Neocolpodia Mamaev, 1964

Jaschhof, Mathias & Jaschhof, Catrin, 2020, The Porricondylini (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae: Porricondylinae) of Sweden revisited: descriptions of nineteen new species of ten genera, including a new genus, Zootaxa 4728 (2), pp. 151-182 : 162

Neocolpodia Mamaev, 1964

This genus was recently redefined and pruned to contain two Palearctic species whose main distinction is the shape of the gonostylus ( Jaschhof & Jaschhof 2013: 191 ff.). Both species occur throughout Sweden, but are rarely encountered, with N. gukasiani (Mamaev) being slightly more common than N. paradoxa Mamaev ( Jaschhof & Jaschhof 2013; additional material examined since then). In our revision of 2013 we discussed the gonostylus of N. gukasiani to vary in shape, an issue re-addressed in the present study, in which we scrutinized twice as many specimens (n = 20). The variation found earlier is reconfirmed, but we can now assign our specimens to four, perhaps even five clusters, each with a slightly different gonostylar outline. This is accompanied by variations in the length of the neck of the fourth flagellomere, palpal length, and the length of the fore tibia in relation to the second tarsomere. Even so, we failed thus far to recognize stable patterns in the distribution of those characters, meaning we lack the basis for drawing clear-cut, interspecific boundaries. Therefore, we leave this issue unsolved for the time being, but hold the belief that N. gukasiani as previously defined ( Jaschhof & Jaschhof 2013: 192) is likely a complex of several discrete species. Specimens from a wider geographic area should be examined using an integrated, morpho-genetic approach to solve this issue (note that N. gukasiani was originally described from southern Siberia). At the same time, we are convinced that the gonostylar variant illustrated in our 2013 book ( Jaschhof & Jaschhof 2013: fig. 90A) pertains to a species distinct from N. gukasiani ; this is described below as N. ombergensis .

Male genitalic characters diagnostic of Neocolpodia , another member of generic group Aa, are as follows: the gonocoxal synsclerite lacks a ventral emargination; the aedeagus is tightly sheathed by a pair of long, thin gonocoxal processes; the aedeagal apodeme is present as a thin, long rod with well-discernible accessory gland ducts; and the parameres are strongly reduced both in size and intensity of sclerotization ( Jaschhof & Jaschhof 2013: fig. 90).