Miltogramminae, Lioy, 1864

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 : 8-9

Subfamily Miltogramminae

Genus Protomiltogramma Townsend

Protomiltogramma Townsend, 1916: 154 . Type species: Protomiltogramma cincta Townsend, 1916 , by original designation.

Generic diagnosis. General body shape elongate and fusiform; eyes large, occupying more than 0.75 of the head area in lateral view; vibrissa well developed and longer than distance between vibrissal sockets; thorax with five longitudinal stripes dorsally; lower calypter large and dome-shaped; males usually with backward- and up-curved setae latero-ventrally on abdominal tergite 5.

Remarks. The most recent diagnosis of the genus Protomiltogramma by Pape (1996) was based on: “vibrissa well developed and longer than the distance between vibrissal sockets”; “lower calypter large and dome-shaped” and “males with setae latero-ventrally on abdominal sternite 5 curved backwards and upward”. The present study found that the abdominal setae (backward and up-curved setae) were present on the male tergite 5 (as correctly observed by Verves 1979, 1987), not sternite 5, and that these abdominal setae were variable between and within species and sometimes entirely unmodified; as such, this can no longer be considered a fully reliable diagnostic character for the genus.

Key to Australasian Protomiltogramma

1 Abdomen ground colour entirely orange-brown or with a light orange-brown patch laterally on syntergite 1+2 (T1+2) and tergite (T) 3 ( Figs 6A , 7A , 9A , 10A , 11A , 12A , 13A )........................................................ 2

- Abdomen ground colour entirely black or brown or at most with a brown patch laterally on the majority of T1+2–4 ( Figs 2A , 3A , 4A , 5A , 8A ) ..................................................................................... 3

2 Arista dual-coloured: brown or orange-brown proximally and black on distal 0.2–0.5 ( Figs 9B , 10B, D , 12B , 13B )....... 7

- Arista entirely of one colour: orange, brown or black ( Figs 2B , 3B , 4B , 5B , 6B , 7B , 8B , 11B )........................ 8

3 1st flagellomere mostly entirely black/very dark brown, if orange/light brown then darker laterally ( Figs 5B, F , 8B, F , 11B, F ) ................................................................................................... 4

- 1st flagellomere mostly entirely yellow, if orange/light brown then not darker laterally ( Figs 2G , 3G , 4G , 6F , 7F , 9G , 10G , 12F , 13F )............................................................................................... 5

4 Frontal vitta dark red-brown at height of anterior ocellus, gradually darkening to brown-black at antennal insertion ( Fig. 5D, F )....................................................................... Protomiltogramma incana sp. n.

- Frontal vitta orange-brown at height of anterior ocellus, gradually lightening to orange-yellow or yellow at antennal insertion ( Fig. 8D, F )............................................................. Protomiltogramma nigrisensa sp. n.

5 1st flagellomere shorter than 2x length of pedicel ( Fig. 4B, G ); scutum with major median stripe greater than or equal to 3x width of minor lateral stripes; body length greater than 10 mm ( Fig. 4A ).............. Protomiltogramma grandis sp. n.

- 1st flagellomere greater than 2x length of pedicel ( Figs 2B, G , 3B, G ); scutum with major median stripe equal to or slightly wider than width of minor lateral stripes (rarely 2x); body length 10 mm or less ( Figs 2A , 3A )........................ 6

6 Genal dilation with white setae only ( Fig. 3B ); fronto-orbital plate white or silver; arista gradually tapering and shorter than or equal to 1st flagellomere ( Fig. 3D, G )........................................ Protomiltogramma dalbiensis sp. n.

- Genal dilation with both black and white or just black setae; fronto-orbital plate with dull pale yellow or gold microtomentum ( Fig. 2B, D, G ); arista thickened on basal 0.5 then tapered, longer than 1st flagellomere ( Fig. 2B, D )......................................................................................... Protomiltogramma cincta Townsend

7 1st flagellomere 3x length of pedicel ( Fig. 9B, G )........................... Protomiltogramma nigriseta (Baranov)

- 1st flagellomere shorter than or equal to 2.5x length of pedicel (12B, F, 13B, F).................................. 11

8 1st flagellomere brown, with brown microtomentum dorsally; basicosta brown.................................................................................................... Protomiltogramma cinnamea Johnston et al.

