Ptilocera continua Walker, 1851

Mason, Franco & Rozkošný, Rudolf, 2011, A review of the Oriental and Australasian Ptilocera species (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), Zootaxa 3007, pp. 1-49 : 10-12

Ptilocera continua Walker, 1851

( Figs 1 , 2 a, 5–9, 11, 15–16, 25, 32, 36, 44, 51, 54, 62–63, 95–107)

Ptilocera continua Walker, 1851: 84 .

Ptilocera fastuosa Gerstaecker, 1857: 332 , syn. nov. Ptilocera fastuosa ssp. dilutiapitis Lindner, 1938: 434. Nomen nudum.

Type material: P. continua Walker : The female holotype is deposited in London ( BMNH) and labelled: "This specimen is probably the type of Ptilocera continua Walk., E. E. 26.VII.1912 /Java, A. R. Wallace/Presumed HOLOTYPE of Ptilocera continua Walker , det. J. E. CHAINEY 1982 / HOLOTYPUS Ƥ Ptilocera continua Walker, 1851: 84 , Mason & Rozkošný rev., 2009". Condition: The distal half of the left wing missing and the stronger veins of the right wing broken proximally.

Ptilocera fastuosa Gerstaecker : Two syntypes (3 and Ƥ) in ZMHB. The male lectotype is hereby designated and labelled: " Ceylon, Nietn. [handwritten on grey label]/1857/ Type [red label]/ fastuosa Gerst. /Zool. Mus. Berlin/ LECTOTYPUS 3 Ptilocera fastuosa Gerstaecker, 1857: 332 , F. Mason & R. Rozkošný det., 2010". The female paralectotype, is labelled: " Ceylon Nietner S. [on yellow label]/ Paratypus [red label]/ Ptilocera fastuosa Gerstaeck. Paratypus Ƥ/ PARALECTOTYPUS Ƥ, Ptilocera fastuosa Gerstaecker, 1857: 332 , F. Mason & R. Rozkošný det., 2010". Condition: Apical segment of right cercus in paralectotype missing. Relevant terminalia preserved in microvials on same pin.

Diagnosis. Apical flagellomere completely brown in male and partly white in female. Metallic shining scales on scutum arranged in more or less distinct paired longitudinal stripes, medial and lateral, both at least partly confluent on each side of presutural area in males. Hair patches on abdominal tergite 5 in form of two transversely oval and medially more or less open rings. Female wing with markedly reduced microtrichia.

Description. Male ( Figs 5–6 , 15–16 , 62 , 95–100 ). Length (mm): body 5.6–11.0 (n = 85), wing 5.2–10.3 (n = 86). Head ( Figs 15‒16 ). Antenna completely brown to black ( Figs 5–6 , 97 ), last flagellomere 4.0–5.0 times as long as penultimate flagellomere, basal flagellomere slightly longer than broad, two basal flagellomeres sometimes with brownish color.

Thorax ( Fig. 95 ) black, finely punctuate, scutum covered with very short reddish brown pile. Metallic iridescent scales covering presutural area of scutum except broad median band and continuing on postsutural area as broad lateral longitudinal stripes. Medial stripes usually reduced in postsutural area. Scutellum ( Fig. 95 ) slightly convex dorsally, with iridescent scales distinct along broad margin. Scutellar spines slightly turned up, their distal halves usually yellow to reddish brown, 0.5–0.7 as long as scutellum at middle. Wing ( Fig. 62 ) blackish infuscated, with yellowish, irregular, relatively narrow and contrasting transverse band. Apex and posterior wing margin in apical third sometimes paler. Wing microtrichia partly reduced only on extreme wing base. Calypter dark brown, with brown to black, dense and wool-like marginal hairs. Halter blackish, stalk usually somewhat paler. Legs black, basal 1‒2 tarsomeres on mid and hind legs sometimes reddish brown.

Abdomen ( Fig. 95 ) black, finely punctate, hair patches usually longitudinal or indistinct on tergite 3 and oblique to transverse on tergite 4, a pair of transversely oval, ring-shaped and medially bare hair-patches distinct on tergite 5. Male terminalia ( Figs 98‒100 ): Dorsal part ( Fig. 100 ) as in other species, proctiger relatively short. Genital capsule ( Fig. 98 ) somewhat tapered proximally, medial lobes on posterior margin high, almost pointed apically. Gonostylus leaf-shaped, relatively broad. Posterolateral papillae of aedeagal complex with only one transverse, subapical ridge and a basal group of hyaline spines ( Fig. 99 ). Aedeagal apodeme transverse at proximal end.

