Elachiptereicus dorsocentralis ( Becker, 1911 )

Nartshuk, E. P., 2013, Grassflies of the subfamily Chloropinae (Diptera: Chloropidae) from Vietnam and Thailand, with descriptions of two new species, Zootaxa 3702 (6), pp. 534-544 : 537-538

Elachiptereicus dorsocentralis ( Becker, 1911) —comb.nov.

Becker, 1911: 48—Java, India; Becker, 1912: 224— Ethiopia (Africa); Frey, 1923: 73— Philippines (Luzon); Duda, 1934b: 58— Sri-Lanka; Sabrosky, 1951: 722—East, West and South Africa; Sabrosky, 1957: 2— Cape Verde Islands; Nartshuk, 1962: 677—South China; Nartshuk, 1969:—Maritime territory (Primorsky krai) of Russia; Sabrosky, 1977: 316— Sri Lanka, China (Kiaugsi, Junnan), India (Maharashtra, W. Bengal), Java, Philippines, Maritime territory of Russia, Africa; Kanmiya, 1983: 222— Japan (Honsu, Kyushu, Amami and Ishigaki Islands; Taiwan, Philippines, Hawaii, Java, Sri Lanka, South China, Primorsky krai ( Russia), India, Africa; Hardy and Delfinado, 1980: 413–414—Hawaii; Spencer, 1986: 606— Australia (Queensland); Nartshuk, 1992: 118— China (West Kwantung); Yang & Yang, 1996: 557— China; Ismay, 2000: 277— Namibia.

Examined material. Vietnam: Pr. Vinh Phu, Tam Dao, 1000m, forest, 11.11.1990 (N), 1 ♀; Pr. Ha Son Binh: Da Bac, Tuly, 16. 10.1990 (N), 1 ♀; Ky Son, Cao Phong, forest, 26.10.1990, 1 ♂; Pr. Hanoi, 70 km NW Hanoi, Ba Vi, forest, 22.11. 1990 (B) 1 ♂, 1 ♀.

Thailand: Loei, Phu Kradueng NP, Huay Lao Kao, 16°52.442'N 101°50.706'E, 280 m, 16.viii.-23.viii.2006, Malaise trap, Sutin Khonglasae (T 487), 1 ♀; Loei, Phu Kradueng NP, Huay Ta Hack, 16°51.958'N 101°50.668'E, 280 m, 30.viii.-6.ix.2006, Malaise trap, Sutin Khonglasae (T 491), 1 ♀; Chaiyaphum, Pa Hin Ngam NPm, Ecotone between mixed deciduous and dry dipterocarp forest, 15°34.913'N 101°25.658'E, 444 m, 22.xi.-28.xi. 200, Malaise trap. Katae Sa-nog & Buakaw Adnafai (T 1037), 1 ♀; Chaiyaphum, Pa Hin Ngam NP, Ecotone between mixed deciduous and dry dipterocarp forest, 15°34.913'N 101°25.658'E, 444 m, 28.xi.-4.xii.2006, Malaise trap, Katae Sanog & Buakaw Adnafai (T 1040), 1 ♀.

Distribution. Widely distributed species over the Oriental and Afrotropical Regions, occurs in Maritime Territory of Russia (south-eastern part of the Palaearctic Region) ( Nartshuk, 1969, 1992).

Remarks. A female from Thailand (T 487) has only two pairs of dorsocentral setae, anterior pair absent. To study variation of this character I examined all available specimens (4 males and 10 females) from Primorsky krai of Russia, Korea and China, all have 3 pairs of dorsocentral setae.

Semaranga dorsocentralis is very similar to the species of the genus Elachiptereicus , except in having 3 pairs of dorsocentral setae instead of one hind pair in Elachiptereicus , cited as a family character. Habitus, characters of the antenna, arista, wing venation, and male genital structure of Semaranga associate it closely with Elachiptereicus , as noted by Sabrosky (1951). Males of S. dorsocentralis have very long geniculate phallus and elongated postgonitae with two long strong setae ( Fig.1–3 ). Sabrosky, leaving Semaranga as a distinct genus, wrote “For the present I leave Semaranga as distinct, but the general structure and habits, particularly the characteristic of the antenna, arista, and wing venation, certainly associate it closely with Elaciptereicus.” “The male genitalia are of the same type, elongate and geniculate, with the additional feature in Semaranga of two pair of long, erect, black bristles projecting ventrad about midway of hypopygium” (p. 723). Andersson (1977) had the contrary opinion. He stated (1977:135) " Sabrosky (1951) has pointed out the similarities between Semaranga and Elachiptereicus Becker. I think the differences in arrangement of interfrontals and the number of dorsocentrals are important enough to rectify the preservation of the genera as separate." However, Andersson did not examine male genitalia which are similar in the structure

The presence of two long setae on the male postgonite in Semaranga distinguishes it from Elachiptereicus .

Later examination of the male genitalia of Elachiptereicus shows the same long setae on the postgonite as seen on drawings of Elachiptereicus japonicus Kanmiya (Kanmiya, 1987) from Japan and E. ventriniger Yang et Yang from China ( Yang & Yang, 1992) ( Fig. 4–8 ). Similarity in the structure of male genitalia in addition to similarity in other structures listed above is the basis to synonymise Semaranga Becker with Elachiptereicus Becker.

Figures

FIGURE 1 – 3. Male genitalia of Elachiptereicus dorsocentralis (Becker) (orig.). 1, lateral view; 2, epandrium and surstyli, dorsal view; 3, epandrium, hypandrium, and phallic organs, ventral view.

FIGURE 4 – 8. Male genitalia of Elachiptereicus spp. 4 – 6, E. japonicus Kanmiya (after Kanmiya, 1987): 4, epandrium and surstyli, dorsal view; 5, hypandrium and phallic organs, ventral view; 6 — hypandrium and phallic organs, lateral view. 7 – 8, E. ventriniger Yang et Yang (after Yang et Yang, 1992): 7, epandrium and surstyli, dorsal view; 8, phallic organs, lateral view.