Evertomyia matilei, Gaimari, Stephen D., 2004

Gaimari, Stephen D., 2004, A new genus of Lauxaniidae (Diptera) from New Caledonia, Zootaxa 449, pp. 1-39 : 28-32

Evertomyia matilei , sp. nov.

( Figs. 3 E, 12A–D, 13A–D)

Etymology. Named for Dr. Loïc Matile, the late curator of Diptera at MNHN.

Diagnosis. Like E. albeto , E. helenae , and E. irwini , this species has strong, proclinate, parallel­sided ocellar setae, silvery grey pruinescence on the fronto­orbital plate (although unlike E. helenae , this pruinescence covers it entirely), and paired spots on the ventral part of the face, but unlike these species, the entire dorsal part of the scutum is silvery grey pruinose, as is the scutellum. Like E. albeto and E. frankadelia , the antennal arista is pubescent. Like E. helenae and E. irwini , the ptilinial suture is dark brown to black pruinose only along the dorsal part terminating above the level of paired facial spots, and the antennal groove has a distinct triangular dark brown to black mark extending medially from the dorsal part of this suture. Like E. helenae , E. irwini , and E. webbi , the anterior orbital seta is closer to the lunule edge than to the posterior seta. Like E. helenae , the anepisternum has a distinct brown pruinose spot at the base of the anepisternal seta. Like all species except E. frankadelia , the orbital setae are strong with the posterior seta slightly stronger than the anterior seta, and the anterior dorsocentral seta is closer to the transverse suture than to the middle seta. Like all species except E. albeto , the face lacks a median spot and the midtibia has 1 strong spur. In the male: the surstylus is thick basally then is abruptly thinned into a medially curved claw­like hook distally, is setose and pilose over the basal thicker part, is pilose over the base of the thinned hook, and the tip is sharp and bare; the aedeagus has its lateral edges evenly concave through its length, lacks a dorsal sharpened ridge, and the gonopore is broadly open; the hypandrium has paired posteriorly­directed lateral lobes extending into peg­like projections with 2 thickened setae at the tip; the paramere is absent.

Adults, ɗ, Ψ. Body length 5.2–5.4 mm.

Head ( Fig. 3 E). 1.1–1.2 X higher than long, 1.4–1.5 X wider than high; eye as high as long. Vertex silvery grey pruinose; outer vertical seta as strong as anterior orbital seta, inner seta 1.4–1.5 X longer. Ocellar triangle covered with silvery grey pruinescence continuous with vertex. Ocellar setae strong, as long as anterior orbital seta but slightly thinner; proclinate, parallel­sided. Postocellar setae strong, subequal to ocellar setae. Occiput and median occipital sclerite silvery grey pruinose. Frons with anterolateral part with brown pruinescence visible in profile below fronto­orbital plate. Fronto­orbital plate densely covered with silvery grey pruinescence. Orbital setae strong; posterior seta 1.3– 1.4 X longer than anterior; anterior seta arising slightly closer to edge of lunule than to posterior seta; anterior setae slightly closer together than posterior setae. Antennal scape, facial carina, and area lateral to antennal base pale yellow, with light dusting of silver pruinescence. Antennal pedicel and 1st flagellomere orange; 1st flagellomere 1.2–1.3 X longer than high; arista pubescent. Face yellow, with light dusting of silver pruinescence; antennal grooves with dark brown pruinose area below antenna and along dorsal part of ptilinial suture; ventral part of face with paired dark brown pruinose spots. Parafacial, gena, and postgena yellow with light covering of silvery white pruinescence; postgena with silvery grey pruinose stripe. Clypeus light brown. Maxillary palpus dark orange; subcylindrical; with black setulae.

Thorax. Scutum 1.2–1.3 X longer than wide; scutellum with width at base 1.3–1.4 X greater than length; scutum and scutellum mostly silvery grey pruinose, slightly darker silvery brown through median third of scutum and corresponding area at base of scutellum, orange spot posteromedially from postpronotal lobe, orange stripe through intra­alar area of mesonotum; postpronotal lobe through notopleuron to wing base silvery yellow. Pleural area pale silvery white pruinose; brown spot at base of anepisternal seta; dorsal part of anepisternum bronzy pruinose; brown pruinose stripe from anteroventral part of anepisternum through katepisternal setae. Distances between anterior and middle dorsocentral setae and between middle and posterior setae subequal, with anterior seta closer to transverse suture than to middle seta. Legs. Yellowish orange, except as noted. Coxae silvery grey pruinose. Forefemur silvery grey pruinose; ctenidium as evenly spaced (each 0.15–0.20 mm apart) row of 8–11 setulae; posterior surface with 1–2 small setae. Foretibia with brown bands basally, sub­basally, and apically. Midfemur silvery grey pruinose on basal one­fifth, and with silvery grey pruinose band slightly beyond middle; brown band at midpoint, on ventral surface. Midtibia with brown bands basally, sub­basally (corresponding in position with band on femur), and apically; with 1 strong spur. Hindfemur silvery grey pruinose on basal quarter, with silvery brown pruinose band on anterior and anteroventral surfaces beyond middle and apically. Hindtibia with dark brown bands sub­basally (corresponding in position with band on femur) and apically. Wing. Length 4.5–4.6 mm; 2.3–2.6 X longer than high. Discal medial cell 3.8–4.0 X longer than crossvein dm­cu. Halter yellow.

