Schizohelea leucopeza ( Meigen, 1804 )

Szadziewski, Ryszard, Dominiak, Patrycja, Rumišek, Mario, Neinhuis, Christoph, Wanke, Stefan & Rupp, Thomas, 2024, Predatory midges of the genus Schizohelea Kieffer, 1917 in Europe and North Africa (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), Zootaxa 5514 (2), pp. 169-187 : 170-174

Schizohelea leucopeza ( Meigen, 1804)

( Figs. 1–3 )

Ceratopogon leucopeza Meigen, 1804: 29 (female, Europe).

Ceratopogon albitarsis Wiedemann, 1817: 67 (female, Germany).

Ceratopogon copiosus Winnertz, 1852: 56 (male, female, Germany).

Ceratopogon politus Coquillett, 1901: 606 (female, USA).

Bezzia stecki Kieffer, 1915: 65 (female, Switzerland).

Kiefferomyia gorana Mayer, 1937: 303 (female, Germany).

Monohelea xanthopeza Clastrier, 1963: 55 (female, Belgium, Norway, Finland).

Monohelea (Schizohelea) leucopeza : Wirth 1953: 138 (synonymy, description, females from USA, male from England); Downes & Wirth 1981: 410 (in key, Canada, northern USA).

Schizohelea leucopeza : Wirth & Grogan 1988: 78 (combination, synonymy).

Diagnosis. In both sexes radial cells short, barely visible, more or less equal in length. Macrotrichia on wing membrane absent. Males distinct in having aedeagus with two submedian apical processes, slender parameres armed with long claw-like spine, and gonocoxite with lateroventral tubercle armed with dark and slender pointed proximal projection. Females with unarmed legs, sternite 9 simple, and with a pair of distinct, ovoid internal sclerites under sternite 8.

Description

Male. Body black, shiny. Flagellum length 0.70–0.77 mm, plume well developed ( Fig. 1a ). Third palpal segment about 0.060 –0.070 mm long ( Fig. 1d ). Wing length 1.23–1.38 mm, costal ratio CR 0.58–0.59; first radial cells pale, of almost same length ( Fig. 1g ). Wing membrane without macrotrichia. Scutellum with 4–6 marginal bristles and few short setae. Legs slender, black with pale tarsi ( Fig. 2a ). Tarsal ratio TR(1) 1.5–1.7, TR(2) 1.6–1.7, TR(3) 1.6–1.8. Gonocoxite with bilobed lateroventral tubercle, anterior lobe slender and pointed, posterior lobe blunt ( Fig. 3a ). Gonostylus slender, slightly C-curved, 0.9 of gonocoxite length ( Fig. 3a ). Parameres slender, with long claw-like dark apical curved spine ( Fig. 3b ). Aedeagus arch-shaped with two submedian apical projections ( Fig. 3c ); depending on specimen position on slide the submedian apical projections similar to those in S. incerta ( Fig. 5g ).

Female. Similar to male. Flagellum 0.52–0.60 mm long, antennal ratio AR 0.94–1.00 ( Fig. 1b ). Mandible with 9–10 retrorse teeth. Third palpal segment 0.055 –0.065 mm ( Fig. 1e ). Wing length 1.23–1.45 mm, costal ratio CR 0.63–0.66; first radial cells pale, of almost same length ( Fig. 1h ). Wing membrane without macrotrichia. Scutellum with 4–6 marginal bristles and 5–6short setae.Legs black with pale tarsi ( Figs. 2b–d ). Hind claw longer than tarsomere 5 ( Figs. 2e–f ). Tarsal ratio TR(1) 1.4–1.5, TR(2) 1.6–1.9, TR(3) 2.0–2.1. Two ovoid, subequal spermathecae present, both dark with pale dots and with distinct neck, length 0.055 –0.070 mm ( Figs. 2h , 3d ). Rudimentary spermatheca absent or very small ( Fig. 2h ). Sternite 9 with single, blunt arms ( Figs. 2g , 3e ). Internal sclerites usually distinct, ovoid ( Figs. 2g , 3f ).

