Anthomyza sulphurea, Roháček, 2018

Roháček, Jindřich, 2018, First Anthomyzidae (Diptera) from China: a new genus, six new species and new records, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 58 (1), pp. 35-76 : 64-70

Anthomyza sulphurea sp. nov.

( Figs 96–116 )

Type material. HOLOTYPE:, labelled: ‘ China N Yunnan, Xue Shan nr. Zhongdian , 4200 m, 24.vi.1996, 27,49N / 99,34E’, ‘collected by J. Farkač, P. Kabátek and A. Smetana’ and ‘ Holotypus *m, Anthomyza sulphurea sp. n., J. Roháček det. 2017’ (red label) ( SMOC, intact).

PARATYPES: 3 1 ♀, with same label data as the holotype, only third (yellow) label has ‘Paratypus’ instead of ‘Holotypus’ ( SMOC 1 1 ♀, both genit. prep., and MBP 2, 1 genit. prep.); 2 male paratypes ( SMOC, MBP) have wings more or less damaged, and that in SMOC has one wing removed and preserved in glycerine together with abdomen.

Note. The type locality lies in a mountain valley 12 km west of Zhongdian (Shangri-La), thus ca 27°49′13′′N, 99°35′19′′E, 4050 m. The geographic coordinates and altitude given in the locality labels of the type specimens were obtained from an outdated map and are not precise (cf. TKOČ 2012: 290).

Description. Male. Total body length 2.14–2.30 mm; general colour bright yellow but abdominal terga brown ( Fig. 98 ), largely pale grey microtomentose and relatively dull. Head ( Fig. 97 ) almost entirely yellow, distinctly higher than long, in profile rounded rectangular anteriorly (frons not projecting in front of eye). Occiput dorsomedially concave; its larger medial part pale yellow and all sparsely whitish microtomentose, lateral parts behind eyes darker, orange to orange ochreous. Frons bright yellow to orange yellow, with only small ocellar triangle brown, largely microtomentose and dull, only frontal triangle and orbits somewhat shining. Orbits lighter yellow than rest of frons, sparsely whitish silvery microtomentose and slightly shining. Frontal triangle relatively broad, equilateral, reaching anterior third of frons, also slightly shining except for brown ocellar triangle. Frontal lunule small, whitish yellow. Face narrow, weakly sclerotized and concave, dull yellow; parafacialia and gena whitish yellow and silvery white microtomentose, both bordered with an orange yellow marginal stripe; postgena whitish yellow as gena, whitish microtomentose and contrasting with adjacent orange ochreous ventrolateral part of occiput; mouthparts pale yellow with yellowish white palpus. Cephalic chaetotaxy: all macrosetae unusually long for Anthomyza species (see Fig. 97 ); also pvt relatively long, strongly crossed; vti usually longest of cephalic setae (sometimes as long as height of head); vte, oc and 2 (posterior ors) subequal, usually somewhat shorter than vti but also very long; 3 ors, posterior (more exclinate) and middle (reclinate, sometimes even longer than posterior) very long, anterior distinctly shorter, about one-third to half length of the posterior; 1 microsetula (about as long as medial microsetulae) adjacent to foremost ors but situated more medially; 2–3 pairs of medial microsetulae between apex of frontal triangle and anterior margin of frons; 1 distinct inclinate setula behind vte; postocular setulae sparse (5–6) and relatively long, in single row; lateroventral part of occiput and postgena with sparse setulae, 2 setae in posteroventral corner longest; 1 relatively short vi (only slightly longer than foremost short ors); subvibrissa reduced (or absent?), even slightly shorter than foremost peristomal setula; peristomal setulae sparse (3–5), becoming shorter posteriorly. Palpus of medium thickness, with 1 (rarely 2) dark preapical seta and with a series of ventral and lateral setulae; labella fleshy and broad, with abundant fine setulae (slightly longer than those ventral on palpus). Eye not very large, suboval, with longest diameter slightly oblique and about 1.4–1.5 times as long as the shortest. Gena relatively high (deep) (see Fig. 97 ), with shortest height 0.27–0.31 times as long as shortest eye diameter. Antenna yellow to pale yellow, 1st flagellomere lightest; pedicel with dorsal seta longer than usual but fine; 1st flagellomere strongly laterally flattened and with relatively short white pilosity on anteroventral margin. Arista blackish brown (only its thickened basal segment pale brown), about 1.7 times as long as antenna and with yet shorter (and brown) cilia than those of 1st flagellomere.

