Protomiltogramma incana, Johnston & Wallman & Szpila & Pape, 2021

Johnston, Nikolas P., Wallman, James F., Szpila, Krzysztof & Pape, Thomas, 2021, Integrative taxonomy reveals remarkable diversity in Australian Protomiltogramma (Diptera: Sarcophagidae), Zootaxa 5043 (1), pp. 1-104 : 15

Protomiltogramma incana sp. n.

( Figs 5 , 14K–N )

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other Australian Protomiltogramma through the combination of: silver/grey microtomentum on fronto-orbital and parafacial plates, and black ground colour of 1st flagellomere.

Type material. Holotype ♂: Yanyarrie Creek , South Flinders Ranges Nature Reserve, SA, Australia, 26.i.2012, T. Pape and D. Whitmore ( ANIC).

Paratypes: 6 ♂ ANIC, 1 ♂ NHMD (see Table 2).

Description. Male. Body length: 5–7 mm (n = 5).

Head ( Fig. 5B, D, F ). Frontal vitta red at height of anterior ocellus, darkening to black at lunule, 0.2 of head width at height of anterior ocellus; fronto-orbital plate with silver microtomentum; 2 proclinate FO setae, 1 strong reclinate FO seta and a patch of unordered weak, reclinate FO setae; ocellar setae weaker than reclinate FO setae; 10–12 frontal setae; 3rd aristomere black, thickened on basal 0.75 then slightly tapering on distal 0.25, equal in length to 1st flagellomere; 2nd aristomere 0.2 of 3rd aristomere length; 1st flagellomere black and 3x pedicel length; pedicel setose, with a single strong seta and multiple weak setulae; scape without setae; parafacial plate with silver microtomentum, width equal to distance between antennal insertion and eye margin; gena and postgena silver with black setae; genal groove and facial ridge red-black; vibrissa located midway between tip of 1st flagellomere and lower facial margin; 3–4 supra-vibrissal setae; supra-vibrissal setae extending onto facial ridge; fronto-orbital and parafacial plate with white setulae on entire surface.

Thorax ( Fig. 5A, C ). Dorsum dark grey with silver microtomentum; a major median, two major lateral and two minor lateral stripes (mediad to major lateral stripes and approximately half their width), major lateral stripes ending just before anterior margin of scutellum, median major stripe ending midway between suture and anterior margin of scutellum, minor lateral stripes ending just posterior to suture; scutellum with darkening on lateral margins and posterior 0.2; notopleuron with two strong setae; proepisternum bare; katepisternal setae 1+2, numerous weaker setae covering entire katepisternum. Legs: black; fore-tarsal claws slightly shorter than tarsomere 5; pulvilli 0.75 of tarsal claw length; mid tibia with 1 AD, 1 V, 1 PV and 2 P setae. Wing: hyaline; dorsal surface of vein R 1 bare, R 4+5 with a small patch of setae basally.

Abdomen ( Fig. 5A, C, E ). Black with silver microtomentum on anterior margins of T3–5 (occupying approximately 0.5 of each tergite); median stripe present; microtomentum variable depending on viewing angle; setae present along entire posterior margin of T3, T4 and T5; backward and up-curved setae not present on T5. Terminalia ( Fig. 14K–N ): cercus (lateral view) uniformly broad, weakly curved, dorsal surface with dispersed setae; cerci (posterior view) straight, parallel and tapering to a point along distal 0.25, fused on basal 0.25, separate on distal 0.75; surstylus (lateral view) equal in length to cercus, elongate, with a single lobe; surstyli (posterior view) curved inwards towards cerci; acrophallus thin, needle-like and slightly shorter than cercus length.

Female. Unknown.

Etymology. The species epithet “ incana ” [from the Latin incanus meaning ‘quite grey’ or ‘hoary’], which should be treated as a noun in apposition, refers to the characteristic silver-grey microtomentum on the head, thorax and abdomen of this species.

Biology. Males were collected while perching on sticks and rocks on loose sandy trails.

Distribution. Australasia— Australia (ACT, NSW, NT, SA, WA).

Figures

FIGURE 5. Protomiltogramma incana sp. n., paratype, male, South Flinders Ranges, SA, 26.i.2012, T. Pape and D. Whitmore (NHMD). A. Habitus, lateral view. B. Head, lateral view. C. Habitus, dorsal view. D. Head, dorsal view. E. Abdomen, dorsal view. F. Head anterior view. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURE 14. Protomiltogramma spp., male terminalia. A–D. Protomiltogramma cincta Townsend. E–F. Protomiltogramma dalbiensis sp. n. G–J. Protomiltogramma grandis sp. n. K–N. Protomiltogramma incana sp. n. Abbreviations: c = cercus, s = surstylus, p = acrophallus. Scale bars = 100 µm.