Evertomyia albeto, Gaimari, Stephen D., 2004

Gaimari, Stephen D., 2004, A new genus of Lauxaniidae (Diptera) from New Caledonia, Zootaxa 449, pp. 1-39 : 12-17

Evertomyia albeto , sp. nov.

( Figs. 3 A, 4, 5A–D, 6A–D)

Etymology. Named for my three children, Alex (“ al ­“), Becky (“­ be ­“), and Tony (“ ­to ”).

Diagnosis. Like E. helenae , E. irwini and E. matilei , this species has strong, proclinate, parallel­sided ocellar setae, silvery grey pruinescence on the fronto­orbital plate (although unlike E. helenae , this pruinescence covers it entirely), and paired spots on the ventral part of the face. Unlike these species, the antennal groove lacks a distinct triangular dark brown to black mark below the antennae, although there can be slight darkening. Like E. irwini , silvery grey dorsocentral vittae are present but are wider than that species, with a width equal to half the distance between vittae; and vittae extend through the scutellum, but unlike that species they extend around the posterior edge. Like E. frankadelia and E. matilei , the antennal arista is pubescent. Like all species except E. frankadelia , the orbital setae are strong with the posterior seta slightly stronger than the anterior seta, and the anterior dorsocentral seta is closer to the transverse suture than to the middle seta. Unlike all other species, the ptilinial suture is dark brown to black pruinose along its entire length terminating below the level of paired facial spots, a median brownish spot is present on the face above the ventral paired spots and below the facial carina, the anterior orbital seta is closer to the posterior seta than to the lunule edge, the anepisternum is dark brown in the posterodorsal quadrant, and the midtibia has 2 strong spurs. In the male: the surstylus has its distal third abruptly curved, with a distinct medial ridge ventrolaterally, is setose only on the dorsal surface, and is pilose only on the dorsolateral surface; the aedeagus has the lateral distiphallus flattened, the lateral edges have serrated teeth, and the posterior edge is rounded and shovel­like; the hypandrium has a pair of posteriorly­directed lateral lobes; the paramere is absent. In the female: sternites 2–5 are less than 2 X broader than long; sternite 8 is nearly as broad as long, and entire (without lateral arms), and the paired central processes are greatly enlarged and broadened, lacking a distal hook; spermathecae each have minute external teeth in a sub­basal ring, and the paired spermathecae each have elongated ducts beyond their bifurcation.

Adults, ɗ, Ψ. Body length 6.4–7.2 mm.

Head ( Fig. 3 A). 1.1–1.3 X higher than long, 1.3–1.4 X wider than high; eye as high as long. Vertex with light dusting of silvery grey pruinescence medially, and fully pruinose laterally; outer vertical seta as strong as posterior orbital seta, inner seta 1.6–1.9 X longer. Ocellar triangle covered with same light pruinescence as medial part of vertex. Ocellar and postocellar setae strong, subequal; ocellar setae proclinate, parallel­sided. Occiput silvery grey pruinose; median occipital sclerite orange with light dusting of silvery grey pruinescence. Frons with anterolateral part with brown pruinose spot visible in profile below fronto­orbital plate. Fronto­orbital plate densely covered with silvery grey pruinescence extending posteriorly over vertex through occiput. Orbital setae strong; posterior seta slightly stronger than anterior; anterior seta arising closer to posterior seta than to edge of lunule; posterior seta arising closer to anterior seta than to inner vertical seta; distance between anterior setae subequal to that of posterior setae. Scape and area lateral to antennal base orange; facial carina pale yellow with light dusting of silver pruinescence. Antennal pedicel and 1st flagellomere orange; 1st flagellomere 1.6 X longer than high; arista pubescent. Face yellowish orange, with light dusting of silver pruinescence; antennal grooves without distinct dark marks below antenna; ptilinial suture with darkened edges along entire length; median light to dark brown pruinose spot below facial carina; ventral part of face with paired dark brown pruinose spots. Parafacial grey pruinose; gena and postgena yellowish orange with light covering of silver pruinescence and with darker grey pruinose area below eye. Clypeus yellowish orange. Maxillary palpus dark orange, darkening distally, darkest at tip; subcylindrical; with black setulae.

Thorax. Scutum 1.2–1.3 X longer than wide; scutellum with width at base 1.3–1.5 X greater than length; scutum and scutellum orange; wide silvery grey dorsocentral vittae present (width of vitta = half width of orange area between vittae), extending through scutellum and around posterior edge, visible from dorsal view; some specimens with thin, slightly lighter median longitudinal line; postpronotal lobe through notopleuron to wing base silvery grey pruinose. Posterodorsal quadrant of anepisternum, including base of anepisternal seta dark brown; remainder of pleural region, including remainder of anepisternum, with areas of pale silvery, dark brown, and yellowish orange pruinescence. Distance between dorsocentral setae subequal, with anterior seta closer to transverse suture than to middle seta. Legs. Yellowish orange, except as noted. Coxae yellow, with light dusting of silvery white pruinescence. Forefemur mostly brownish; ctenidium present but indistinct, only distinguishable from surrounding setulae as an evenly spaced (each 0.30–0.36 mm apart) row of 7–9 setulae; posterior surface with 1 small seta or short row of small setae. Foretibia with brown bands sub­basally, and apically. Midfemur with brown band at midpoint, on ventral surface. Midtibia with brown bands basally, sub­basally, and apically; with 2 strong spurs. Hindfemur brownish basally and with brown pruinose band on anterior and anteroventral surfaces beyond middle and apically. Hindtibia with silvery brown bands sub­basally (corresponding in position with band on femur) and apically. Wing. Length 6.4–6.8 mm; 2.2–2.6 X longer than high. Discal medial cell 3.8–4.0 X longer than crossvein dm­cu. Halter yellow with darkened knob.

