Lispe uniseta Malloch

Pont, Adrian C., 2019, Studies on the Australian Muscidae (Diptera). VIII. The genus Lispe Latreille, 1797, Zootaxa 4557 (1), pp. 1-232 : 192-195

Lispe uniseta Malloch

(Figs 394–403)

Lispa uniseta Malloch, 1922: 389 .

Lispa uniseta .— Malloch, 1923: 609; Malloch, 1925a: 335; Malloch, 1925b: 340; Lee, Crust & Sabrosky, 1956: 338.

Lispe uniseta .— Séguy, 1937: 186; Pont, 1989: 693.

Type-material. The holotype ♀, from Port Melbourne (V), is in BMNH and was examined in the course of this revision.

Diagnosis. This species and L. vikhrevi differ from other Australian Lispe except L. setigena by the presence of a pd seta on hind tibia and an ad on mid tibia; from L. setigena they differ by having only 1+2 dc setae. Males of L. uniseta and L. vikhrevi are easily separated by the characters given in the key (p. 17); most strikingly, L. uniseta has the mid tarsomeres with simple shape and setation (cf. L. vikhrevi , Fig. 406 ) and has a pv and p seta placed together at middle of fore tibia.

Material Examined. AUSTRALIA: Northern Territory: 12 km SW of Alroy Downs, at light, 10.iv.1976, D.H. Colless, 1♀ ( ANIC); 13 km E by N of Andado HS, Simpson Desert , 27–28.ix.1972, Z. Liepa, 1♂ ( ANIC) . Queensland: near Birdsville Racetrack , 1.ix.1997, J. & A. Skevington, C. Lambkin, S. Winterton, 1♀ ( QMBA) ; Brisbane , 21.vii.1963, C. Speed, 1♀ ( QMBA) ; Dynevor Lakes, 88 km W Eulo, 150 m, 28.05S, 144.12E, G. Daniels , 27.ix.1991, 1♀ ( QMBA) ; Roma , 15.vi.1976, J. Donaldson, 5♀ ( QDPC) ; Townsville , on windows, 3.i.1970, P. Ferrar, 1♀ ( ANIC) . New South Wales: Argalong , Buccleugh, T. Vaughan-Sherrin, 1♀ ( USNM) ; Billabong Creek, Conargo , 23–30.iv.1978, Z. Liepa, 4♀ ( ANIC & BMNH) ; Billabong & Forest Creek Junction, 42 km NE of Deniliquin, 2.v.1978, Z. Liepa, 1♀ ( ANIC) ; Bronte, near Sydney , 17.vi.1956, D.K. McAlpine, 1♀ ( AMS) ; 23 km SE by S of Byrock , at light, 5.iv.1976, D.H. Colless, 1♀ ( ANIC) ; 25 km NW of Coonamble , 17.vi.1976, Z. Liepa, 2♂ 1♀ ( ANIC) ; 8 km NE of Cudal , 25.xii.1976, G. Daniels, 1♀ ( AMS) ; 2.4 km NE of Eugowra , 24.iv.1971, Z. Liepa, 2♀ ( ANIC) ; 24 km N of Forbes , 29.xii.1976, Z. Liepa, 1♂ ( ANIC) ; Gilmore Creek, Tumut , 23.xii.1973, Z. Liepa, 1♂ ( ANIC) ; Goonoo Forest , 5 miles S Mendooran, m. v. lamp , 27.iii.1971, G. & A. Daniels, 3♀ ( QMBA) ; Griffith , marshy creek, 15.xi.1956, W.W. Wirth, 1♀ ( USNM) ; Gunnedah , 1.v.1925, 1♂ ( USNM) ; Lachlan River , 35 km W of Forbes, 26.xii.1976, Z. Liepa, 2♂ ( ANIC) ; Lake Albert, near Wagga , 10.iv.1971, Z. Liepa, 1♀ ( ANIC) ; Lake Cullulleraine , 36 miles W of Mildura, 14.i.1964, Z. Liepa, 4♂ 5♀ ( ANIC & BMNH) ; Meroo Meadow , 15.xii.1926, B. Bertram, 1♀ ( AMS) ; Merrylands , 25.xi.1964, M.I. Nikitin, 1♀ ( BMNH) ; Murray River 50 miles W of Wentworth, 22.xi.1967, A. Neboiss, 1♀ ( MV) ; Narrandera , 24 & 25.iii.1925, 1♂ 2♀ ( USNM) & 1♂ ( AMS) ; Nowra Creek , 8.xii.1926, B. Bertram, 1♂ ( AMS) ; Nyngan , 30.v.1984, K.C. Khoo, 1♂ ( AMS) ; 45 km SE of Nyngan , 22.ix.1975, Z. Liepa, 1♀ ( ANIC) ; Packsaddle , 111 miles N of Broken Hill, 24.xi.1969, R.W. Matthews, 1♀ ( ANIC) ; Salt Caves Dam, Pilliga SF, 9.x.1988, D.K. McAlpine, 1♀ ( AMS) ; same locality, m. v. lamp , 8–9.x.1988, R. de Keyzer & K.C. Khoo, 1♀ ( AMS) ; Tumut River , 12.8 km SE of Gundagai, 24.xii.1973, Z. Liepa, 2♂ ( ANIC) ; 40 km N of Walgett , 19.vi.1976, Z. Liepa, 1♀ ( ANIC) ; Wallaroi Creek , 15 km S of Condobolin, 27.xii.1976, Z. Liepa, 1♂ 1♀ ( ANIC) . Australian Capital Territory: Black Mtn , light trap, 19.i.1968, 3.ii.1969, 4.ii.1964, 21.ii.1969, 14.xi.1968, 25.xi.1959, 2 & 10.xii.1968, 13.xii.1966, 13.xii.1968, I.F.B. Common, 4♂, 6♀ ( ANIC) ; Lake Burley, Griffin , 31.x.1963, D.H. Colless, 1♂ 2♀ ( ANIC) ; 2 miles E of Mt Coree , 19.xi.1968, D.H. Colless, 1♀ ( ANIC) . Victoria: Clarkefield , 18.xii.1953, A. Neboiss, 1♀ ( MV) ; Lake Cullulleraine , W of Mildura, 26.xii.1966, Z. Liepa, 3♂ 5♀ ( ANIC & BMNH) ; 47 km NW of Hopetoun , 6.ix.1974, Z. Liepa, 1♀ ( ANIC) ; Ovens River , 14 miles E of Yarrawonga, 24.xii.1966, Z. Liepa, 1♀ ( ANIC) ; Port Melbourne , 10.xii.1906, W. Wesché, holotype ♀ ( BMNH) ; Tatyoon , 23.i.1973, E.A. Fonseca, 7♂ 5♀ ( BMNH) ; Wyperfield Nat. Park , 51 km NW of Hopetoun, 4–7.ix.1974, Z. Liepa, 2♂ ( ANIC) . South Australia: Koonchera Dune near Koonchera Waterhole , 26.41S, 139.30E, 2.ix.1997, J. & A. Skevington, 1♂ 1♀ ( QMBA) ; Pandiburra Bore , 26.45S, 139.24E, 2.ix.1997, C. Lambkin, 2♂ 2♀ ( QMBA) .

