Sepedon spinipes ( Scopoli, 1763 )

Elberg, Kaupo, Rozkošný, Rudolf & Knutson, Lloyd, 2009, A review of of the Holarctic Sepedon fuscipennis and S. spinipes groups with description of a new species (Diptera: Sciomyzidae), Zootaxa 2288, pp. 51-60 : 58-59

Sepedon spinipes ( Scopoli, 1763)

( Figs 24–27 , 29 )

Diagnosis. Cerci usually reaching beyond lower margin of epandrium in lateral view; surstylus much longer than distiphallus ( Fig. 24 ); emargination of basal part of hypandrium conspicuous ( Fig. 25 ); distiphallus only short, barely longer than epiphallus and not dilated apically ( Fig. 26 ).

At first glance, S. spinipes might be mistaken for the new Palaearctic species, Sepedon hecate sp. nov. However, detailed comparison of both species shows reliable differences. S. spinipes is generally smaller and paler, the black orbital spot is of a different shape, the pedicel is stouter, the dark longitudinal stripe above the postpronotal callus and notopleuron is almost indistinct, the katatergite is setulose in the posterior part, cell r4+5 is parallel-sided, and the posterior crossvein is much more bowed than sinuate ( Fig. 28 ). Distinct differences were also found in the shape of the male terminalia, as noted above.

Distribution. Details of the male genitalia of S. spinipes were recently re-examined in representative material from widespread parts of the distribution area and also compared with earlier published data from the Palaearctic, if they were accompanied by sufficiently detailed figures of the male terminalia. It is thus confirmed that S. spinipes occurs over the large territory from Ireland, the British Isles, and Scandinavia to North Africa ( Morocco) and from Portugal to Mongolia and the Russian Far East. However, it has not been found in Japan (cf. Sueyoshi 2001).

Material examined. PORTUGAL: Evora, 17.x.1998, 1 3, 1 Ƥ, J. Olejníček.; CZECH REPUBLIC: Lednice, 30.v.1998, 1 3, R. Rozkošný; SLOVAKIA: Čoltovo, 18.5. 1980, 1 3, R. Rozkošný (all FSMU). ITALY: Lazio, L. Fibreno, 7 km SE of Sora, 7.v.1990, 1 Ƥ, L. Fornasari & L.V. Knutson ( USNM). GREECE: Crete, Gerani, 15 km W of Canea, 21.iii.1963, 9 3, 2 Ƥ, L. Knutson (CU). IRAN: Boneh Javaz, 41 km SE of Dezful, 5.xi.1971, 5 3, 6 Ƥ, L. Knutson ( USNM). MONGOLIA: Bulgan Aimag, Teshig Soum, pond and marsh, wetland area near confluence Tariakhtain Gol & Egiin Gol, 49.74339° N, 103.10503° E, 10.vii.2005, 1 3, J. Gelhaus ( ANSP).

Figures

FIGURES 20 – 27. Species of Sepedon spinipes group, male terminalia. 20 – 23. S. americana. 24 – 27. S. spinipes. 20, 24. Lateral view. 21, 25. Hypandrium in lateral view. 22, 26. Aedeagus in lateral view. 23, 27. Epiphallus in caudal view. Scales: 0.5 mm (Figs 20, 24), 0.3 mm (Figs 21 – 23, 24 – 27).

FIGURES 28 – 29. Wings of Sepedon species. 28. S. hecate sp. nov. 29. S. spinipes.