Female ( Figs 1 , 2 a, 7–9, 25, 32, 36, 51, 54, 63, 101–107). Length (mm): body 6.4–11.2 (n = 60), wing 5.9–9.8 (n = 59). Head. Frons black, punctate, with brownish to black, very short pile in upper half and two subtriangular or rounded, silverish white tomentose spots usually being larger than in other species. Frontal index: 1.0–1.3 (avg = 1.1, n = 54). Antenna ( Figs 7–9, 11 , 103) dark brown, only pedicel and basal 1–2 flagellomere sometimes reddish brown, apical flagellomere snow white at least on apical half. Basal flagellomere usually slightly longer than broad, apical flagellomere about 2.5 times as long as penultimalte flagellomere. Palpus ( Fig. 25 ) distictly broadened. Scutum ( Figs 1 , 2 a, 101) with mainly silverish, greenish to violet shining scales arranged into two pairs of longitudinal stripes reaching base of scutellum and continuing on its broad margin. In presutural area medial and lateral stripes fused only along anterior margin. Scales in presutural area of scutum ( Fig. 36 ) subquadrate, with 3 teeth at distal margin, distinctly shorter and clearly differing from those found in other females of all examined species (cf. Figs 26‒28 ). Prealar prominence ( Fig 32 ) as in other species. Scutellar spines much shorter than in male, reaching about ¼ of scutellum length at middle (Fig. 101). Wing mainly brown infuscated, irregular transverse yellowish streak usually absent or at most indistinct (cf. wing of holotype, Fig. 63 ), wing microtrichia extensively reduced in alula, basal part of anal cell, large area of posterior cubital cell and in proximal part of anterior cubital cell. Calypter, halter and legs as in male. Pretarsus of fore leg as in Fig. 51 . Abdomen ( Figs 54 , 101) mainly black, with bluish reflections, finely punctuate. Hair patches on tergite narrow or broader, longitudinally oriented, on tergite 4 relatively narrow and oblique, ring-shaped as in male on tergite 5. Genital furca (Figs 105–107) usually with large median aperture as in other species and deep median incision at posterior margin of frame.

Variation. The female apical flagellomere is sometimes almost completely white, at most indistinctly darkened basally; on the other hand, in several specimens the white part is confined to the apical third or less. The transverse yellowish streak on the wing is relatively narrow in the male but indistict or entirely missing in the female. A reduction of the wing microtrichia is only very limited in the male and conspicuous in the female. The marginal fringe of the female calypter is usually dark, rarely partly whitish. Some variation was noted in the extent of the abdominal hair patches on tergites 3 and 4 in both sexes (cf. Figs 95–96 , 101‒102).

Remarks. Most authors identified this species as P. fastuosa . The name of P. continua appears (in addition to the original description by Walker 1851 from Java) only in Brunetti (1907), (two females named by Bigot from the Andaman Islands). Edwards (1915) was the first to propose the synonymy of continua and fastuosa but his concept was not accepted by subsequent authors. Kertész (1916) tried to separate the females of both “species” by a transverse, irregular, yellow streak on the wing, which should be absent in continua , and his key was essentially replaced by Brunetti (1923). P. fastuosa subsp. dilutiapicis Lindner has never been described, only the name is listed in the Lindner´s paper from 1938.

Material examined. 244 3 and 285 Ƥ (including 1 3 and 2 Ƥ types). Cambodia: Siem Reap: Angkor Thom. India: Assam: Chabur, Doom Dooma, Tezpur. Kerala: Kallar; Trivandrum. Tamil Nadu: Anaimalai Hills; Coimbatore; Madras [=Chennai]; Nilgiri Hills. Indonesia: Flores. Java: Bibidjilan; Djampangs Mts; Djampang Tengah; Sentani; Serdang; Soekaboemi [=Sukabumi]; Wynkoopsbay. Simeulue: Sinabang. Sulawesi: Danowudu; Manado; Utara; Dumoga Bone National Park. Sumatra: Tanjung Morawa. Laos: Khammounane: Nongtevada; Moung Sayaboury. Vientaine: Ban Na Pheng; Vang Vieng. Malaysia: Pahang: Kuala Tembeling; Kedah: Jitra; Pulau Langkawi, Sabah: Bettotan near Sandakan; Sapulut, Batu Punggul; Selangor: Ulu Gombak. Myanmar (without locality, 1 Ƥ in BMNH); Nepal: Chitvan District, Sauraha National Park. Philippines: Leyte: Ormoc; Biliran. Luzon: Albey Province, Banahao Mt. [=Mount Banahaw]; Bataan; Caguscos, Libon; Los Banos; Makilling Mt.; Manila. Masbate: Moboarea. Mindanao: Bukidnon; Bukidusu; Davao; Dapitan; Kolambugan; Manalio; Surigao; Tangcolan, Zamboanga Mt. Palawan: Brooke´s Point. Panay. Singapore. Sri Lanka: Anniewatte; Colombo Park; Gampaha Botanical Garden; Gannoruwa Timber Reserve; Galle Unawatuna; Gilimale; Henarathgoda; Kahalla; Kandy; Katugastota; Kitulgala Jungle; Kott; Kurana; Labugama Reservoir; Maha-Oia; Matale; Mirigama Scout Camp; Lavinia Mt.; Nugegoda; Paradeniya; Rajavaka; Ratnapura; Suduganga; Sankt Uduvattakelle; Uggalkalcota, Thailand: Chiang Mai: Ban Pha Mon; Chiang Mai City, lower slopes of Doi Suthep Mts., 360 m, 7. xi.2006 1 Ƥ (see photo by M. Kemal: Fig 2 a). Loei: Na Haeo. Mae Hong Son: Pangmapha. Phuket: Koh Siray; National Park Khao Phra Thaew; Nam Lang River; Phuket. Tak: Sam Ngao, Bhunipol Dam. Vietnam: Nam Ha, Pulo Condore [=Con Dao]; Tay Ninh. Data: from 15.i. to 18.xii. Examined specimens deposited in BMNH, BPBM, CNC, CNBFVR, FSMU, IRSNB, MSNM, MHC, MHNG, MMB, RMNH, SMF, UCR, USNM, ZIB, ZMAN, ZMUC, ZMHB.

