Spilogona maderensis, Michelsen, 2021

Michelsen, Verner, 2021, Macaronesian Muscidae (Diptera). III. First record of the genus Spilogona Schnabl based on two new endemic species from the Azores and Madeira, Zootaxa 4952 (1), pp. 128-134 : 129-133

Spilogona maderensis sp. nov.

( Figs 3A, B )

Material examined. Type material [ MZH]: Holotype ♀: MADEIRA: Pico Ruivo [32.76N 16.94W], 27‒29.vi.1957 (H. Lindberg). Condition excellent except for the missing left postpedicel, left fore and mid legs and right hind leg.

Description. Female ( Figs 3A, B ). Medium sized, wing length 5.5mm (n=1). Head and prementum grey pruinose; entire frons suffused with brown, frontal vitta barely darker than frontal triangle; parafacial plates silvery white with a golden brown tinge. Thorax covered in dense grey pruinosity except extensively dark brown on dorsum of mesonotum including scutellar disc and on upper part of anepisternum. Wing membrane rather intensely smoky brown, yet both crossveins distinctly darker shadowed; calypteres dirty whitish with brown margins, broadly so on lower calypter; halter deep yellow. Legs black, femora grey pruinose. Abdomen grey pruinose except for very large paired trapezoid marks on tergites III and IV and a median field on tergite V being shiny dark brown. Postpedicel about 2 times as long as wide, anterior apical corner forming a very obtuse angle; arista short-pubescent, longest branches barely as long as its greatest basal diameter. Haustellum conical, short and thick. Broad frons widening towards lunule; frontal vitta parallel-sided, frontal triangle relatively small, extended to middle of frontal vitta. Frons and lower facial margin slightly and equally projecting. Fronto-orbital plate with 1 reclinate orbital seta about same size as outer postvertical seta, 4 robust inclinate frontal setae with a few interspatial setulae and bordered laterally by an irregular row of setulae. Mesonotal ground setulae abundant. Dorsocentral setae 2 + 3; presutural acrostichal field with numerous setulae arranged in six irregular rows, outermost ones standing close to adjacent dorsocentral lines and separated from median rows by narrow bare stripes. Notopleuron without setulae. Anepisternum without interspatial setula(e). Katepisternal setae 1 + 2, but lower posterior seta much weaker than both upper ones. Scutellum with 1 setula on upper, preapical border of declivity. Vein C distal to subcostal break with extensive row of dorsal setulae; spines at subcostal break inconspicuous. Fore tibia with submedian p seta below middle. Mid femur without subapical ad seta and without distinct pv setae; mid tibia before apex with 2 strong pd setae only. Hind femur with 3 av setae on distal third, without pv setae; hind tibia with 1 av and 3 ad setae. Abdomen with modest-sized discal and hind marginal setae. Sternite I bare. Ovipositor: Not dissected, but exposed distal part appears very similar to that of S. azorensis .

Male. Unknown.

Relationships. The shadowed crossveins and presence of setulae dorsally on vein C may readily distinguish female S. maderensis from females of other species of Spilogona . Apart from these obvious autapomorphies, it shares many characters with S. azorensis . However, a qualified assessment of relationships is difficult without access to the male sex of both species allowing comparisons of their terminalia.

Distribution. Apparently endemic to Madeira ( Portugal).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Spilogona maderensis sp. nov. Female holotype: lateral habitus (A); head and anterior mesonotum in dorsal view (B).