Stenogephyra janiceae, Webb, Donald W. & Hauser, Martin, 2011

Webb, Donald W. & Hauser, Martin, 2011, Revision of the genus Stenogephyra Lyneborg (Diptera: Therevidae: Phycinae), Zootaxa 2837, pp. 67-85 : 75-76

Stenogephyra janiceae spec. nov.

( Figs. 4–5 , 22–27, 44)

Etymology. This species is named for Janice Elizabeth Wettstone, the daughter of Donald and Lois Webb.

Diagnosis. Stenogephyra janiceae is similar to S. namibiensis spec. nov., S. schlingeri spec. nov. and S. torrida in having silver pubescence on gena (lateral view) restricted to band along posterior margin of eye, ending at lower eye margin ( Figs. 5, 9, 13, 15 ), ending at lower eye margin; possessing one pair of dorsocentral macrosetae and in having vein M2 short, not reaching the hind margin of the wing ( Lyneborg 1987, Fig. 6 ). Stenogephyra janiceae spec. nov. differs from S. torrida in lacking silver pubescence across the dorsal margin of the occiput ( Fig. 4 ); silver pubescence on frons forming two connected semicircular markings ending at level of lower eye margin ( Fig. 4 ); “nose” more pronounced ( Fig. 5 ); and legs dark brown. It differs from S. schlingeri spec. nov. in having the head glossy with an area of silver pubescence lateral to antennal base then along margin of eye on parafacial before becoming enlarged ventrally ( Fig. 4 ), the silver pubescence on the occiput reaching the vertex ( Fig. 5 ), lower face with central hemispherical bulge and laterally the gena and lower frons forming another bulge separated from central bulge by deep furrow, creating impression of a “nose” ( Fig. 5 ), the setae on the gena and occiput dark brown to black, three pairs of notopleural macrosetae, and katepisternum glossy on the ventral two-thirds with faint pubescence across dorsal margin. It differs from S. namibiensis spec. nov. in having a silver pubescence stripe on face ending before ventral margin of face ( Fig. 4 ); silver pubescence on frons between median ocellus and eye absent; silver pubescence on occiput not forming continuous band posterior to ocellar tubercle ( Fig. 4 ); halter predominately dark brown to black and katepisternum glossy on the ventral two-thirds with faint pubescence across dorsal margin, and the female furca with bifurcate membranous projection anteriorly (Fig. 27).

Description of male. Variation (n=8). Body length 3.1–4.0, 3.7 mm. Head. Length 0.52–0.68, 0.57 mm. Eyes separated by distance about two times width of ocellar tubercle. Frons ( Fig. 4 ) dark reddish brown, glossy with silver pubescence along margin of eye and expanding dorsolateral to antennal base; setae black, short. Antenna dark reddish brown; antenna/head length 1.4–2.0, 1.7; scape length 0.16–0.22, 0.17 mm, width 0.08–0.10, 0.09 mm, length/width 1.8–2.0, 1.9, scape/pedicel length 2.0–2.8, 2.2, scape/flagellum width 0.8–0.9, 0.9, setae dark brown; pedicel length 0.07–0.08, 0.08 mm, width 0.08–0.09, 0.08 mm, length/width 0.9–1.0, 0.9 setae dark brown, short; flagellum length 0.70–0.82, 0.77 mm, width 0.10–0.11, 0.10 mm, length/width 7.0–8.2, 7.7, flagellum/scape length 3.7–5.1, 4.5. Parafacial ( Fig. 4 ) distinctively projecting anteriorly ventral to antennal bases, dark reddish brown, glossy with silver pubescence along margin of eye and expanding ventrally; setae black, short, sparse. Maxillary palpus dark reddish brown; length 0.22–0.30, 0.26 mm, width 0.06 mm, length/width 3.7–5.0, 4.3; setae dark brown, elongate. Gena ( Figs. 4–5 ) bulbous, broadly rounded, dark reddish brown, glossy; setae black, elongate. Occiput ( Fig. 5 ) dark reddish brown, glossy with silver pubescence along margin of eye; setae white. Thorax. Macrosetae 3 np, 1 dc. Mesonotum dull reddish brown, pubescence gray becoming glossy laterally; setae black, short. Pleuron dark reddish brown, glossy, dorsal margin of meron with gray pubescence; setae dark brown to black on anepisternum (across dorsal margin), laterotergite and scutellum. Wing. Membrane pale gray; length 2.5–2.7, 2.6 mm, width 0.8–1.0, 0.9 mm, length/width 2.7–3.1, 2.9. M1, M2, and M3 originate separately from discal cell, M2 not reaching wing margin. Halter stalk and dorsal surface of knob dark brown, ventral surface of knob pale yellow. Legs. Coxae dark reddish brown, pubescence gray; setae black. Femora dark brown, pubescence gray. Tibiae and tarsi dark brown. Abdomen. Dark reddish brown, glossy, tergites 1–4 with posterior margin whitish yellow; dorsal and lateral setae black, short, appressed. Terminalia (MEI 148460). Dark brown. Sternite 8 (Fig. 22) quadrate, posterior margin broadly rounded; setae dark brown, continuous across posterior margin. Gonocoxite ventral view (Fig. 22), posterior margin truncate then extending posterolaterally to pointed projection, setae dark brown, thick; dorsal view (Fig. 23); lateral view (Fig. 24), dorsal margin straight, rounded ventrally, extending posteriorly to pointed projection, posteroventral projection absent. Aedeagus with dorsal apodeme (Fig. 23) forming broad gonocoxal bridge; distiphallus dorsal view (Fig. 23), narrow, tapered posteriorly; lateral view (Fig. 25) thick, apex short, sinuate; ejaculatory apodeme lateral view (Fig. 25), anterior half dark brown, spherical.