Thorax not narrower than head, largely bright yellow ( Fig. 98 ), dull and whitish grey microtomentose, only posterior half of mesonotum with pale ochreous brown (often faint to indistinct) medial and lateral (between dc and sa lines) vittae; also scutellum, postscutellum and postnotum more or less darkened medially. Thoracic chaetotaxy rich with macrosetae unusually long: 1 hu (almost as long as anterior npl); 2 npl (anterior longer); 1 prs (as long as anterior npl); 1 sa (as long as prs); 1 pa (slightly shorter than sa); 2 postsutural dc, posterior extremely long and robust (together with apical sc longest thoracic seta), anterior as long as or longer than sa and up to 8 dc microsetae in front of them, the hindmost twice as long as the others and sometimes resembling a small third dc macroseta; 4 irregular rows of ac microsetae on suture and also between anterior dc; hindmost ac pair (situated close to posterior dc) distinctly enlarged (at least 3 times as long as ac microsetae in front of it) to form prescutellar ac macrosetae; 2 sc, laterobasal about as long as hu (shorter than sa), apical very long (as long as posterior dc); 1 unusually strong upcurved ppl (see Fig. 97 ); 2 stpl, posterior long to very long, anterior somewhat shorter; 1 setula in front of anterior stpl and 2 or 3 setulae in dorsal half of sternopleuron; ventral part of sternopleuron with up to 7 setae (2–3 longer). Scutellum distinctly triangular, slightly convex dorsally, somewhat wider than long, with posterior corner unusually acutely angled and, consequently, with apical sc arising close to each other. Legs uniformly pale yellow, only last segment of all tarsi darkened, pale brownish (that of hind tarsus darkest, see Fig. 107 ); all parts of legs more densely setose than those of other Anthomyza species. f 1 with usual posterodorsal and posteroventral rows of long setae but ctenidial spine extremely reduced forming a minute spine ( Fig. 111 ); f 2 with posteroventral row of fine and erect setae ( Fig. 112 ), being longer than in relatives; f 3 with posteroventral row of dense setae, most of them (in distal two-thirds) thickened and shortened and those in middle third duplicated or even triplicated ( Fig. 107 ); also hind trochanter with a clump of fine dense setae; tibiae densely finely setulose; t 2 with very short (only as long as maximum width of t 2) ventroapical seta; fore and mid basitarsi with 1, hind basitarsus with 3 ventral proximal setulae somewhat longer and thicker. Wing ( Fig. 96 ) long and relatively broad, with pale brown veins and hyaline pale ochreous membrane. C with sparse but very distinct spine-like setae between apices of R 1 and R 2+3. R 2+3 long, sinuous, running subparallel to C but with apex slightly upcurved; R 4+5 slightly bent or with terminal part straightened, divergent from (slightly bent) M especially apically. Discal (dm) cell with r-m situated at basal two-fifths to third of cell. Apical portion of CuA 1 slightly longer than dm-cu and almost reaching wing margin; A 1 short, ending far from it. Alula small but not narrowed and with apex rounded; anal lobe well developed, as usual in Anthomyza species. Wing measurements: length 3.14–3.22 mm, width 1.07–1.15 mm, Cs 3: Cs 4 = 0.89–0.98, rm\dm-cu: dm-cu = 2.68–2.89. Haltere with yellow stem and yellowish white large knob ( Fig. 98 ).

Abdomen. Preabdominal terga uniformly brown, with sparse light grey microtomentum, subshining. T1 fused with T2 although fusion line still discernible; T1 shorter and narrower than T2 and with only short setulae laterally; T2–T5 subequal in length, transverse and reaching far onto lateral aspect of abdomen but becoming somewhat narrower posteriorly (T5 narrowest); T2–T5 rather sparsely setose but setae at posterolateral corners relatively long. Preabdominal sterna pale ochreous brown, much narrower than associated terga but becoming wider posteriorly (S5 largest), S1 smallest, bare and with darker stripe at posterior margin; S2–S5 setose (S5 most densely), all slightly transversely subtrapezoidal (wider posteriorly than anteriorly).