Material examined. Norway. Nordland, Lofotodden NP, Kvalvika, edge of Vestervikvatnet , 68.07022N, 13.07689E, 6 m a.s.l., 23.06– 25.07.2023, Malaise trap, 2 males, P. Dominiak leg. Viken, Sigdal, Heimseteraasen , 16.06.1998, 1 female; 25.06.1999, 1 male, J. Skartveit & K. Thunes leg. Switzerland. Canton of Neuchâtel, La Brévine , Marais de la Châtagne, NE 539,38/205,00, 1050 m, 23.07.1995, 2 females, J.P. Haenni leg. Poland. Pomerania, Gdańsk-Górki Wschodnie , 23.06.1978, 2 females, R. Szadziewski leg. Gdańsk-Oliwa , 30.07.1978, at light, 1 female, R. Szadziewski leg ; 20.07.1985, 1 male, R. Szadziewski leg. Jezioro Choczewskie n. Choczewo , 18.06.1979, 3 females, R. Szadziewski leg. Otalżyno n. Szemud , 5.07.1979, at light, 5 females, R. Szadziewski leg. Salino n. Choczewo at Jezioro Salino , 19.06.1979, 1 female, R . Szadziewski. Miastko , Apiaceae , 19.06.1991, 1 female, A. Warzocha leg. Mrowiniec n. Chojnice , 29.07.1993, 1 female, E. Kaczorowska leg. Piaśnica n. Wejherowo , 8.06.1981, 1 female, R. Szadziewski leg. Raciąż n. Tuchola , Ribes nigrum , 1.06.1983, 3 females, W. Giłka leg. Swarożyn n. Starogard Gdański , 7.06.1998, 1 female, M. Markiewicz leg. Żakowo n. Sulęczyno , 10.06.1993, 6 females, E. Kaczorowska leg. Masurian Lakeland. Silec n. Kętrzyn , 15– 30.05.1980, 2 females ; 16.08.1980, Apiaceae , 1 female, R. Szadziewski leg. Surwilin , 18.06.1980, 1 female, R. Szadziewski leg. Żytkiejmy n. Gołdap , 2.06.1981, 1 female, 4 males, R. Szadziewski leg. Podlasie. Giby in Puszcza Augustowska, 3.06.1981, 2 females, R. Szadziewski leg. Sztabin , 21.06.1984, Anthriscus sylvestris , 1 female, J. Krzywiński leg. Topiłówka n. Augustów , 26.06.2005, Apiaceae , 1 female, P. Dominiak leg. Krzywe in Wigierski Park Narodowy, Apiaceae , 1.07.2005, 1 female, 1 male, P. Dominiak leg. Puszcza Białowieska, Oddz. 599 B, 17.06.1991, 1 male, IZPAN . Kujawy. Inowrocław-Mątwy , 13.06.1975, 3 females, R. Szadziewski leg. Masovia. Kampinoski Park Narodowy, n. Warsaw , 13– 18.06.1979, yellow pan-traps, 1 female, IZPAN . Przasnysz, 8.08.1993, 3 females, K. Grędzińska leg. Babia Góra Mts. Zawoja-Barańcowa , 26.06.- 1.07.1989, Apiaceae , 5 females, 1 male, R. Szadziewski leg. ZawojaCzatoża, Apiaceae , 3.07.1989, 8 females, R. Szadziewski leg. Bieszczady Mts. Moczarne n. Wetlina, 22.06.2004, 1 female, M. Kentzer-Gwizdalska leg. Pieniny Mts. Krościenko , 21.06.1988, 2 males, R. Szadziewski leg.

Distribution. Holarctic species reported from USA and Canada ( Downes & Wirth 1981), Sakhalin in Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Georgia, Estonia, Finland, Norway, Poland, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Great Britain, Ireland, Iceland, Faroe Islands ( Denmark), Hungary, Czechia, Slovakia, Austria, Andorra, France ( Borkent et al. 2013).

Comments. Males of S. leucopeza are not often collected in the field. Currently examined females and males were collected on flowers of Apiaceae (incl. Anthriscus sylvestris ) and Ribes nigrum , at light, in yellow pan-traps, Malaise trap and by entomological net.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Schizohelea leucopeza (Meigen, 1804), male (a, d, f, g) and female (b, c, e, h): a, b—flagellum; c—eyes separation; d, e—maxillary palp; f—anepisternum and anepisternal cleft; g, h—wing.

FIGURE 2. Schizohelea leucopeza (Meigen, 1804), male (a) and female (b–h): a—legs; b—foreleg; c—midleg; d—hind leg; e, f—hind tarsomeres 4, 5 and claws; g—genitalia; h—spermathecae.

FIGURE 3. Schizohelea leucopeza (Meigen, 1804), male (a–c) and female genitalia (d–f): a—male genitalia, ventral view; b— parameres; c—aedeagus; d—spermathecae; e—abdominal sternite 9; f—adominal sternite 8 with internal sclerites underneath.

FIGURE 5. Schizohelea incerta (Clastrier, 1963), male genitalia: a—ventral view; b—lateral view; c—gonocoxal expansions; d, e—parameres; f–h—aedeagus.