Siphona (Aphantorhaphopsis) curvata, Tachi & Shima, 2023

Tachi, Takuji & Shima, Hiroshi, 2023, Systematic study of the subgenus Aphantorhaphopsis of the genus Siphona in East Asia and the Oriental Region (Diptera: Tachinidae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae (Acta. Ent. Mus. Natl. Pragae) 63 (1), pp. 213-247 : 239

Siphona (Aphantorhaphopsis) curvata sp. nov.

( Figs 72–75 )

Type material. HOLOTYPE: J ( SMNH), MALAYSIA, Pahang / Cameron Highlands / Gunung Jasar / Malaisetrap , 1700 m / 24–27.xi.1994, T.Pape . PARATYPE: MALAYSIA: PAHANG: 1 J ( SMNH), same data as holotype.

Diagnosis. Vein R 1 setulose dorsally on apical half; prementum and labella elongate; 4 postsutural dorsocentral setae.

This species is very similar to S. (A.) crassulata in general appearance but is easily distinguished from it in having 4 postsutural dorsocentral setae and setae on apical half on the dorsal part of wing vein R

1

.

The male pregonite and surstylus of this species do not have the setae, and the characteristics of the S. perispoliata group are absent. Therefore, it is classified as incertae sedis. Description. Body length 3.3–3.5 mm. Male. Head whitish in ground color; fronto-orbital plate brownish; frontal vitta reddish brown; antenna with scape and pedicel orange; postpedicel dark brown to blackish; basal half of arista light brown, blackish in apical half; palpus orange. Vertex approximately 0.29 of head width; parafacial subequal to or slightly narrower than width of 2nd aristomere at middle height; gena approximately 0.12 of eye height; anterior reclinate orbital seta situated slightly posterior to middle of fronto-orbital plate; fronto-orbital plate with 4 fine setae; antenna with postpedicel subrectangular, approximately 2.7 times as long as wide, and approximately 5 times as long as pedicel; 2nd aristomere approximately twice as long as wide; 3rd aristomere thickened on basal 2/5–1/2; palpus clavate; prementum 4–5 times as long as wide; labella somewhat elongate, approximately 0.8 times as long as prementum.

Thorax. Dorsum gray in ground color, with yellowish pruinosity; postpronotal lobe with whitish-gray pruinosity; apical 1/3 of scutellum yellowish; pleura brownish, with grayish pruinosity. Three presutural and 4 postsutural dorsocentral setae.

Wing. Tegula black; basicosta light yellow. Relative lengths of costal sectors two, three, and four approximately 1: 5: 2; ultimate section of M 4 approximately 0.35 times as long as penultimate section, and approximately 1.3 times as long as crossvein dm-m; R 1 setulose dorsally on apical half, bare ventrally.

Legs light yellow in ground color. Fore tibia with 3–4 anterodorsal, 3 posterodorsal, and 1 posteior setae; hind tibia with 3–5 anterodorsal, 3 posterodorsal, and 3–5 ventral setae.

Abdomen yellow in ground color, almost without pruinosity; posterior half of tergites 3–5 with blackish band. Syntergite 1+2 without lateral marginal setae; tergite 3 with pair of lateral and median marginal setae; sternite 5 with pair of elongated median lobes on inner edge.

Male postabdomen. Surstylus narrowed in apical half in lateral view, apex somewhat pointed; cerci narrowed and pointed apically in lateral view; pregonite broadly sclerotized in lateral view and rounded apically, without seta; postgonite rounded apically; epiphallus present; phallus strongly curved ventrally in middle in lateral view; distiphallus broadly sclerotized in lateral view with some spinules ventrally.

Female. Unknown.

Etymology. This name is taken from the curved phallus; an adjective.

Host. Unknown.

Distribution. Malaysia (Pahang).

Figures

Figs 72–75. Male postabdomen of Siphona (Aphantorhaphopsis) curvata sp. nov. (paratype, Malaysia, Pahang). 72 – epandrium, cerci and surstylus in lateral view; 73 – epandrium, cerci and surstylus in dorsal view (setae omitted on left side); 74 – hypandrium, pregonite, postgonite and phallus in lateral view; 75 – fifth abdominal sternite in ventral view (setae omitted on left side). Scale bars = 0.1 mm.