Molophilus (Molophilus) nigrescens Lackschewitz, 1940

Starý, Jaroslav, 2011, Descriptions and records of the Palaearctic Molophilus Curtis (Diptera, Limoniidae), Zootaxa 2999, pp. 45-62 : 49-50

Molophilus (Molophilus) nigrescens Lackschewitz, 1940

Figures 10–12

Molophilus nigrescens Lackschewitz 1940a: 17 (description), Pl. 1, Figs 10 a–c (male terminalia).

Diagnosis. Medium-sized species within Molophilus . Body dark brown, restrictedly patterned with yellow, mostly shiny, locally suffused with greyish pruinosity. Gonocoxite of male terminalia without dorsal and lateral lobe. Outer (dorsal) gonostylus shorter than inner (ventral) gonostylus, slender, pointed at tip. Inner gonostylus somewhat stouter, shortly bifurcate at apex. Wing length 4.7–5.3 mm.

Redescription of male terminalia ( Figs 10–12 ). Dorsal portion of gonocoxite rather short, without dorsal and lateral lobe, broadly rounded at apex in lateral view, without noticeable process at posteroventral edge. Lateral excision comparatively deep and moderately wide. Ventral lobe of gonocoxite generally slender and long, its somewhat narrowed and rounded tip level with apex of dorsal portion of gonocoxite. Both gonostyli smooth and pale. Outer gonostylus slender, generally straight, pointed at tip, reaching about to three fourths length of inner gonostylus. The latter exceeding ventral lobe by about one third its length, bent ventrally and tapered to slender distal part with shortly bifurcate apex. Aedeagus of moderate length and breadth, roughly producing bayonet-like shape, unevenly arched and expanded at mid-length, with erect, even retrorse tooth at distal bend ventrally and with apical part quite straight. Aedeagal plate moderate in size, generally triangular in ventral/ventrocaudal aspect, with rounded apex and barely distinct tooth laterally at mid-length.

Type material examined. The species was described from an unspecified number of specimens [“ Spanien, Andalusien, Algeciras, 26.IV.–27. V.1925, 3 ƤƤ in Mehrzahl (Zerny).” ( Lackschewitz 1940a: 18)]. Altogether 5 3 and 5 Ƥ are now deposited in NHMW (P. Sehnal, pers. comm.). I have examined four male syntypes, all belonging to M. (M.) nigrescens , and I here select as lectotype the one dissected and illustrated by me ( Figs 10–12 ). Lectotype 3 (by present designation): Spain, Andalucía, Algeciras, 22.–27.v.1925 (H. Zerny leg.) ( NHMW), labelled “Andalusia / Algeciras / 22.–27.V ’25 Zerny” (printed), “ M. nigrescens / nov. sp. / det. Laksch.” (printed, orange). Labelled as lectotype by the present author (“ LECTOTYPE / Molophilus / nigrescens Lacksch. 3 / J. Starý 2010”; printed red label). The specimen is pinned, practically intact, with only apex of abdomen cut off. Terminalia placed in a sealed plastic tube with glycerine, pinned with the specimen. Paralectotypes: 3 3, micro-pinned on a piece of foam or pinned, with the same labelling as for lectotype, except for dates (“ 28.–30.IV ‘25”, “1.– 10.V ‘25”, “ 12.– 20.V ‘25”), accordingly labelled as paralectotypes by the present author. Two paralectotypes have the terminalia mounted by Lackschewitz in Canada balsam between celluloid slides, pinned with the specimens. The lectotype is designated here to stabilize the concept of the name with respect to M. (M.) carbonis sp. n.

Discussion. The differences of M. (M.) nigrescens from M. (M.) carbonis sp. n. and other details are specified in Discussion of M. (M.) carbonis sp. n. It should be emphasized that the inner gonostylus of M. (M.) nigrescens is pale, not darkly pigmented as illustrated by Lackschewitz (1940a, Figs 10 a–b).

Distribution. Spain.

Figures

FIGURES 7 – 12. Male terminalia. 7 – 9 — M. (M.) carbonis sp. n. (paratype), general view, lateral (7), aedeagal complex, lateral (8), and aedeagal plate, ventral (9). 10 – 12 — M. (M.) nigrescens (lectotype), general view, lateral (10), aedeagal complex, lateral (11), and aedeagal plate, ventral (12). Scale bar 0.5 mm.