Protomiltogramma laticeps Malloch, 1930

Johnston, Nikolas P., Wallman, James F., Szpila, Krzysztof & Pape, Thomas, 2021, Integrative taxonomy reveals remarkable diversity in Australian Protomiltogramma (Diptera: Sarcophagidae), Zootaxa 5043 (1), pp. 1-104 : 18-20

Protomiltogramma laticeps Malloch

( Figs 7 , 15E–H , 17A–D )

Protomiltogramma laticeps Malloch, 1930: 446 . Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Protomiltogramma mallochi Verves, 1987: 663 . Black Mountain, ACT, Australia. Syn. n.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other Australian Protomiltogramma through the combination of: patches of orangebrown laterally on T1+2 and T3, arista completely black, 1st flagellomere yellow-orange and 3x the length of the pedicel and thorax with silver-white microtomentum. Males of this species often have fumose wings, with a characteristic patch beginning at the r-m crossvein, ending at vein M and covering region from veins C to CuA 1; however, this darkened area can be weak or absent in some males.

Type material examined. ♂: Sydney , NSW, Australia, 24.x.1923, E.W. Ferguson ( AM) [holotype of P. laticeps ] .

Other material examined. See Table 2.

Redescription. Body length: 8–10 mm (n = 30).

Male. Head ( Fig. 7B, D, F ). Frontal vitta yellow-white, ranging from entirely absent to 0.2 of head width at height of anterior ocellus; fronto-orbital plate with white-silver microtomentum (rarely yellow-white or gold); 2 proclinate FO setae, 1 reclinate FO seta; ocellar setae weaker than reclinate FO setae; 9–10 frontal setae; 3rd aristomere black, not tapering and the same length as 1st flagellomere; 1st flagellomere yellow-orange and 3x longer than pedicel; pedicel setose, with a single strong seta and multiple weak setulae; scape without setae; parafacial plate width equal to distance between antennal insertion and eye margin, setose with white setulae; gena and post gena grey with black setae; genal groove and facial ridge identical in colour to parafacial plate; vibrissa located midway between tip of 1st flagellomere and lower facial margin; 2 supra-vibrissal setae.

Thorax ( Fig. 7A, C ). Dorsum dark grey with silver microtomentum anteriorly; a major median, two major lateral and two minor lateral stripes (mediad to major lateral stripes and approximately half their width); major lateral stripes ending at anterior margin of scutellum; major median and minor lateral stripes ending just posterior to suture; scutellum with some darkening on lateral margins; notopleuron with two strong setae; proepisternum bare; katepisternal setae 1+2, numerous weaker setae covering entire katepisternum. Legs: black; fore-tarsal claws 0.75 length of tarsomere 5; pulvilli 0.5 length of tarsal claws; mid tibia with 1 AD, 2 PD and 1 V setae. Wing: fumose in distinct region beginning at r-m crossvein and ending at vein M and covering region from veins C to CuA 1 (darkened area weak in some specimens, rarely absent); tegula black; basicosta yellow-brown; dorsal surface of vein R 1 bare, R 4+5 with a patch of setae basally.

Abdomen ( Fig. 7A, C, E ). Dark brown with gold microtomentum on anterior margins of T3–5 (occupying approximately 0.3 of each tergite); median stripe absent, but microtomentum weaker medially, in a triangular pattern, on T3–T5; reddish-brown patch present on lateral regions of T1+2 and T3; backward and up-curved setae present on T5 and well developed. Terminalia ( Fig. 15E–H ): cercus (lateral view) broad at base and tapering to a fine, hooked point, setose on dorsal surface. Cerci (posterior view) parallel and fused on basal 0.5, separate on distal 0.5; surstylus (lateral view) longer than cerci, with distinct lobe on posterior margin. Surstyli (posterior view) curved inwards towards cerci; acrophallus thin and needle-like, approximately 1.5x length of cercus (in rare cases up to 2x), with proximal sclerotisation.

Female. As male, except microtomentum dorsally on head and thorax is always gold.

Biology. Males were collected while perching on sticks and rocks on loose sandy trails. Females were also collected in similar situations, but showed a preference for perching near the entrances of insect nests constructed in the ground (primarily hymenopteran). Male specimens were also caught while congregating on a hilltop.

Distribution. Australasia— Australia (ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA).

Remarks. The darkened area on the male wing vary significantly, from hyaline to strongly fumose. In addition, the colour of the microtomentum on the head (when viewed dorsally) vary from silver-white to gold. The morphotype with gold microtomentum was previously described by Verves (1987) as P. mallochi , but DNA barcoding in conjunction with examination of the male terminalia ( Verves 1987: figs 21–22) suggest that P. mallochi is in fact a morphotype of P. laticeps , and as such is here revised as a junior synonym of that species. Specimens of P. laticeps also show variation in the width of the frontal vitta, ranging from 0.2 of head width to frontal vitta completely obliterated ( Fig. 17 ).

Figures

FIGURE 7. Protomiltogramma laticeps Malloch, male, Kalbarri National Park, NT, 17.xii.2015, N.P. Johnston, J.F. Wallman and K. Szpila (ANIC). A. Habitus, lateral view. B. Head, lateral view. C. Habitus, dorsal view. D. Head, dorsal view. E. Abdomen, dorsal view. F. Head anterior view. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURE 15. Protomiltogramma spp., male terminalia. A–D. Protomiltogramma kapnos sp. n. E–H. Protomiltogramma laticeps Malloch. I–L. Protomiltogramma nigrisensa sp. n. M–P. Protomiltogramma nigriseta (Baranov). Abbreviations: c = cercus, s = surstylus and p = acrophallus. Scale bars = 100 µm.

FIGURE 17. Protomiltogramma laticeps Malloch, morphological variation. A–B. Morphotype with reduced frontal vitta. C–D. “True laticeps” morphotype. Scale bars = 1 mm.