Liriomyza bellissima (Spencer)

Lonsdale, Owen, 2011, The Liriomyza (Agromyzidae: Schizophora: Diptera) of California 2850, Zootaxa 2850 (1), pp. 1-123 : 31

Liriomyza bellissima (Spencer)

Figs 41, 42

Metopomyza bellissima Spencer 1969: 196 .

Liriomyza bellissima . Spencer 1981: 221; Spencer & Steyskal 1986: 115.

Wing length 2.0mm (♂), 2.5mm (♀). Length of ultimate section of vein CuA 1 divided by penultimate section: 1.7– 2.0. Eye height divided by gena height: 2.6–3.9. Scutum subshining. Parafacial and orbital plate projecting.

Chaetotaxy: Two or three ori (sometimes also with one or two well developed orbital setulae), two ors. Acrostichal setulae in four rows.

Colouration: Calypter margin and hairs dark brown. Head yellow with ocellar tubercle, antenna, clypeus, ventral margin of gena, palpus, face and posterolateral and lateral regions of frons (enclosing base of fronto-orbitals) dark brown. Scutum dark with lateral margin yellow presuturally and brown above wing base; katatergite and posterodorsal margin of anepisternum lateral to scutellum yellowish. Pleuron, legs and abdomen dark brown.

Genitalia: Figs 41, 42 . Surstylus with single subapical spine. Epandrium without spine. Paraphallus absent. Hypophallus with bulbous base and numerous long medial and apical hairs. Mesophallus not evident. Distiphallus dark, large, thick (length nearly twice width), and with shallow apical chamber enclosing oner pair of short fringed structures; apex with very faint membranous, haired extension. Ejaculatory apodeme large and dark, with stem paler and blade with several annulations.

Host. Unknown.

Range. USA. California [Fresno*, Nevada, San Francisco], Washington*. Canada. British Columbia.

Type material. Holotype, CANADA. British Columbia: Atlin , 2200’, 23.vi.1955, H. Huckel (1♂, CNC).

Additional material examined. CANADA. British Columbia: 3mi NE of Telegraph Creek , 1.vii.1960, R . J. Pilfrey, “ Lir. lupini, K.A. Spencer det. 1967”, paratype [1♂, CNC], Robson, “11.v.194”, H. R . Foxlee , “ Lir. lupini, K.A. Spencer det. 1967”, paratype [1♀, CNC], 3.viii.1947 [1♀, CNC], 13.vi.1948 [1♀, CNC] . USA. California: Fresno: Shaver Lake , 23.vii.1968, J.B. Hoy (1♀, EMEC), Nevada Co., Sagehen Crk. , 7.vii.1976, P.F. Smith (1♀, UCD), San Francisco, 21.v.1952, C.E. Kaufeldt, in cop. (1♂ 1♀ [same pin], CASC) , Washington: Glacier Park, S Marys Lake , 21.vii.1935, A.L. Melander (1♀, USNM) .

Comments. Liriomyza bellisima is a large, distinct species with dark legs and a predominantly dark head. The thorax is also entirely dark excluding the yellow notopleuron and the mostly yellow scutellum and postpronotum. The shape and dimensions of the phallus, in addition to the dark somatic colouration, reveal a close relationship with L. baptisiae .

Figures

FIGURES 37–42. Figs 37–40: Liriomyza baptisiae (Frost), male genitalia; 37: external components, ventral; 38: phallus, left lateral; 39: phallus, ventral; 40: ejaculatory apodeme. Figs 41–42: L. bellissima (Spencer), male holotype genitalia; 41: phallus, left lateral; 42: phallus, ventral and left lateral, and ejaculatory apodeme, from original figures in Spencer (1981).