Phthinia meicigama Fitzgerald & Kerr

Fitzgerald, Scott J. & Kerr, Peter H., 2014, Revision of Nearctic Phthinia Winnertz (Diptera: Mycetophilidae), Zootaxa 3856 (3), pp. 301-325 : 311-313

Phthinia meicigama Fitzgerald & Kerr n. sp.

Figs. 14–19

Type material. Holotype: ♂ ( Fig. 14 ) point-mounted on pin [ SEMC], “ USA: MI: Gogebic Co., #1 VIII–6–1950, G.W. Byers” / “ HOLOTYPE 13N276, Phthinia meicigama ♂, Fitzgerald & Kerr, 2014 ” [red label], terminalia dissected.

Etymology. “ Meicigama ” is an Algonquian Chippewa Indian word that roughly translates to “great water” in reference to the Great Lakes region of northern Michigan, where this species was collected. It is also believed to be the origin of the state name “Michigan.” Phthinia meicigama is known only from Gogebic County Michigan on the peninsula that lies between Lake Superior and Lake Michigan, and the specific epithet honors the natural features and the cultural history of this region.

Diagnosis and comments. Phthinia meicigama is most similar to the Palearctic species P. congenita Plassmann , but differs by having the median lobe of the gonostylus simple ( Figs. 16–19 ) rather than bilobate ( Plassmann 1984, Fig. 4 ). In the Nearctic region P. meicigama n. sp. is most similar to P. lobata , as both taxa have only a single spine on the gonostylus. However, P. meicigama n. sp. lacks the apically spatulate lobe on the inner surface of the gonostylus that is distinctive in P. lobata .

Description. Male ( Fig. 14 ). Entirely light brown. Body length: [6.8] mm (n=1). Head. First flagellomere longer, approximately 1.25 times the length of flagellomere 2. Thorax. Laterotergite haired. Scutellum with 4 stronger bristles (all but one shorn off in holotype, but setal size inferred from size of remaining setal sockets). Legs. First tarsomere of foreleg about 2.4x length of foretibia, first tarsomere of midleg about 1.4x as long as midtibia, and first tarsomere of hind leg about 0.7x as long as hind tibia. Hind tibia with 20–23 minute anterior setae, 38–45 minute dorsal setae (n=1), and 12 minute posterior setae (n=1); midtibia also with minute setae. Wings. Length: [4.9] mm (n=1). Membrane with macrotrichia; microtrichia present and easily distinguishable between more widely spaced macrotrichia. C extending a little less than 1/4 of the distance between R5 and M1; Rs about 1/4 length r-m; medial fork complete; M1 not faint basally; stem of medial fork subequal in length to r-m. A1 diverging only slightly from stem of CuA. Abdomen. Terminalia ( Figs. 15–19 ) previously dissected making color indeterminable. Cerci short, apically narrowly rounded, and with several setae apically ( Fig. 17 ). Hypoproct small, posterior margin medially emarginate, forming a pair of setose lobes ventral to cerci. Gonostylus articulating at posterior apex of gonocoxite ( Figs. 18–19 ); gonostylus apically bifurcate, the outer lobe elongate, spine-like, apically acute, and the inner lobe broader, irregularly-shaped, setose, lacking an additional spoon-shaped lobe. In dorsal view, aedeagal complex triangular, apically acute ( Fig. 18 ). Posteroventral margin of gonocoxites with median, mound-like, apically bifurcate hypandrial lobe ( Fig. 19 ).

Female. Unknown.

Figures

FIGURE 14. P. meicigama n. sp., habitus [holotype male, # 13 N 276]. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURES 15 – 19. P. meicigama n. sp., male terminalia [holotype specimen # 13 N 276] (right gonostylus removed). 15. Lateral view of gonocoxites (epandrium removed). 16. Posterior view of gonocoxites (epandrium removed). 17. Dorsal view of cercus and hypoproct. 18. Dorsal view of gonocoxites (epandrium removed). 19. Ventral view of gonocoxites. Scale bar = 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 4 – 7. P. cascadica n. sp., male terminalia [paratype specimen, # 12 K 584]. 4. Lateral view, with epandrium. 5. Posterior view. 6. Dorsal view. 7. Ventral view. Scale bar = 0.1 mm. Abbreviations: aed comp aedeagal complex cerc cercus epand epandrium goncx gonocoxites gonst gonostylus hyprct hypoproct