Paralimosina paraustralis, Papp, 2013

Papp, László, 2013, The first record of the genus Paralimosina L. Papp (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae) in the Afrotropical Region, with descriptions of six new species, African Invertebrates 54 (2), pp. 315-315 : 323-325

Paralimosina paraustralis sp. n.

Figs 31–37

Etymology: From Latin par (equal, like) and australis (southern), in reference to similarity of this species to P. australis .

Description:

Male.

Measurements in mm: body length 2.56, wing length 2.30, wing width 1.07.

Body dark brown; frons with M-shaped pattern.

As regards body features, the male of the new species is very similar to P. australis sp. n. but differs in the following: mid tibia without a row of thick black setae ventrally, but apical 0.4 has long dense hairs; no va on male mid tibia; fore coxa with some longer hairs only; costal index 1.0.

S5 large and very long ( Fig. 31 ), even longer medially; that medial extension with a very short medio-caudal edge, which does not bear a seta. The medio-caudal part is only slightly more melanised. S5 medially with a pair of long subcaudal setae, short setae present between them and also laterally. S6 part of synsternite ( Fig. 32 ) rather large, comparatively long and broad, ‘right side sclerites’ less distinct than in P. australis . S7 part of synsternite with an exceptionally large dorsal part. S8 part small. Hypandrial arms ( Fig. 37 ) rather short and broad, not curved, medial part strong, with a lower sagittal ridge and an anteriorly curved, asymmetrical process ( Fig. 37 ). Subepandrial sclerite ( Fig. 34 ) rather similar to that of P. australis . Cercal lobes of epandrium can be regarded as reduced but sagittal bridge definitely broader (i.e. higher). Surstylus with extremely large, intricately structured anterior lobe: anterior and dorsal parts less strongly sclerotised ( Fig. 35 ). Posterior lobe of surstylus ( Fig. 35 ) much smaller, with a double-curved long black bristle ( Figs 34, 35 ); posterior lobe strongly sclerotised and melanised and bears several setae of medium length. Phallapodeme ( Fig. 33 ) less strong, ca 0.23 mm long and with anterior part ventrally curved in lateral view. Basiphallus ( Figs 26, 27 ) short and high, ventral apex blunt and slightly curved. Distiphallus short ( Fig. 33 ), in contrast to that of P. australis , with several apical processes and a ventral process. Postgonite ( Fig. 36 ) shorter than in P. australis (less than 0.2 mm from apex to base), thinner and less curved than that of P. australis , basal part not strongly broadened, with blunt apex.

Female. Unknown.

Holotype: ♂ SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: Eshowe, Ngoye Forest Reserve [28°51'S 31°41'E], 2839DC, 29.ix.2006, G.B.P. Davies ( NMSA, abdomen and genitalia preserved in glycerol in a plastic microvial).

Remark:The discovery of two such closely related species of the Afrotropical Paralimosina must make us aware of the possible existence of similar sister species in the region, i.e. of the need for genitalia preparations from specimens in the future.

Figures

Figs 31–37. Paralimosina paraustralis sp. n., male holotype, postabdomen and genitalia: (31) S5, ventral view; (32) synsternite, ventral view; (33) phallus and phallapodeme, with distal part of phallus at higher magnification; (34) ventral part of epandrium and subepandrial sclerite with contours of posterior part of surstyli, caudal view; (35) surstylus, broadest (sublateral) view; (36) postgonite, lateral view; (37) hypandrium, ventral view. Scale bars: Figs 31–34, 37 = 0.2 mm, Figs 35, 36, and enlarged part of Fig. 33 = 0.1 mm.

Figs 23–30. Paralimosina australis sp.n., male paratype, postabdomen and genitalia:(23) S5, ventral view; (24) cercal lobes and subepandrial sclerite, ventral view; (25) hypandrium, lateral view; (26) phallus and phallapodeme, lateral view; (27) basiphallus and ejaculatory apodeme, lateral view; (28) S6–7 parts of synsternite, ventral view; (29) surstylus, broadest (sublateral) view; (30) postgonite, lateral view. Scale bars: Fig. 23 = 0.4 mm, Figs 24–26, 28 = 0.2 mm, Figs 27, 29–30 = 0.1 mm.