Lispe pumila (Wiedemann)

Pont, Adrian C., 2019, Studies on the Australian Muscidae (Diptera). VIII. The genus Lispe Latreille, 1797, Zootaxa 4557 (1), pp. 1-232 : 221-225

Lispe pumila (Wiedemann)

( Figs 460–471 )

Coenosia pumila Wiedemann, 1824: 51 .

Lispa ignobilis Stein, 1910: 562 .

Lispa pumila .—Malloch, 1922: 384; Malloch, 1923: 608; Malloch, 1925a: 334, 335; Lee, Crust & Sabrosky, 1956: 331.

Lispe pumila .— Séguy, 1937: 185; Pont, 1989: 693.

Type-material. The lectotype ♂ of Coenosia pumila , by designation of Pont (1997: 110), is in ZMUC.

Lispa ignobilis was described from 5♀ in HNHM, 4 from Brisbane and 1 from Singapore. The 4♀ from Brisbane are in HNHM, having somehow survived the catastrophe of 1956, where I have studied them. All four are slightly mouldy, and each has two printed labels: “ Australia / Biró 1900” and “ Queensland / Brisbane”. One has Stein’s handwritten label “ Lispe / ignobilis / ♀ sp. n.”, and I have labelled it and designate it herewith as lectotype. All four belong to L. pumila as defined here.

The ♀ from Singapore is lost, as it is neither ZMHU nor HNHM ( Pont, 2013: 80).

Note on synonymy. Stein (1910) described Lispa ignobilis from Australia, which he subsequently ( Stein, 1915: 44) synonymised with Lispe pumila ( Wiedemann, 1824) . Subsequent authors have not questioned this synonymy. However, it appears that L. pumila could be a complex of species and if the Oriental species, to which the name L. pumila is correctly applied, proves to be different from the Australian species, then the name L. ignobilis should be resurrected for the Australian species.

Diagnosis. Lispe pumila and L. angustipalpis can be separated from other species by having mid femur with a strong submedian seta between the a and av surfaces ( Fig. 462 ) and from each other by the characters given in the key above (couplet 39, page 18).

