Lonchaea mbeya, Macgowan, 2018

Macgowan, Iain, 2018, Definition of the Lonchaea polyhamata species-group (Diptera, Lonchaeidae) with a description of new species, Zootaxa 4446 (3), pp. 325-342 : 329

Lonchaea mbeya sp. nov.

Description. Male: Head: Eyes sparsely covered in pale hairs, these slightly shorter than width of an ocellus. Frons matt black, covered with light grey pollinosity. Frontal and interfrontal setulae numerous but relatively short, approximately 0.2x length of orbital seta. Orbital plate sub-shining black, dulled by microsculpture, bare apart from orbital seta. Lunule setulose, ground colour dull brown. Face and parafacials covered by light grey pollinosity. Antennae black; postpedicel with a hint of orange-brown at extreme medial base, length to depth ratio 1.9:1. Arista with microscopic pubescence. Anterior genal setae in a single, well-spaced row of 5 along mouth margin.

Thorax: Scutum sub-shining black, thoracic sclerites grey pollinose. Anepisternum with 3 anterior setae, 1 or 2 strong setulae in line ventral to these, 4 posterior setae, remainder of sclerite with a scattering of setulae almost as long as the setae. Katepisternum with 2 strong setae, posterior slightly stronger than anterior, remainder of sclerite with a few short setulae. Proepimeron and proepisternum each with 1 seta. Prosternum bare. Scutellum heavily grey pollinose, on margin with 3 setulae between apical and lateral setae, 0 between apical setae. Calypteres light golden with a dense fringe of a similar colour. Wings light fumose, especially anteriorly. Wing length 4.1mm. Legs all black, a brush of golden setulae on ventral surface of fore and hind metatarsi, this extending ventrally along apical third of anterior tibiae. Hind femora apically with a single long antero-ventral seta, longer than femur is wide.

Male terminalia: ( Figs. 5–8 ): In lateral view epandrium with portion anterior to suture visible as a large rounded lobe. Cerci membranous, relatively long and narrow with a fringe of short setulae on posterior and ventral surfaces. Surstyli visible as a three pointed process extending postero-ventrally from shell of epandrium. In ventral view a pair of long, tooth-like, ventrally projecting processes present at base of cerci, these bearing a single medial setula. Posterior apodeme of hypandrium well developed, reaching to processes at base of cerci. In posterior view posterior process of surstylus with three pointed, medially directed teeth arising from a single basal plate. Ventral tooth the longest, curving dorsally, central and medial teeth similar in size, medial bearing a single pre-apical seta. Parameres long and slender, curving gently to apex. Ventral surface, slightly apical of mid-point, with one medium sized tooth, anterior to this a very small tooth. Anterior surface with a scattering of spinules on apical half, basal ventral process small. Phallus, small, a simple tube arising from a basal plate.

Type material: Holotype ♂: TANZANIA, Mbeya, 35 Km S, Rt.A 345, 2000m, 1.ix.1996, A. Freidberg. ( TAUI)

Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the capture locality of the Holotype.

Figures

FIGURES 5–8. Lonchaea mbeya sp. nov. 5. Epandrium and associated structures ventral view (parameres and phallus removed). 6. Same posterior view. 7. Paramere lateral view. 8. Phallus lateral view.