Female. Similar to male except for following. Variation (n=10). Body length 4.7–6.0, 5.1 mm. Head. Length 0.60–0.80, 0.75 mm. Antenna/head length 1.00–1.24, 1.16; scape length 0.16–0.22, 0.21 mm, width 0.08–0.12, 0.09 mm, length/width 1.7–2.4, 3.7, scape/pedicel length 2.0–3.1, 2.7, scape/flagellum 1.0–1.3, 1.1 width; pedicel length 0.07–0.08, 0.075 mm, width 0.08–0.10, 0.09 mm, length/width 0.78–1.00, 0.94; flagellum length 0.50–0.64, 0.56 mm, width 0.08–0.10, 0.08 mm, length/width 5.6–8.0, 6.9, flagellum/scape length 2.6–3.4, 2.7. Maxillary palpus length 0.24–0.28, 0.27 mm, width 0.05–0.07, 0.06 mm, length/width 4.0–4.8, 4.3. Thorax. Macrosetae 3 np, 1 dc. Wing. Length 3.0–4.0, 3.5 mm, width 0.7–1.2, 1.0 mm, length/width 2.8–4.3, 3.8. Abdomen. Terminalia (MEI 148480). Sternite 8 (Fig. 26) broad, sides and anterior margin rounded. Furca (Fig. 27) quadrate with bifurcate membranous projection anteriorly; length 0.30 mm, width 0.24 mm.

Distribution. Stenogephyra janiceae spec. nov. is known from South Africa, Western Cape Province ( Fig. 44 ).

Habitats and Phenology. Stenogephyra janiceae spec. nov. has been collected in Malaise traps on vegetated dunes. Adults have been collected in September through November.

Specimens examined (n = 55). Type specimens. The holotype male of Stenogephyra janiceae spec. nov. (MEI 148460) is labeled “ SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape prov.; nr Welgemoed, ca. 20km S Worcester, Malaise on vegetated dune, 7/ 13-IX-2002, ME Irwin, FD Parker, 200 m; 33º43.19’S. 019º26.64’E.” and is deposited in NMSA. PARATYPES. SOUTH AFRICA. Western Cape Province. 14 km NW Robertson, at highway R60 [-33.778, 19.762], 270m, 7–13.X.2002, Irwin, M.E., Parker, F.D., 3Ψ MEI 148481–3 (MEIC), Malaise trap on vegetated dune; 20 km S Worcester, near Welgemoed [-33.732, 19.444], 200m, 7–13.X.2002, Irwin, M.E., Parker, F.D., 15Ψ MEI 148465–7, 148469–80 (MEIC), Malaise trap on vegetated dune; 24 km W Worcester, Highway N1 [-33.703, 19.238], 300m, 15–25.XI.1999, Irwin, M.E., Schlinger, E.I., Parker, F.D., 1ɗ MEI 124797, 1Ψ 124790 (INHS), Malaise trap; Swartberg Mountains, 4 km S Prince Albert [-33.267, 22.046], 700m, 2–23.X.2004, Irwin, M.E., Parker, F.D., Hauser, M., 8ɗ MEI 161355 (CSCA), 161363 (SAMC), 16709, 167911 (MEIC), 161365, 167915, 167917–8 (INHS), 27Ψ 161356 (CSCA), 161357 (NMSA), 161358 (SAMC), 161359–62, 161364, 161366–77 (MEIC) 161379, 161381–6 (INHS), Malaise trap.

Figures

FIGURE 44. Stenogephyra spp. distribution. Open circle, S. dianeae spec. nov.; open square, S. janiceae spec. nov.; closed triangle, S. parkeri spec. nov.; closed circle, S. schlingeri spec. nov. FIGURE 45. Stenogephyra spp. distribution. Closed triangle, S. minuta; closed circle, S. namibiensis spec. nov.; open circle, S. torrida.

FIGURES 2 – 15. Stenogephyra sp. nov. 2 – 3. S. dianeae spec. nov.. 2. Head frontal view. 3. Head lateral view. 4 – 5. S. janiceae spec. nov.. 4. Head frontal view. 5. Head lateral view. 6 – 7. S. minuta. 6. Head frontal view. 7. Head lateral view. 8 – 9. S. namibiensis spec. nov.. 8. Head frontal view. 9. Head lateral view. 10 – 11. S. parkeri spec. nov. 10. Head frontal view. 11. Head lateral view. 12 – 13. S. schlingeri spec. nov. 12. Head frontal view. 13. Head lateral view. 14 – 15. S. torrida. 14. Head frontal view. 15. Head lateral view.