Material examined. AUSTRALIA: Northern Territory: 1 km S of Cahills Crossing (E Alligator River), 3.xi.1972, D.H. Colless, 1♂ ( ANIC); Cooper Creek , 19 km E by S of Mt Borradaile, 2.xi.1972, D.H. Colless, 1♀ ( ANIC) ; 14 miles W of Humpty Doo , 10.vi.1964, K.R. Norris, 1♀ ( ANIC) ; Koongarra , 15 km E of Mt Cahill, at light, 6–9.iii.1973, D.H. Colless, 1♀ ( ANIC) ; Magela Creek , 9 km SSE of Mudginbarry HS, at light, 7.xi.1972, D.H. Colless, 1♀ ( ANIC) ; McArthur River , 2 km SSE of Borroloola, at light, 19.iv.1976, D.H. Colless, 1♂ ( ANIC) . Queensland: Arriga, Mareeba , 16.iv.1985, K.M. Halfpapp, 3♂ 1♀ ( QDPC) & 1♂ ( BMNH) ; Arriga, D- Vac , rice, iii.1982, 1 ♀ ( QDPC) ; Ayr, Clane , 17.iii.1986, J. den Hollander, 1♂ 3♀ ( NMWC) ; Baldwin Swamp Fauna Res., Bundaberg , vii.1971, H. Frauca, 1♂ ( ANIC) ; Bingera, near Bundaberg , vii.1971, H. Frauca, 1♂ ( ANIC) ; 12 miles SE of Bowen , 6.v.1955, K.R. Norris & I.F.B. Common, 1♀ ( ANIC) ; Brandon , 23.ii.1982, I. Kay, 1♀ ( QDPC) ; Bribie I., Malaise trap, 2–11.ix.1983, E. Hamacek, 1♂ ( QDPC) ; Brisbane , 1900, L. Biró, lectotype ♀ and paralectotypes 3♀ of L. ignobilis ( HNHM) ; Brisbane , 29.vii–14.viii.1955, F.A. Perkins, 3♂ 5♀ ( QMBA) ; Brisbane, DPI Indooroopilly site, Malaise trap, vi.1978, 3 ♂ 2♀ ( QDPC) ; Brisbane, Yeerongpilly , Malaise trap, 1– 10.i.1982, 2♂ ( QDPC) ; Broadbeach , 3.v.1970, Z. Liepa, 1♂ ( ANIC) ; Bundaberg , vi.1971, vii.1971, vii.1972, H. Frauca, 8♂ 4♀ ( ANIC, BMNH) ; Burpengary , no date, T.L. Bancroft, 1♂ 1♀ ( BMNH) ; 18 miles N of Cairns , 13.v.1970, R. & J. Matthews, 1♀ ( ANIC) ; Cardwell , at light, 7.v.1969, G. Bornemissza, 1♂ ( ANIC) ; Desailly Creek , 10 km W by N of Mt Carbine, 16.30S, 144.55E, at light, 19.v.1981, D.H. Colless, 1♀ ( ANIC) ; Gladstone , mangroves, 19.xii.1961, D.K. McAlpine, 3♀ ( AMS) ; DPI Indooroopilly site, Malaise trap, 6–12.xii.1984, 1♂ ( QDPC) ; 7–14 miles W of Herberton, via Watsonville , 1.v.1967, D.H. Colless, 1♂ 1♀ ( ANIC) ; Mackay , 12.v.1970, Z. Liepa, 1♀ ( ANIC) ; Mareeba, Arriga , i.1982, J. den Hollander, 1♀ ( NMWC) ; 3.5 km SW by S of Mt Baird , 15.10S, 145.07E, at light, 4.v.1981, D.H. Colless, 1♀ ( ANIC) ; Mt Larcom, 18.iv.1955, K.R. Norris & I.F.B. Common, 1♂ ( ANIC) ; Pinklands , at light, 13.iii.1974, J.F. Donaldson, 1♂ ( QDPC) ; Tea-tree swamp, 2 miles N of Bundaberg, 26.vi.1971, H. Frauca, 2♀ ( ANIC) ; Townsville , no date, F.H. Taylor, 7♂ 4♀ ( ANIC, BMNH) ; Townsville , 25.v.1925, F.H. Taylor, 2♂ ( ANIC) ; Woodford , 26.x.1958, S. Sekhon, 2♂ ( QMBA) ; Woombye, near Nambour , 11–16.x.1965, D.H. Colless, 1♀ ( ANIC) ; Yeppoon , NE of Rockhampton, 7.v.1970, Z. Liepa, 1♂ 1♀ ( ANIC) . New South Wales: Albion Park , swamp margin, 23.x.1962, D.K. McAlpine, 2♂ ( AMS) ; Brunswick Heads , viii.1963, D.E. Havenstein, 4♂ 3♀ ( ANIC, BMNH) ; Careel Bay, Casuarina swamp, 9.vi & 27.x.1962, D.K. McAlpine, 2♂ ( AMS) ; Glenfield , 2.iii.1965, M.I. Nikitin, 1♀ ( BMNH) ; Hornsby , 9.xi.1957, D.K. McAlpine, 1♂ ( AMS) ; Iluka , 5.xi.1965, M.S. Upton, 1♀ ( ANIC) ; Ku-Ring-Gai, 14–20.iii.1973, E.A. Fonseca, 2♂ ( BMNH) ; National Park , 4.xi.1956, D.K. McAlpine, 1♂ ( AMS) ; National Park , 30.x.1965, D.K. McAlpine, 1♂ ( AMS) ; Narrabeen , 1–6.xii.1972 & 15.iii.1973, E.A. Fonseca, 2♂ ( BMNH) ; Newport, 21–28.iii.1973, E.A. Fonseca, 3♂ 1♀ ( BMNH) ; Otford , 31.xii.1962, D.K. McAlpine, 1♂ ( AMS) ; Princes Highway , 13 miles N of Wollongong, 23.x.1962, D.K. McAlpine, 1♂ ( AMS) ; 2 miles W of Woodburn , 3.xi.1965, M.S. Upton, 1♀ ( ANIC) . Victoria: Lower Tarwin , ii & xi.1925, G.F. Hill, 2♀ ( MV) .