Abdomen. Yellowish orange dorsally; length subequal to scutum. Lateral portion of tergite 1 (as part of syntergite 1+2) dark silvery grey pruinose; lateral portions of tergites 2–5 silvery grey pruinose, with large brown spot visible from ventral view near tergal edge, and another large brown spot visible from dorsal view (both spots visible from lateral view). Sternites silvery grey pruinose; with sparse fine setulae; in female, sternites as wide as long, with slightly elongated setae along posterior edges.

Male genitalia. Surstylus articulated with epandrium ( Figs. 12 C–D); parallel­sided through basal two­thirds until reaching abruptly thinned claw­like hook distally, which curves 90° medially; setose and densely pilose over entire surface of basal two­thirds, thinned hook with small setulae and dense pile basally, distally sharpened tip bare. Aedeagus ( Figs. 12 A–B) with anterior and posterior ends subequal in width, but lateral edges evenly concave through length; lacking dorsal sharpened ridge, but bulging dorsally; lacking distinct ventral furrow; gonopore broadly open. Hypandrium ( Fig. 12 A) small, hourglass shaped, with paired posteriorly­directed lateral lobes extending into peg­like projection with 2 thickened setae at tip. Paramere absent. Aedeagal apodeme small, thin; branched posteriorly into 2 small arms; straight from lateral view. Ejaculatory apodeme slightly larger than aedeagal apodeme, but more lightly sclerotized.

Female terminalia . Sternite 8 ( Figs. 13 A–B) with length 1.2–1.3 X width; sides tapering anteriorly; heavily sclerotized only along anterior edge and lateral arms; paired central processes originating in anterior part, broadened and tapering only slightly distally, and extending slightly beyond posterior edge; lacking distal hooks; processes and medial portion setose. Tergite 8 lightly sclerotized. Spermathecae ( Fig. 13 C) small, with single spermatheca round and paired spermathecae elongated; single spermatheca 0.09 mm diameter, paired 0.06 X 0.11 mm each; paired spermathecae on short stalks after bifurcation.

Immatures. Egg. Micropylar end not protruding. Eclosion end with lobes reduced to pointed stubs ( Fig. 13 D).

Biology. Specimens of this species have been collected only in October and November. Two specimens were collected in Malaise traps.

Type material. Holotype ɗ (pinned, very good condition, dissected genitalia below in small glass tube of glycerin) deposited in MNHN with the following labels: “ NEW CALDEDONIA / Rivière Bleue Prov. Pk. / km 21.9 Riv. Bleue road / 30 Oct–3 Nov 1992, 320 m / ME Irwin, DW Webb / E&M Schlinger”, “Malaise trap / in / Maquis de Crete”, “ LAUXANIIDAE / S.D. Gaimari specimen / 01000” (orange label), “SDG dissection / 904 ɗ”, “ HOLOTYPUS / Evertomyia / matilei / Gaimari ɗ” (red label). Paratypes. Province Sud. Mont Koghi, 450–600 m (J. & M. Sedlacek), 4–6.X.1967 [1ɗ]. (same collection data as holotype) Rivière Bleue Provincial Park, km 21.9 Riv. Bleue road, 320 m (M.E. Irwin, D.W. Webb, E. & M. Schlinger), Malaise trap in Maquis de Crete, 30.X–3.XI.1992 [1Ψ (dissection 1205: SDG 001017)]. Upper La Ni Valley, 718 m (M. Schlinger), 2.XI.1992 [1Ψ]. Paratypes deposited in BPBM, INHS, and USNM.

Distribution. Known only from the southern part of the island, in the low to middle elevation rainforests of the Monts des Koghis and the Parc Provincial de la Rivière Bleue.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Head, oblique view, right arista removed for clarity. Scale bar = 0.5 mm. A) Evertomyia albeto, sp. nov. ɗ. B) Evertomyia frankadelia, sp. nov. Ψ. C) Evertomyia helenae, sp. nov. Ψ. D) Evertomyia irwini, sp. nov. Ψ. E) Evertomyia matilei, sp. nov. ɗ. F) Evertomyia webbi, sp. nov. Ψ.

FIGURE 12. Evertomyia matilei, sp. nov. ɗ. Male genitalia. Scale bar = 0.2 mm. A) Aedeagal complex, ventral view. B) Aedeagus, lateral view. C) Epandrial complex, lateral view. D) Surstylus, dorsal view.

FIGURE 13. Evertomyia matilei, sp. nov. Ψ. Female genitalia and egg. Scale bar, A – B = 0.2 mm; C – D = 0.1 mm. A) Terminalia, lateral view. B) Terminalia, ventral view. C) Spermathecae. D) Egg, eclosion end, lateral view.