Distribution: Records from the Oriental Region are available from Nepal, Andaman and Nicobar Islands ( India), continental India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Philippines, W and E Malaysia, Indonesia (Simeulue, Sumatra, Java, Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, Timor and Sulawesi). In addition to material examined, further localities are given in papers by Schiner (1868), Brunetti (1907, 1920, 1923, 1927), de Meijere (1916a), Frey (1934) and Lindner (1937, 1955).

Probably all published records of P. fastuosa (= P. continua ) from the Australasian Region actually refer to P. violacea (as we could partly confirm by a study of the original material (see under P. violacea ). The paralectotype of Ptilocera amethystina from Sulawesi (see type material of P. amethystina ) is conspecific with P. continua and both alleged syntypes of P. smaragdina Snellen van Vollenhoven (not Walker) from Manado on Sulawesi (see Woodley 2001: 136) belong to P. continua as well (see Remarks under P. smaragdina ).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Ptilocera continua, female (orig. by F. Mason). Scale: 1.0 mm.

FIGURE 2. Two of the commonest species of Ptilocera in their habitat. Female of P. continua on a leaf of a Fabaceae tree (by courtesy of M. Kemal) (a) and female of P. quadridentata basking on a leaf of Musa paradisiaca (by courtesy of N. Messina) (b).

FIGURES 3 – 8. Ptilocera spp. 3 – 4. P. quadridentata, puparium in dorsal view (3) and in ventral view (4) (larva collected under bark of Moringa pterygosperma by J. C. H. de Meijere. Abbreviations: Apical seta (AP), anal slit (asl), dorsal seta (D), dorsocentral seta (DC), lateral seta (L), posterior spiracular open (pso), subapical seta (SAP), sternal patch (sp), ventral seta (V), ventrolateral seta (VL). The morphological terms used follow Bučánková et al. (2009). 5 – 8. P. continua, male antenna (5) and conjunction between 3 rd and 4 th flagellomeres (6), female antenna (7) and female 3 rd and 4 th flagellomeres in dorsal view showing sensory pits (8).

FIGURES 15 – 20. Ptilocera spp. 15 – 16. P. continua, male head (15) and male ocellar tubercle in frontal view (16). 17 – 20. P. quadridentata, female head (17) and female ocellar triangle in frontal view (18), male lower frons in frontal view (19) and female head in lateral view (20).

FIGURES 57 – 64. Ptilocera spp., wings: P. amethystina, male (57) and female (58), P. aureopilosa sp. nov., female holotype (59), P. b e rg i James, male (60) and female (61), P. continua, male (62) and female holotype (63). P. kerteszi sp. nov., female holotype (64).

FIGURES 95 – 100. Ptilocera continua, male, dorsal view (95), variable pattern on abdomen (96), antenna (97), genital capsule (98), aedeagal complex (99), proctiger, cerci and epandrium (100).

FIGURES 21 – 26. Ptilocera spp. 21. P. aureopilosa, female head in frontal view. 22 – 23. P. quadridentata, female lower frons (22) and male head in lateral view showing proboscis and two-segmented palpus (23). 24 – 26. Female palpus of F. amethystina (24), F. continua (25) and P. quadridentata (26).

FIGURES 33 – 38. Ptilocera spp. 33 – 34. Female prealar prominence in dorsal view, P. kerteszi sp. nov. (33) and P. smaragdina (34). 35 – 38. Scales on presutural area of female scutum, P. amethystina (35), P. continua (36), P. kerteszi sp. nov. (37) and P. quadridentata (38).

FIGURES 27 – 32. Ptilocera spp. 27 – 29. P. smaragdina, female. Palpus (27), part of thorax in lateral view showing bare area on anepisternum and prealar prominence in lateral view (28, arrow), prealar prominence in lateral view (29). 30 – 32. Female prealar prominence in dorsal view, P. amethystina (30), P. aureopilosa (31) and P. continua (32).

FIGURES 51 – 56. Ptilocera spp. P. continua, pretarsus of female fore leg in ventral view (51). P. aureopilosa, female abdomen in dorsal view (52). P. paradisea, distal half of male abdomen in dorsal view (53). P. continua, female abdomen in lateral view (54). P. quadridentata, dorsal part of male terminalia in ventral view (55) and genital capsule and aedeagal complex in dorsal view (56).