Postabdomen. T6 transverse, bare, unpigmented, membranous, shorter than half length of T5. S6–S8 partly fused forming asymmetrical synsclerite as usual, with S6 and S7 situated left laterally and S8 dorsally. S6 pale brown, slightly shorter than S7, with thin, dark and sclerotized anterior ledge reaching onto ventral aspect and dorsally fused with that of S7; the latter darker brown and dorsally shortly fused with posterior margin of S8. S6 and S7 each with 2 distinct setae near posterior margin. S8 long (about 2.5 times as long as S7) and more symmetrical, with a series of short setae in posterior half.

Genitalia. Epandrium ( Figs 99, 100 ) medium-sized but distinctly broader than high or long, with rather sparse setae including 2 pairs (dorsolateral and dorsomedial, this longer) of long and robust setae; anal fissure relatively small, rounded subtriangular (as in A. bellatrix Roháček, 1984 ). Cercus relatively small, sparsely and finely micropubescent, with relatively short setae, with apical seta only slightly longer than others. Medandrium ( Fig. 99 ) rather broad and low, ventrally much wider than dorsally. Gonostylus ( Figs 99, 100, 102 ) simple, about as long as height of epandrium, with elongate suboval outline and convex outer side, with apex shortly broadly bilobed ( Fig. 102 ), externally largely micropubescent and setose internally, with longest setae at anterobasal corner. Hypandrium ( Fig. 101 ) robust, very broad (in dorsal view, cf. also caudal view in Fig. 105 ) but simple, without distinct leaf-like anterior internal lobes. Transandrium ( Fig. 105 ) robust, more so than that of A. bellatrix , with short bilobed (medially incised) flat caudal process transilient to spinose basal membrane. Pregonite ( Fig. 101 ) inconspicuous but elongate, completely fused with hypandrium, anteriorly low and with 3 (1 longer) partly internal setae, posteriorly conspicuously expanded ventrally but rounded and with a group of 6–7 setae inserted unusually dorsally on its external side. Postgonite ( Fig. 101 ) relatively simple, moderate, proximally and distally tapered, with a few very short setulae (no longer anterior setula!) and sensilla on outer side. Basal membrane broad, most similar to that of A. bellatrix , densely spinose, finely dorsally, more coarsely ventrolaterally ( Figs 101, 105 ). Aedeagal part of folding apparatus externally with dense wart-like adornment ( Fig. 104 ) but lacking robust spines internally (in contrast to that of A. bellatrix and relatives). Connecting sclerite slender, submembranous, spinulose but apically with a few bigger and darker spines (see Fig. 104 ). Phallapodeme robust but less so than in A. bellatrix , with basal fork asymmetrical ( Fig. 103 ) but not turned to the left, with very simple rounded apex without projecting corners. Aedeagus with short asymmetrical frame-like phallophore having dark ventral sclerite on the left. Distiphallus robust, composed of relatively small saccus and large filum. Saccus ( Fig. 104 ) smaller than that of A. trifurca Sueyoshi & Roháček, 2003 , having proximal half sclerotized and pigmented and distal membranous part armed with about 6 dark-pigmented spines. Filum ( Fig. 104 ) huge and formed by single robust curved sclerite terminating in 3 lobate, closely attached projections (see Fig. 106 ): 1 short, dark and with spinose apex and 2 longer, each having submembranous, flattened and pale apex with a few very minute spinulae at most. Ejacapodeme (in contrast to A. bellatrix group) well developed ( Fig. 104 ), larger than that of most Anthomyza species, with slender pale digitiform projection and rounded dark protuberance.

