Afrostilobezzia clastrieri, Szadziewski, Ryszard & Dominiak, Patrycja, 2015

Szadziewski, Ryszard & Dominiak, Patrycja, 2015, Afrostilobezzia, a new genus of predatory biting midges from the Afrotropical Region (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), Zootaxa 3941 (3), pp. 445-450 : 446-448

Afrostilobezzia clastrieri sp. nov.

( Figs 1–3 , 6 )

Diagnosis. Only female known. The species is characteristic in having four dark patches on the scutum, eyes narrowly separated; the proximal half of the 5th tarsal segments bearing ventral patch of dense, short, hair-like setae. The female of A. ornatithorax ( Clastrier, 1988) is smaller and differs in having only two dark patches on the scutum, unmodified 5th tarsal segments, a mandible armed with 6 coarse teeth, and very narrowly separated eyes, almost touching above the antennae.

Description. Female. Body yellowish brown, with 4 dark brown lateral patches on scutum ( Fig. 3 a), darker postnotum and slightly darker dorsal surface of abdomen. Palpal segment 5 dark brown ( Fig. 2 a). Flagellum 2.52 mm long, longer than wing measured from basal arculus. First flagellomere without sensilla coeloconica. Terminal flagellomere with 2 distinct apical sensilla basiconica. Antennal ratio AR 1.06. Proportions of flagellomeres 1–13 as follows (in mm): 0.247 – 0.164 – 0.153 – 0.156 – 0.157 – 0.156 – 0.166 – 0.174 – 0.242 – 0.246 – 0.242 – 0.253 – 0.305 ( Figs 1 b, 2b–c). Mandible armed with 7–8 coarse teeth decreasing in size apically ( Figs 1 c, 2e). Eyes narrowly separated, by 0.6 times the width of an ommatidial facet. Transverse interocular suture over vertical seta present ( Fig. 2 a). Palpus 5-segmented ( Fig. 1 e). Third palpal segment slender, length 0.117 mm, with shallow sensory pit located on apical 1/3 ( Figs 1 e, 2d). Clypeus with 6 long setae distributed laterally in two rows. Cervical sclerite slender, S-shaped ( Fig. 3 b). Wing length 2.39 mm, width 0.77 mm, CR 0.85. Both first radial cells present ( Fig. 1 a). Second radial cell 3.1 times longer than first one. Some macrotrichia at wing apex present. Scutellum bearing 6 marginal setae. Coxae of all legs bearing strong setae ( Fig. 3 a), 8 on fore, 10 on mid, and 5 on hind leg. Hind tibial comb with 8 spines ( Fig. 3 e). Hind tibial spur short. Hind legs with tarsomeres 1–2 with three complete rows of palisade setae ( Figs 3 c–d). First tarsomere of fore leg with 5–6 strong spines on proximal half. Tarsomeres 1–3 of mid leg armed with 2 distinct apical spines, in addition first tarsomere bearing 3 ventral spines. Fourth tarsomere cordiform. Fifth tarsomere armed with two almost equal claws. Proximal half of 5th tarsomere bearing ventral patch of dense, short, hair like setae ( Figs 1 d, 3f). Claws strongly bent at the base, inner one with very small outer and inner barb at basal 1/3 ( Figs 1 d, 3g –h). Tarsal ratio of legs as follows: TR (I) 2.3, TR (II) 2.9, TR (III) 2.2. Two unequal, ovoid, short-necked, functional seminal capsules present ( Fig.1 f), both with surface pores; respective length/width proportions as follows: 0.097/ 0.054 mm and 0.084/ 0.048 mm. Rudimentary seminal capsule visible. Sternite 8 with v-shaped caudomedian excavation, caudal lobes distinct. Cerci very short.

Male unknown.

Type material. Holotype female, Nigeria, Obudu Cattle Ranch ( Figs 6 b–c), 18 April 1984, leg. P. Sura. The holotype is deposited in the collection of the Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Parasitology, University of Gdańsk.

Etymology. The new species is named in honour of the late Dr. Jean Clastrier (1910–1997) in recognition of his superb, numerous, and important contributions to our knowledge of the biting midges of Africa.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Afrostilobezzia clastrieri sp. nov., holotype female: a—wing, b—flagellomeres 6 – 13, c—mandible, d—tarsomere 5 of fore leg, lateral view, e—maxillary palp, lateral view, f—seminal capsules.

FIGURE 2. Afrostilobezzia clastrieri sp. nov., holotype female: a—head, frontal view; b—flagellomere 2; c—terminal flagellomere; d—palpal segment 3; e—mandibles.

FIGURE 3. Afrostilobezzia clastrieri sp. nov., holotype female: a—thorax, lateral view; b—anterior lateral cervical sclerite, lateral view; c, d—palisade setae on hind leg basitarsus (indicated with arrows); e—tibial comb of hind leg; f—tarsomeres 4 and 5 of fore leg, short hair-like setae indicated with arrow; g—inner barb of inner claw of fore leg (indicated with arrow); h—outer barb of inner claw of fore leg (indicated with arrow).

FIGURE 6. Geographic distribution of Afrostilobezzia ornatithorax (Clastrier, 1988) (a, c; marked in pink) and A. clastrieri sp. nov. (b, c; marked in green).