Dasyhelea avia Dominiak sp. nov.

(Figs 4–5)

Type material. Holotype: adult male. United Arab Emirates. Al-Ajban, N 24˚36' E 55˚01', 60 m asl, 21.VIII– 09.IX.2006, Malaise trap, leg. A. van Harten (UG). Paratypes: United Arab Emirates. Al-Ajban, N 24˚36' E 55˚01', 60 m asl, 21.VIII–09.IX.2006, 2 males, Malaise trap, leg. A. van Harten (UG).

Diagnosis. This species is easily diagnosed by very short, hook-like submedian projections of aedeagus and wshaped parameres.

Description. Male. Head. Flagellum length 0.53–0.55 mm, AR 0.89–0.94 (n=2). Distal flagellomeres with two rows of long setae (Fig. 4). Frontal sclerite rather broad. Clypeus bearing 8 strong setae. Third palpal segment rather long and slender, length 47–49 μm, PR III 3.92–4.45 (n=2). Thorax. Transverse suture absent, number of supraalar setae from 7 to 8. Scutellum pale, with 6 long setae. Wing membrane covered with macrotrichia, hyaline, only one radial cell present. Wing length 0.70–0.71 mm, CR 0.42–0.44 (n=3). Legs unicolored, TR I 2.2 (n=2), TR II 2.3 (n=2), TR III 2.2 (n=1). Genitalia (Fig. 5). Tergite 9 rounded distally, apicolateral processes short, with sharp tip. Posterior margin of sternite 9 extended, fused to aedeagus by conspicuous bridge. Gonostylus slightly curved, slender. Parameres fused and symmetrical, w-shaped. Aedeagus with one pair of short submedian projections, both with recurved tips resemble small hooks.

Female and immatures. Unknown.

Derivation of the name. The Latin noun avia,- orum means wilderness.

Distribution. The United Arab Emirates.

Comments. Dasyhelea avia and the species of the turficola group are close in similar structure of the bridge joining sternite 9 and aedeagus, and the fused symmetrical parameres. It can be easily separated from the other species by the shape of aedeagal projections, which are very short and hook-like.