Lamellepidosis spungisi Mamaev, 1990

Jaschhof, Mathias & Jaschhof, Catrin, 2017, Mycophagous gall midges (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae: Lestremiinae, Micromyinae, Winnertziinae, Porricondylinae): first records in Sweden and descriptions of closely related new species from elsewhere, Zootaxa 4226 (4), pp. 546-570 : 561-563

Lamellepidosis spungisi Mamaev, 1990

Fig. 9A–C

Mamaev (1990) introduced the genus Lamellepidosis for Lamellepidosis spungisi , a species he described in the same paper on the basis of two males from the Crimean Peninsula. The original description includes no illustrations other than the drawing of a flagellomere ( Mamaev 1990: fig. 2.1). Our Malaise trapping campaign on Öland in 2015 yielded two specimens of this exceptional species, a male with normal morphology ( Fig. 9A–B ) and an intersex with female antennae ( Fig. 9C ) and male genitalia. Malformations like this are usually caused by nematodes (Jaschhof, personal observation), but no nematode was found in the abdomen of this particular specimen. The identification of our specimens as L. spungisi was based on comparison with the holotype, studied by MJ in October 2012. In the following the male of L. spungisi is redescribed on the basis of both the holotype and our specimens from Sweden .

Male description. Body length 1.8 mm. Head. Eye bridge 3–4 ommatidia long dorsally. Scape and pedicel lighter than flagellum; maximally 12 flagellomeres retained; circumfila on flagellomeres 1̄11 ( Fig. 9B ). Neck of fourth flagellomere 2.2–2.3 times longer than node, whorl of sensory hairs dense, regular but not crenulate ( Fig. 9B ). Palpus clearly longer than head height, 4 subcylindrical segments. Thorax. Both anepisternum and anepimeron sparsely setose. Wing. Narrow, length / width 3.1. Costal break distinct, situated slightly beyond apex of wing; Rs in line with R5; a remnant M1+2 present at wing margin; M4 approaches but does not reach CuA. Legs.

Basitarsi without spine ventroapically. Claws with 1 large tooth basally. Empodia ¾ as long as claws. Genitalia ( Fig. 9A ). Ninth tergite small, subtrapezoid. Gonocoxites: ventral emargination U-shaped, broadly reinforced basally; gonocoxal processes large, extremely thin-membranous; rounded lobes ventroposteriorly; a narrowed, setose portion ventroanteriorly; anterior portions of gonocoxal apodemes long, strong. Gonostylus elongate, slightly curved and flattened, rounded and densely microtrichose apically, a fingernail-like tooth arising from short process subapicoventrally, 2–3 bristles subapicomedially. Tegmen elongate-subrectangular, weakly membranous apically, apical edge apparently deeply slit. Ejaculatory apodeme longer than gonocoxites, slender, moderately sclerotized, slightly broadened apically. Hypoproct and cerci large, of normal outline (not drawn).

Discussion. The unusual morphology of male Lamellepidosis spungisi justifies classification of this species in a distinct genus. Relationships of Lamellepidosis to other Porricondylini remain largely obscure. Male genitalic morphology, in particular the long, inclined ejaculatory apodeme, suggests an affinity to Parepidosis Kieffer, 1913 .

Previous distribution. Russia (Europe). Occurrence in Sweden: Öland.

Specimens studied. SWEDEN: male (CEC280), Öland , Mörbylånga, Gamla Skogsby, scrubby meadow (“diversity meadow”), 9 June–6 July 2015, Malaise trap, M. & C. Jaschhof; intersex (CEC281), Öland, Borgholm, Rönnerum-Abbantorp NR, mixed deciduous forest with hornbeam , 16 July–21 Aug. 2015, Malaise trap, M. Jaschhof.

Figures

FIGURE 9 A – C. Lamellepidosis spungisi (specimens from Sweden). A: Male genitalia, ventral. B: Male fourth flagellomere, lateral. C: Fourth flagellomere of intersexual specimen, lateral. Scales for A – C, 0.05 mm.