rows immediately laterad of ocellar tubercle; postocular setae black, relatively elongate; occipital pubescence grey, narrow triangular marking medially (postocular setal bases dark); genal setae white, elongate, dense and curved anteriorly; antennal scape equal length to flagellum, densely covered with large, dark setae; flagellum brown. Thorax. Scutal pubescence grey-tan with brown markings, numerous elongate dark setae, scutal markings as two dark medial stripes anteriorly, joining posteriorly, lateral stripes broken to tessellate; scutal macrosetae dark; pleuron with silver-grey pubescence; katatergite setae uniformly pale; anepisternum with grey-brown marking dorsally; coxae dark, overlain with silver-grey pubescence, setae mostly pale; femora dark brown with short dark setae admixed with longer pale setae; tibiae yellow, dark grey-brown apically and sometimes also basally; tarsi dark brown with yellow basally on basal segments; wing mottled infuscate, darker and more extensive in male; vein M3 often incomplete, ending before wing margin; scutal chaetotaxy (pairs) np, 3; sa, 1; pa, 1; dc, 5-6; sc, 1. Abdomen. Base colour dark brown dorsally, grey pubescent laterally; male without extensive silver velutum on tergites, vestiture mostly as elongate pale setae, denser laterally; terminalia brown; female intersegmental membranes distinctly pale, well defined, wider on posterior segments. Male genitalia. Gonocoxite without ventromedial process, outer gonocoxal process relatively elongate, narrowed; gonocoxite velutum extensive, distinct; gonocoxite macrosetae dark.

Comments.

Manestella incompleta sp. n. is a western species distinguished by the mottled wings, male with protruding frons with dark macrosetae, two rows of postocular macrosetae in male, gonocoxites without ventromedial process and velutum patch present, and wing vein M3 terminating before wing margin.

Etymology.

The specific epithet refers to the incomplete M3 vein frequently exhibited by individuals of this species.