Female. Similar to male unless mentioned otherwise. Total body length 3.10 mm. Faintly darkened longitudinal stripes on mesonotum more distinct and longer, reaching to presutural area. 2 dc microsetae in front of anterior dc enlarged. Sternopleuron with 1 additional microseta between stpl. Ctenidial spine on f 1 similarly reduced to that in male but f 2 with posteroventral erect setae shorter and less numerous; f 3 posteroventrally simply setulose. Wing measurements: length 3.81 mm, width 1.27 mm, Cs 3: Cs 4 = 0.98, rm\dm-cu: dm-cu = 2.51. Preabdomen with T1–T5 wider, more transverse than in male and T4 the widest. Preabdominal sterna S2–S4 becoming progressively wider (S4 widest), S5 slightly narrower than S4 but wider than S6. S2–S5 distinctly wider than long, S2–S5 rounded trapezoidal, S5 suboblong.

Postabdomen ( Figs 108–110 ) medium long, tapered from 7th segment. T6 large but narrower than T5, dark-pigmented (lighter than T7) but narrowly pale margined both anteriorly and posteriorly, sparsely setose in posterior two-thirds. S6 transversely suboblong with rounded corners, pale ochreous yellow and setose in posterior half. T7 blackish brown, dorsally short due to broad anterior incision ( Fig. 108 ) and its larger lateral parts bent onto ventral aspect of postabdomen where lightened and embedding 7th spiracles ( Fig. 109 ), setae restricted to posterior half of sclerite. S7 ( Fig. 109 ) narrow, tapered posteriorly, separate although with lateral margins close to those of T7, very pale-pigmented and setose in posterior half (4 setae at posterior margin long). Membrane of 8th segment narrow and without dense micropubescence. T8 pale-pigmented and weakly sclerotized, relatively large and long ( Fig. 108 ), flat, posteriorly slightly tapered, with setae in posterior corners. S8 ( Fig. 109 ) shorter than T8, medially divided into 2 dark-pigmented sclerites being posteriorly bent dorsally and anteriorly to form invaginated lobes (cf. Fig. 116 ); S8 externally finely setose and micropubescent. Genital chamber long but with sclerotization reduced and, consequently, markedly dissimilar to that of the A. bellatrix group. There is a large (almost as wide as 8th segment), dorsally bent and relatively symmetrical annular sclerite ( Figs 114, 116 ) similar to that of A. ornata sp. nov. and only faintly darkened membrane anterior to it, but no other sclerites in genital chamber. Ventral receptacle ( Fig. 113 ) very long, tube-like, membranous, having most of surface indistinctly ringed and its terminal third gradually attenuated with only apex simply twisted (resembling that of species of the Anthomyza macra group and some species of the genus Arganthomyza ); accessory gland not observed in the only female examined. Spermathecae (1+1) characteristic ( Fig. 115 ), each elongately pyriform, with small terminal invagination, surface of distal broader part with fine dense transverse rings, spinulose proximal narrow part and cervix reduced to very short collar; spermathecal duct very long and plain. T10 small, rounded pentagonal ( Fig. 108 ), with basal half dark-pigmented, single medial pair of long setae in centre and sparse micropubescence. S10 long and narrow ( Fig. 109 ), about 2.5 times as long as T10, finely setulose and micropubescent. Cercus relatively long and slender, with rich setosity, and its longest apical and dorsopreapical setae almost as long as cercus ( Fig. 110 ).

Discussion. This new Anthomyza species can be easily recognized by the following combination of external characters: largely yellow body with brown abdomen ( Fig. 98 ); very long cephalic and thoracic macrosetae ( Figs 97, 98 ) (resembling those of A. ornata and Epischnomyia species); dense setosity of legs but ctenidial spine on f 1 extremely reduced ( Fig. 111 ); male f 2 and f 3 with characteristic rows of setae ventrally ( Figs 107, 112 ) and scutellum distinctly triangular.

