Protomiltogramma popularis, 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 : 26-28

Protomiltogramma popularis sp. n.

( Figs 11 , 16E–H )

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other Australian Protomiltogramma by the yellow-gold microtomentum on the dorsal surface of the thorax and abdomen. This gold microtomentum is also present on the dorsal surface of T1+2, a feature unique to this species. Protomiltogramma popularis sp. n. also has dark colouration on the lateral surface of the 1st flagellomere. A dark-brown/black coloured 1st flagellomere is only found in two other species— P. nigrisensa and P. incana —neither of which have patches of orange-brown laterally on T1+2 and T3 nor yellowgold microtomentum.

Type material. Holotype ♂: Buley Rockhole , Litchfield National Park, NT, Australia, 10.xi.2017, N.P. John- ston, J.F. Wallman and K. Szpila ( ANIC).

Paratypes: 9 ♂, 3 ♀ ( ANIC) (see Table 2) .

Other material. See Table 2.

Description. Body length: 7–10 mm (n = 30).

Male. Head ( Fig. 11B, D, F ). Frontal vitta orange-brown, 0.15 of head width at height of anterior ocellus; fronto-orbital plate with gold microtomentum; 2 proclinate FO setae, 1 reclinate FO seta, multiple weak setae between the proclinate FO and reclinate FO setae; ocellar setae weaker than reclinate FO setae; 12–15 frontal setae; 3rd aristomere black, thickened in basal 0.5, tapering distally, slightly longer than 1st flagellomere; 1st flagellomere yellow-brown and 2x pedicel length; pedicel setose, with a single strong seta and multiple weak setulae; scape without setae; parafacial plate yellow-white, without setae, width less than distance between antennal insertion point and eye margin; gena and postgena grey with black setae; genal groove and facial ridge without microtomentum and slightly darker than parafacial plate; vibrissa located midway between tip of the 1st flagellomere and lower facial margin; 0–1 supra-vibrissal setae.

Thorax ( Fig. 11A, C ). Dorusm yellow-grey with gold 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 at anterior margin of scutellum, minor lateral stripes ending just posterior to suture; scutellum with some darkening on lateral margins; notopleuron with two strong setae; proepisternum bare; katepisternal setae 1+3, numerous weaker setae covering entire katepisternum. Legs: black; pulvilli 0.5 of tarsal claw length; mid tibia with 1 AD, 1 PD and 2 V setae. Wing: hyaline; tegula black; basicosta yellow-brown; dorsal surface of vein R 1 bare, R with a patch of setae basally.

4+5

Abdomen ( Fig.11A,C,E ):black with gold microtomentum on anterior margins of T3–5(occupying approximately 0.6 of each tergite); weak median black stripe; reddish-brown patch laterally on T1+2 and T3; T4 with setae along entire margin; backward and up-curved setae present on T5. Terminalia ( Fig. 16E–H ): cercus (lateral view) broad on basal 0.5 then immediately narrowing to 0.5 of basal width on distal 0.5, dorsal surface setose; cerci (posterior view) fused along basal 0.25 then separate, slightly bent outwards from one another; surstylus (lateral view) slightly shorter than cercus, with three distinct lobes on posterior margin; surstyli (posterior view) curved inwards towards cerci; acrophallus thin and needle-like, approximately 1.5x cercus length, with proximal sclerotisation.

Female. As male.

Etymology. The species epithet “ popularis ” [Latin for ‘common’], which should be treated as an adjective, refers to this species being the most frequently collected species in mainland Australia during this study.

Biology. Both males and females were collected while perching on sticks and rocks on loose sandy trails, but females showed a preference for perching near the entrances of insect nests constructed in the ground (primarily hymenopteran).

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

Figures

FIGURE 11. Protomiltogramma popularis sp. n., paratype, male, Girringun National Park, QLD, 7.i.2017, N.P. Johnston, J.F. Wallman and T. Pape (ANIC). 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 16. Protomiltogramma spp. male terminalia. A–D. Protomiltogramma plebeia Malloch. E–H. Protomiltogramma popularis sp. n. I–L. Protomiltogramma rubra sp. n. M–P. Protomiltogramma subtilis sp. n. Abbreviations: c = cercus, s = surstylus and p = acrophallus. Scale bars = 100 µm.