Limnophora nitidithorax (Stein)

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 : 109

Limnophora nitidithorax (Stein)

( Figs 4A‒C )

Calliophrys nitidithorax Stein ; Becker 1908a: 102 (Gran Canaria, Tenerife); Frey 1936: 131 (Tenerife).

Limnophora (Calliophrys) nitidithorax (Stein) ; Hennig 1960: 388; Báez 1981: 627, pl. 1 fig. 6, pl. 3 figs 5, 6 (Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Gomera).

Limnophora (Melanochelia) affinis Santos Abréu ; Santos Abréu 1976: 102 (La Gomera, La Palma).

Limnophora (Melanochelia) nitidithorax (Stein) ; Santos Abréu 1976: 104, fig. 14 (La Palma).

Limnophora nitidithorax (Stein) ; Pont 1986: 180; Couri & Pont 2020: 11, 13 figs 61‒64 (male syntype, habitus).

Material examined. [ MZH, NHMD]: CANARY ISLANDS : GRAN CANARIA: Maspalomas, 1♂ 9‒10.iii. 1950 (H. Lindberg); Bco. Virgin, Moya , 400m, 1♀ 20.vii.1984 (Olsen, Skule & Stadel); Bco Guayadeque , 27°56´N 15°29´W, 550‒1000m, 3♂, 1♀ 21.xi.2014 ( V. Michelsen); El Risco , 28°02´N 15°43´W, 150‒200m, 1♂ 7‒12.i.2014 ( V. Michelsen). TENERIFE: Puerto de la Cruz, 2♂, 1♀ 7‒8.v.1947 (H. Lindberg); Valle de Masca , 1♂ 12‒13.v.1947 (H. Lindberg); Los Mercedes, 1♀ 28‒30.v.1947 (H. Lindberg); Adeje, 1♂ 21.i.1949 (H. Lindberg); Silos, 6♂, 3♀ 12.ii.1949 (H. Lindberg); Los Carrizales , 28°19´N 16°51´W, c. 645m, 4♀ 8.ii.2008 ( V. Michelsen). LA GOMERA: La Laja , 28°06´N 17°11´W, 480‒600m, 1♂, 1♀ 23.xi.2002, 4♂, 1♀ 22‒29.i.2016 ( V. Michelsen); Lomito Fragoso , 28°07´N 17°10´W, 220‒250m, 2♂, 3♀ 19‒24.i.2019, 6♂ 24‒29.i.2020 ( V. Michelsen) .

Diagnosis. Very similar to L. bipunctata but different as follows: Slightly larger, wing length 3.0‒ 4.3mm. Male: Frontal vitta deep black in contrast to wholly silvery white fronto-orbital and parafacial plates. Mesonotum mainly shiny black through thin cover of brown pruinosity, but a contrasting pattern of dense silvery white pruinosity (with a bluish tinge) covers the postpronotal lobes and notopleura and extends further to the anterior wing base along with a pair of marks in front of the scutellum. Vein R 4+5 on basal half between radial node and crossvein r‒m with 1‒3 dorsal setulae. Sternite V and hypopygium as in Figs 4A‒C . Female: Separated from female L. bipunctata by the same differences in colour as given for the male. See Table 1 for ovipositor characters which coincide with those of L. bipunctata .

Distribution. Endemic Canarian species recorded from Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Gomera and La Palma.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Limnophora nitidithorax (Stein) (A‒C), L. obscurisquama Stein (D‒F). Males. Hypopygium, caudal (A, E) and lateral (B, F); sternite V (C, D). Separate scales for A‒C and D‒F.