Lophoteles brevispinus, Rozkošný, 2013

Rozkošný, Rudolf, 2013, Two new species of Lophoteles including the first record of this genus in the Oriental Region (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 53 (1), pp. 339-346 : 342-343

Lophoteles brevispinus sp. nov.

( Figs 1–2 )

Type locality. Philippines, Luzon, Mt. Isarog.

Type material. HOLOTYPE: ♀, PHILIPPINES, Luzon, Camarines Sur, Mt. Isarog, Pili , 800 m, 1.v.1965, H. M. Torrevillas lgt. ( BPBM) . PARATYPES: 2 ♀♀, the same locality label as the holotype, both in BPBM.

Diagnosis. Head relatively narrow in profile ( Fig. 2 ). Anterior part of thorax not tapered in lateral view ( Fig. 2 ), scutellum in same plane as scutum, at most slightly turned up, apical projection of scutellum shorter than scutellum in middle. Wing streak with diffuse margins. Tibiae and basitarsi of all legs yellow, hind tibia not thickened.

Description. Female (holotype): Length: body 3.8 mm (without antenna), wing 3.5 mm. Head ( Fig. 1 ) 1.7 times higher than long in profile and almost twice broader than long in dorsal view. Ocellar triangle distinctly prominent in profile, face, gena and lower postocular area only very narrow in same view. Frontal vitta about 4.5 times narrower than width of head in dorsal view, almost parallel-sided, shining black but with angulate, silverish white hair spots at eye margin just above antennae. Frontal spots narrowly fused with whitish facial stripes being of same width in upper part. Face densely whitish tomentose except narrow longitudinal median triangle. Antenna inserted slightly below middle of frons in profile, yellow, but scape and upper half of basal thickened flagellomeres brownish and arista black plumose. Scape and pedicel of same length, pedicel and basal four flagellomeres forming short oval complex. Darkened part of this complex with series of pale yellow sensory pits. Pedicel projecting on outer as well as inner side into a subtriangular lobe at base of flagellar complex. Densely plumose last flagellomere only slightly longer than rest of antenna.

Thorax mostly black and shining, only extreme top of postpronotal callus with reddish brown coloration.Anterior part of scutum strongly arched in lateral view, not gradually tapered ( Fig. 2 ). Thoracic pile mostly dark, brownish black and appressed but contrastingly white and slightly longer in prescutellar area. Prealar semi-circular prominence small but distinct. Pleural hairs whitish, scattered and inconspicuous but anepisternum with broad vertical hair band from snow white semi-appressed hairs continuing with similar hair patch in posterior corner of notopleural area. White hair patch on laterotergite less conspicuous. Scutellum with apical projection reaching about half length of scutellum in middle. Scutellum including apical projection slightly upturned above plane of scutum. Lateral margin of scutellum including apical projection with short and apically setose cornicles arranged in 1–2 rows. Wing almost hyaline, with broad but diffuse, slightly brownish transverse streak from brown stigma to posterior wing margin. Halter yellowish brown, basal part of knob more darkened. Legs predominantly yellow, dark brown pattern confined to fore femur (except both ends) and broad preapical bands on mid and hind femora.

Abdomen black, about 1.5 times as long as broad, with maximum width at posterior margin of tergite 4. Abdominal pile inconspicuous, mostly brownish, short and appressed.

Male. Unknown.

Variability. Both female paratypes are slightly larger (body 4.0 and 4.5 mm, wing 3.5 and 3.8 mm) than the holotype. Slight differences were found also in the extent of dark areas on flagellomeres and intensity of darkening of the transverse wing band.

Etymology. The specific name refers to the relatively short (= brevis in Latin) apical projection (= spina in Latin) on the scutellum; adjective.

Distribution. Only known from the Philippines (Luzon).

Figures

Figs 1–2. Lophoteles brevispinus sp. nov., female head in frontal view (1) and female in lateral view (2).