Abdomen. Yellowish orange; subequal in length to scutum. Transverse rows of long setae along posterior edges of tergites becoming longer and stronger laterally. Lateral and posterolateral edges of tergites grey pruinose; remaining lateral portions brown pruinose, with grey spot on anterior edge of each; from dorsal view, lateral brown area visible. Sternites yellow with dusting of silvery white pruinescence; with sparse fine setulae; in female, sternites 2–5 1.7 X broader than long, with elongated setae along posterior edges.

Male genitalia. Surstylus articulated with epandrium ( Figs. 5 C–D); tapering evenly through basal two­thirds, distal third thin, parallel­sided; abruptly curving ventromedially; distinct medial ridge through length; dorsally setose except distal quarter only with tiny hair­like setulae; dorsolateral surface densely pilose. Aedeagus ( Figs. 5 A–B) broad, with lateral third of distiphallus dorsoventrally flattened, wing­like; lateral edges with serrated teeth; posterior edge rounded, shovel­like; dorsally with large median ridge tapering to point at dorsalmost part. Hypandrium ( Fig. 5 A) as paired posteriorly­directed lateral lobes; with patch of small setulae distally; anterolateral edges pinched inwards. Paramere absent. Aedeagal apodeme normal, thick, branched posteriorly into 2 small arms; curvature such that ventral surface concave from lateral view. Ejaculatory apodeme distinct, similar in size to aedeagal apodeme.

Female terminalia . Sternite 8 ( Figs. 6 A–B) slightly longer than broad, parallel­sided but with edges pinched inwards in anterior part; entirely sclerotized, without lateral arms; paired central processes originating at mid­length of sternite 8, greatly enlarged and broadened, extending slightly beyond posterior edge of sternite 8; lacking distal hooks; process setose. Tergite 8 with lateral edges extending into pilose lateral lobes along sides of sternite 8. Spermathecae ( Figs. 6 C–D) round; single spermatheca 0.14 mm diameter, paired 0.11 mm each; paired spermathecae each with elongated ducts beyond bifurcation ( Fig. 6 C); each with small external teeth sub­basally ( Fig. 6 D).

Immatures. Unknown.

Biology. Specimens of the this species have only been collected in January.

Type material. Holotype ɗ (double mounted on minuten, very good condition but some setae broken) deposited in MNHN with the following labels: “NOUVELLE CALE­ DONIE ”, “Muséum Paris / Mt. Humboldt / alt. 1350 m / 20/ 22. I. 1987 / R. et S. Tillier”, “ LAUXANIIDAE / S.D. Gaimari specimen / 01022” (orange label), “ HOLOTYPUS / Evertomyia / albeto / Gaimari ɗ” (red label). Paratypes. (same collection data as holotype) Province Sud. Mont Humboldt, 1350 m (R. et S. Tillier), 20–21.I.1987 [4ɗ, 3Ψ (dissections 915, 916: ɗ, SDG 01011; Ψ, SDG 01010)]. Paratypes deposited in MNHN and USNM.

Distribution. Known only from the middle elevations (1350 m) of Mont Humboldt, in the southern part of New Caledonia.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Head, oblique view, right arista removed for clarity. Scale bar = 0.5 mm. A) Evertomyia albeto, sp. nov. ɗ. B) Evertomyia frankadelia, sp. nov. Ψ. C) Evertomyia helenae, sp. nov. Ψ. D) Evertomyia irwini, sp. nov. Ψ. E) Evertomyia matilei, sp. nov. ɗ. F) Evertomyia webbi, sp. nov. Ψ.

FIGURE 5. Evertomyia albeto, sp. nov. ɗ. Male genitalia. Scale bar = 0.2 mm. A) Aedeagal complex, ventral view. B) Aedeagus, lateral view. C) Epandrial complex, lateral view. D) Surstylus, dorsal view. a = aedeagus, aa = aedeagal apodeme, c = cercus, e = epandrium, ea = ejaculatory apodeme, h = hypandrium, s = surstylus.

FIGURE 6. Evertomyia albeto, sp. nov. Ψ. Female genitalia. Scale bar = 0.2 mm. A) Terminalia, lateral view. B) Terminalia, ventral view. C) Spermathecae. D) Spermatheca (single), showing texture.