Description ♂ ♀. Head ( Fig. 460 ). Ground-colour black. Frons at broadest point 0.37–0.38, at lunula 0.29 (♂) to 0.34 (♀), of maximum head-width (frontal view). Fronto-orbital plate silvery pruinose, thinly so above, mostly tinged with yellow or even with brown from some angles; parafacial, face and gena silvery pruinose, occiput almost wholly grey. Frontal triangle narrow, when viewed from below yellowish-grey or even brown pruinose. Parafacial narrow, half (♂) or a little over half (♀) as broad as postpedicel, with short sparse setulae along most of length. Antenna black, at most the juncture between pedicel and postpedicel orange; postpedicel 2.25 times as long as broad, falling short of mouth-margin by 0.28 (♂) or 0.23 (♀) its length. Arista long-plumose, the hairing at widest point 2.1–2.25 times width of postpedicel. Vibrissa strong, with few adjacent setulae. Gena narrow, 0.06– 0.07 of vertical eye-length; genal setae short but strong. Palpus yellow, base of stem sometimes brownish, moderately swollen in apical part ( Fig. 461 ).

Thorax. Ground-colour black. Scutum and scutellum yellowish-grey to grey dusted, pleura grey. Scutum with three narrow inconspicuous brown vittae running along mid-line and the dc lines almost from neck to scutellum, the median one continuing on to tip of scutellum even though sometimes faintly; outside these vittae with the brown bristle-dots often enlarged. Anterior spiracle brownish. Acr setulae in 4–5 irregular rows at suture. Dc 2+4– 5, the anterior 2–3 post setae only twice as long as the ground-setulae. 2 pprn. 1+2 ia. 1+1 sa, both strong. 1 strong and 1 weaker proepisternal setae. 1 strong proepimeral, equal to the strong proepisternal, with 1 adjacent setula. Anepisternum with a short seta in upper anterior corner; posterior row with 3 setae and 3 setulae. 3 strong kepst, lower seta closer to posterior than to anterior seta. Meron bare below spiracle, setulose above hind coxa. Scutellum with disc densely setulose, but relatively few (4–5) setulae extending on to sides; ventral surface bare.

Legs. Mainly black, but knees, tibiae and basal 1–2 tarsomeres yellow. Fore coxa in ♂ with long dense curled setae on anterior and posterior apical edges, such setae also present on lower edge of katepisternum and on lower anterior margin of mid coxa. Fore femur with fine av setae in basal half, almost as long as femoral depth; pv row complete, the setae long and fine; pd row complete. Fore tibia without submedian seta; with d, pd, p and pv apical setae. Fore tarsomere without modifications. Mid femur in ♂ on av and pv surfaces with several long fine setae in basal half, some longer than femoral depth, replaced by setulae in apical half, the av slightly longer than the pv; without any ventral setae in ♀; with a row of a setae in basal half, and with a strong seta at middle between the submedian a and the av row ( Fig. 462 ); 2 p preapicals. Mid tibia with 1 submedian p seta; with strong d, av, v and pv apicals, and with short a and p apicals. Mid tarsomere without modifications. Hind coxa without a seta on posterior apical margin. Hind femur in ♂ with a row of long fine pv setae in basal 2/3, all much longer than femoral depth, and 1 short seta just before apex; av surface in ♂ with a row of slightly shorter sparser setae, still longer than femoral depth, the preapical seta shorter and curved; in ♀ without ventral setae, except for 1 av before apex; ad row complete; 1 d preapical. Hind tibia with 1 ad and 1 av seta; ad and d preapical setae strong, and with a short a too; av apical seta strong, pv absent. Hind tarsomere without modifications.