The validity of A. suphurea sp. nov. is also supported by numerous distinctive characters in the male and female terminalia but revealing its relationships proved to be more difficult. The general formation of the male external genitalia (broad epandrium with small anal fissure, small cercus, simple gonostylus) and, particularly, some characters in the male hypandrial and aedeagal complexes seem to indicate relationship of A. suphurea with the East Palaearctic A. bellatrix group (as defined by ROHÁČEK 2006). They share the robust (and very broad) hypandrium and transandrium, densely spinose basal membrane, asymmetrical basal fork of phallapodeme and very robust filum of distiphallus terminating in 3 projections. However, the latter (probable) synapomorphies are contradicted by extensive dissimilarities in the female postabdomen, especially the separate S7, absence of paired asymmetrical internal sclerites (posterior to annular sclerite) in the female genital chamber, annular sclerite transverse (not elongate) and symmetrical, ventral receptacle not spirally coiled terminally and spermathecae elongate. In addition, some distinctive dissimilarities with synapomorphies of the A.bellatrix group can also be seen in the male internal genitalia, e. g. the aedeagal part of folding apparatus of A. sulphurea is devoid of strong spines, apex of phallapodeme is simply rounded (without projecting lateroventral corners) and ejacapodeme is not reduced. Moreover, the scutellum of A. sulphurea is not flattened dorsally and there are no whitish grey microtomentose stripes on its occiput. All these differences (lack of synapomorphies) prevent the inclusion of A. sulphurea in the A. bellatrix group directly but some shared apomorphies in the male genitalia (discussed above) indicate that they may be somewhat related. However, judging from the uniquely transverse annular sclerite in the female genital chamber, very similar structures of spermathecae, long cephalic and thoracic setae and similar fore leg chaetotaxy, A. sulphurea seems to be the nearest relative of A. ornata (described from single female above). These two species appear to represent a separate group of Anthomyza that cannot yet be formally described because the male of A. ornata is unknown. Provisionally (based on the shared apomorphies in the male genitalia of A. sulphurea , see above) this species-pair can be considered a sister group of the A. bellatrix group (composed of A. cuneata Roháček, 1987 , A. bellatrix Roháček, 1984 and A. trifurca Sueyoshi & Roháček, 2003 ). If so, the A. sulphurea + A. ornata pair carries more plesiomorphies than the A. bellatrix group (for synapomorphies of the latter see ROHÁČEK 2009 and ROHÁČEK & BARBER 2016).

Etymology. The name is a Latin adjective (sulphureus, - a, - um) and refers to the bright yellow (sulphur-yellow) head and thorax of the new species.

Biology. Nothing is known about the habitat of the new species. The type series was captured in June in a high- -montane valley (at 4200 m, but according to TKOČ 2012: 290, this altitude is incorrect; however, the type locality obviously lies slightly above 4000 m, and is the highest site where Anthomyzidae have hitherto been collected).

Distribution. China: Yunnan.

Figures

Figs 96–98. Anthomyza sulphurea sp. nov., male (China: Yunnan). 96 – wing (paratype, length ca 3.1 mm); 97 – head, dorsolaterally (holotype); 98 – holotype, laterally (body length ca 2.2 mm). Photos by J. Roháček (96) and M. Tkoč (97, 98).

Figs 99–106. Anthomyza sulphurea sp. nov., male paratype (China:Yunnan).99–100 – external genitalia (99 – caudally; 100 – laterally); 101 – hypandrial complex, laterally; 102 – gonostylus, lateroventrally (widest extension); 103 – basal end of phallapodeme, dorsally; 104 – aedeagal complex, laterally; 105 – transandrium, caudally; 106 – apex of filum, ventrally. Scales = 0.1 mm.

Figs 107–112. Anthomyza sulphurea sp. nov., male and female paratypes (China:Yunnan). 107 – male hind leg, posteriorly; 108–110 – female postabdomen (108 – dorsally; 109 – ventrally; 110 – laterally); 111 – male f1, posteriorly; 112 – male f2, anteriorly. Scales = 0.2 mm. For abbreviations see p. 37.

Figs 113–116. Anthomyza sulphurea sp. nov., female paratype (China: Yunnan). 113 – distal part of genital chamber with ventral receptacle, laterally; 114 – annular sclerite ventrally; 115 – spermathecae; 116 – 8th abdominal segment with proximal part of genital chamber, laterally (micropubescence omitted, also setae on T8 omitted). Scales = 0.1 mm. For abbreviations see p. 37.