Description ♂ ♀. Head (Fig. 394). Ground-colour black. Frons at broadest point 0.39–0.40, at lunula 0.31 (♂) or 0.33 (♀), of maximum head-width (frontal view). Fronto-orbital plate white to yellowish-white pruinose, brownish above, and subshining at vertex, and also subshining around ocellar tubercle; parafacial and face white to yellowish-white pruinose; gena and lower half of occiput silvery pruinose, occiput with a large brown patch in upper half. Frontal triangle narrow, yellowish-white. Parafacial narrow, half (♂) or slightly less than (♀) width of postpedicel; setulose along whole length. Antenna black, except tip of pedicel and base of postpedicel which are obscurely orange; postpedicel 2.75 times as long as broad, falling short of mouth-margin by at most 0.35 its length. Arista plumose, the hairing at widest point equal to width of postpedicel. Vibrissa strong. Gena moderate, 0.18 (♂) to 0.15 (♀) of vertical eye-length; genal setae strong, sparse. Palpus yellow, greatly swollen in apical half.

Thorax. Ground-colour black. Scutum mainly shining black and undusted outside the dc setae; between the dc setae rather densely yellowish-grey dusted, this running from neck to tip of scutellum, sometimes extending somewhat beyond the line of the dc especially in ♀♀, and superimposed on this with a median dark brown vitta running through the acr rows, also from neck to tip of scutellum. Postpronotal lobe and pleura grey dusted. Anterior spiracle dark brown. Acr setulae in 4–5 irregular rows at suture. Dc 1+2, prst seta midway between suture and neck or closer to neck; the 2 post setae strong, anterior one closer to suture than to posterior one. 2 pprn. 1+0 (– 1) ia, post seta absent or hair-like, the prst seta hair-like in ♀. 1+1 sa, both strong. 1 strong and 1 weaker proepisternal setae. 1 strong proepimeral, equal to the strong proepisternal, with 3–4 adjacent setulae. Anepisternum with 1 short setula in upper anterior corner; posterior row with 3 strong and 3 weak setae. 3 strong kepst, lower one equidistant from upper two. Meron bare. Scutellum with disc densely setulose, with a few setulae below level of the strong setae; ventral surface bare.