Wing. Clear. Tegula mostly orange, basicosta yellow. Crossvein r-m placed apicad of the point where vein R1 enters costa; dm-cu almost straight, longer than apical section of vein CuA1. Vein M running straight to wingmargin. Calypters creamy. Haltere yellow.

Abdomen. Ground-colour black, but hind-margins of tergites pale. Dust on tergites light grey. Syntergite 1+2 and tergites 3–5 each with a pair of large quadrate black spots occupying most of disc ( Fig. 463 ), not continuing down on to sides of tergites, but tergites 4 and 5 each with a spot of dark dust on sides. ♂ epandrium mainly grey dusted. ♀ ovipositor with exposed tergites dusted grey. Sternites 1–5 grey dusted. Tergites without strong erect setae except on tergite 5 which has 1 pair of lateral discals and 2 pairs of marginals. ♂ sternites 2–4 sparsely setulose ( Fig. 464–465 ).

Ƌ terminalia. Epandrium separated from tergite 5 by a broad syntergosternite 8, which has 2 spiracles; not produced ventrally ( Fig. 466 ). Tergite 6 absent; sternite 6 present as a pair of weak plates. Surstylus absent, i.e. fused to epandrium without trace ( Fig. 466 ). Cercal plate deeply divided dorsally and ventrally ( Fig. 467 ). Hypandrium attached at two points: to a rod originating from wall of epandrium close to upper outer edge of cercal plate; and via an apparent praegonite to lower anterior corner of epandrium. Phallic complex ( Fig. 468 ): hypandrium short and broad, not closing posteriorly over base of postgonite and phallapodeme, and with a lobelike ventral projection medially; praegonite and postgonite present, the former very weak, the latter short; phallapodeme connected baso-medially to hypandrium by a bridge, and forked posteriorly to meet base of postgonites; phallus short and membraneous, the juxta with a number of tiny spinules, with a pair of flanking processes basally.

♀ ovipositor ( Figs 469–471 ). Tergites 6 and 7 complete; tergite 8 divided dorsally, each half displaced laterally. Sternite 6 present as a pair of small plates; sternite 7 absent, suppressed by the ventral parts of tergite 7; sternite 8 present as 2 plates, concealed in the invaginated membrane at tip of segment 8. Epiproct V-shaped, with 1 pair of strong setae and several setulae, connected to the cercus. Hypoproct large, extended posteriorly, with several stout setae at apex but without spines. Cercus small, plate-shaped, without spines at apex. 3 spermathecae.

Measurements. Wing-length, 3.5–4.0 mm (♂), 3.0– 4.5 mm (♀). Body-length, 5.0– 5.5 mm (♂), 4.5–6.0 mm (♀).

Biology. Adults have been collected among mangroves and around swamps.

Distribution. In Australia known from (NT, Q, NSW, V). Widespread in the Oriental region, and also known from Bali Island ( Indonesia).

Figures

FIGURES 460–465. Lispe pumila (Wiedemann). 460. ♂ head, lateral view. 461. ♀ palpus. 462. ♂ mid femur, anterior view. 463. ♂ abdomen, dorsal view. 464. ♂ sternites 2–6. 465. ♂ sternite 5. s6—sternite 6. (460–461, Q, Townsville; 462–463, 465, NSW, Newport; 464, NSW, Brunswick Heads.)

FIGURES 466–468. Lispe pumila (Wiedemann), ♂. 466. Hypopygium, lateral view. 467. Cercal plate, dorsal view. 468. Phallic complex, lateral view. (NSW, Brunswick Heads.)

FIGURES 469–471. Lispe pumila (Wiedemann), ♀ ovipositor. 469. Dorsal view. 470. Ventral view. 471. Lateral view. (Q, Townsville.)