Limnophora quaterna (Loew)

Michelsen, Verner, 2021, Macaronesian Muscidae (Diptera). II. The genus Limnophora Robineau-Desvoidy with description of a new Canarian endemic species, Zootaxa 4952 (1), pp. 101-127 : 117-118

Limnophora quaterna (Loew)

( Figs 10A‒C )

Limnophora notabilis Stein ; Becker 1908a: 100 (Gran Canaria, Tenerife); Emden 1958: 6 ( Cape Verde Is.); Hennig 1959: 374. “ Limnophora obsignata (Rondani) ”; Frey 1936: 132 p.p. (Tenerife, La Gomera). Misidentification.

Limnophora quaterna (Loew) ; Pont 1980: 749; Báez 1981: 625 (Tenerife).

Material examined. [ MZH, NHMD]: CANARY ISLANDS: GRAN CANARIA: Arucas, 1♀ 27.iii.1949 (H. Lind- berg). TENERIFE: Guimar, 2♂, 1♀ 1931 ( R. Frey), 1♂ 12.i.1949 (H. Lindberg); Puerto de San Juan , 1♀ 16‒ 22.i.1949 (H. Lindberg); Puerto de la Cruz, 6♂, 3♀ 2‒4.ii.1949 (H. Lindberg). LA GOMERA: Hermigua, 6♂ 1931 ( R. Frey, R. Storå); Los Loros, 28°09´N 17°16´W, 520‒770m, 1♀ 1‒7.ii.2008 ( V. Michelsen); Bco de Aguajilva , Lomito Fragoso, 28°07´N 17°10´W, 220‒250m, 13♂, 7♀ 19‒24.i.2019, 1♀ 24‒29.i.2020 ( V. Michelsen ). Further material in NHMD examined from Yemen (Afrotropical) .

Diagnosis. Medium sized, wing length 4.0‒ 5.5mm. Male: Arista plumose, longest branches reaching width of postpedicel. Frons at narrowest point 1.3‒1.4 times as wide as ocellar tubercle, black frontal vitta at this point 2‒3 times wider than adjacent silvery white fronto-orbital plates. Fronto-orbital plate with 1 proclinate orbital setula well separated from 4‒6 robust frontal setae confined to lower two-thirds of frons. Frons lying slightly behind mod- erately produced facial margin. Mesonotum whitish grey pruinose with contrasting brownish black “ Anthomyia - pattern” as follows: pair of large squarish marks in front of the suture, a very broad band immediately behind the suture and a broad band on basal two-thirds of scutellum. Dorsocentral setae 3 behind the suture; presutural acros- tichal field occupied by setulae only, arranged in 6 irregular rows. Calypteres only a little paler than brownish tinged wing membrane; vein M 1 strongly curved forward in distal part. Mid femur with 2 subapical pd setae, on basal half with 3 spinose, erect pv setae; mid tibia with 2(‒3) pd setae above and below middle. Hind femur with normal av and pv setae on distal half and further with 3‒4 robust, erect pv setae on basal half. Sternite I bare. Sternite V and hypopygium as in Figs 10A‒C . Female: Frontal triangle with concave margins, very tapering and confined to upper two-thirds of frontal vitta. Fronto-orbital plate with 2 reclinate orbital setae (anterior one shorter) and 3‒4 inclinate frontal setae. Dark pattern on mesonotum very reduced compared to the male, mainly consisting of a pair of oblong brown marks behind the suture and dark patches on latero-basal corners of scutellum. Mid- and hind femur without distinct pv setae. Ovipositor different from similar examined species by sternite VI divided in three sclerite pieces supporting a pair of hind marginal setae only. See Table 1 for more ovipositor characters.

Distribution. Cape Verde Islands: Santo Antão, São Nicolau, Maio, Santiago [São Tiago], Brava. Canary Islands: Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Gomera. A widespread Afrotropical species also known from Yemen, Egypt, Cyprus and the Near East.

Figures

FIGURE 10. Limnophora quaterna (Loew) (A‒C), L. riparia (Fallén) (D‒F). Males. Sternite V (A, F); hypopygium, caudal (B, E) and lateral (C, D). Same scale.