Legs. Black, extreme tips of tibiae orange. Fore coxa of ♂ with a long, flattened, drum-stick seta at tip of posterior edge (Fig. 395). Fore femur bare on av surface; pv row complete, the setae mostly very long in ♂; pd row complete. Fore tibia with 1 submedian pv seta, and just basad of it in ♂ with an additional strong p seta, this sometimes present in ♀ too; with d, p and pv apical setae, and also with a short (♂) or long (♀) av apical. Fore tarsomeres without modifications. Mid femur bare ventrally, but the setulae slightly elongated, especially the pv near base; 1 a at middle; 2 p preapicals. Mid tibia with 1 submedian p and apicad of it with 1 ad, both strong; with strong d, a, v, pv, and weaker pd apicals. Mid tarsomeres without modifications. Hind coxa without a seta on posterior apical margin. Hind femur on pv surface usually with 2 setae in basal half, subequal to femoral depth, and in ♂ with a short preapical seta; av surface setulose, in ♂ with 2–3 setulae developed as short setae but much shorter than femoral depth; ad row complete; 1 pd preapical. Hind tibia with 1 ad, 1 av and 1 pd; d and ad preapical setae present, the ad shifted to a in ♂; 1 (♂) or 2 (♀) av but no pv apicals. Hind tarsomeres not modified.

Wing. Clear. Tegula black, basicosta orange. Crossvein r-m placed slightly beyond the point where vein R1 enters costa; dm-cu weakly sinuous, longer than apical section of vein CuA1. Vein M running straight to wingmargin. Calypters white, with creamy to yellow margins. Knob of haltere dark brown.

Abdomen. Ground-colour black. Dust on tergites light grey: syntergite 1+2 mostly dusted; tergites 3–5 each with a pair of antero-lateral spots that hardly extend on to sides of tergites in ♂, and tergites 3–4 each with a weakly indicated dusted vitta on posterior half (Fig. 396), these better developed in ♀ than in ♂. ♂ epandrium matt, black. ♀ ovipositor with exposed tergites dusted. Sternites 1–5 grey dusted, but sternite 5 subshining in ♂. Tergites 3–5 each with a strong lateral discal seta in ♂, and tergite 5 with 3 pairs of erect marginals, these weak in ♀. Sternites 2–5 with only sparse setulae (Fig. 397).

Ƌ terminalia. Epandrium separated from tergite 5 by a narrow syntergosternite 8, which has 2 spiracles; strongly produced ventrally (Fig. 398). Tergite 6 and sternite 6 absent. Surstylus absent, i.e. fused to epandrium without trace (Fig. 398). Cercal plate only narrowly divided ventrally (Fig. 399). Hypandrium attached at two points: to a rod originating from wall of epandrium close to upper outer edge of cercal plate; and directly to a protuberance at lower anterior corner of epandrium. Phallic complex (Fig. 400): hypandrium narrow, branching posteriorly. the upper branch forming a bridge over base of phallapodeme, the lower branch meeting postgonite; praegonite absent, postgonite long, curved; phallapodeme connected to hypandrium by a pair of bridges; phallus broadly triangular, short, simple, strongly sclerotised, juxta withdrawn, without spinules, without flanking processes.

♀ ovipositor ( Figs 401–403 ). Tergite 6 divided dorsally, weakly sclerotised medially; tergite 7 complete; tergite 8 divided dorsally, each half displaced laterally, with a saucer-like depression on lower posterior part. Sternites 6 and 7 each represented by several setae and bristle-dots; sternite 8 represented by 2 small plates concealed in the invaginated membrane beneath the tip of segment 8. Epiproct V-shaped, with 1 long seta, connected to the cercus. Hypoproct large, extended posteriorly, with several stout spines at apex. Cercus plate-like, subtriangular, with several spines posteriorly. 3 spermathecae.

Measurements. Wing-length, 3.0– 3.5 mm (♂), 3.5–5.0 mm (♀). Body-length, 4.5–5.0 mm (♂), 5.0– 6.5 mm (♀).

Biology. Adults have been collected near rivers and around creeks.

Distribution. Known only from Australia (NT, Q, NSW, ACT, V, SA).

Figures

FIGURES 405–407. Lispe vikhrevi sp. nov., ♂. 405. Fore coxa, lateral view. 406. Mid tibia and tarsomeres, dorsal view. 407. Sternites 1–5. (Paratype from V, Tatyoon.)

FIGURES 401–403. Lispe uniseta Malloch, ♀ ovipositor. 401. Dorsal view. 402 Ventral view. 403. Lateral view. (NSW, 40 km N of Walgett.)