- 1st flagellomere yellow or orange, with silver or gold microtomentum dorsally ( Figs 6B, F , 7B, F , 11B, F ); basicosta orange, yellow or white ( Figs 6C , 7C , 9F , 11C ).................................................................... 9

9 T3–5 with dull silver/grey microtomentum covering 80% or more of surface, microtomentum strongly changing with viewing angle, visible dorsally, not visible laterally ( Fig. 6C, E )............................. Protomiltogramma kapnos sp. n.

- T3–5 with gold, silver or white microtomentum covering less than 70% of surface, microtomentum not changing with viewing angle, visible both dorsally and laterally ( Figs 7 , C, E; 11C, E )................................................ 10

10 Thorax and abdomen with yellow-gold microtomentum dorsally ( Fig. 11A, C ), T1+2 with gold microtomentum ( Fig. 11E ), 1st flagellomere darkened laterally ( Fig. 11B, F )................................... Protomiltogramma popularis sp. n.

- Thorax and abdomen with grey or silver microtomentum dorsally ( Fig. 7A, C ), T1+2 without microtomentum ( Fig. 7E ), 1st flagellomere uniform in colour ( Fig. 7F )..................................... Protomiltogramma laticeps Malloch

11 Abdomen without a distinct black median stripe, otherwise predominantly black, with lateral patches of red-brown ( Fig. 13C, E )....................................................................... Protomiltogramma subtilis sp. n.

- Abdomen with a distinct black median stripe (or dark median triangular spots on each tergite), otherwise predominantly orangered ( Figs 10C, E , 12C, E )............................................................................. 12

12 T3 with a pair of distinct median marginal setae ( Fig12C, E )......................... Protomiltogramma rubra sp. n.

- T3 without median marginal setae ( Fig. 10C, E )............................... Protomiltogramma plebeia Malloch

Figures

FIGURE 2. Protomiltogramma cincta Townsend, male, Bowling Green National Park, QLD, 01.ix.2017, N.P. Johnston, J.F. Wallman and T. Pape (ANIC). A. Habitus, lateral view. B. Head, lateral view. C. Habitus, dorsal view. D. Head, dorsal view. E. Abdomen, dorsal view. F. Wing, dorsal view. G. Head, anterior view. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURE 3. Protomiltogramma dalbiensis sp. n., paratype, male, Nourlangie Creek, NT, 17.vi.1973, D.H. Colless (ANIC). A. Habitus, lateral view. B. Head, lateral view. C. Habitus, dorsal view. D. Head, dorsal view. E. Abdomen, dorsal view. F. Wing, ventral view. G. Head, anterior view. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURE 4. Protomiltogramma grandis sp. n., paratype, male, Great Sandy National Park, QLD, 13.i.2017, N.P. Johnston, J.F. Wallman and T. Pape (ANIC). A. Habitus, lateral view. B. Head, lateral view. C. Habitus, dorsal view. D. Head, dorsal view. E. Abdomen, dorsal view. F. Wing, ventral view. G. Head anterior view. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURE 5. Protomiltogramma incana sp. n., paratype, male, South Flinders Ranges, SA, 26.i.2012, T. Pape and D. Whitmore (NHMD). 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 6. Protomiltogramma kapnos sp. n., paratype, male, Leyburn, QLD, 7.xi.1993, G. Daniels and A. Daniels (QM). 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 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 8. Protomiltogramma nigrisensa sp. n., paratype, male, Watheroo National Park, NT, 12.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 9. Protomiltogramma nigriseta (Baranov), male, Inkerman Hill, QLD, 10.i.2017, N.P. Johnston, J.F. Wallman and T. Pape (ANIC). A. Habitus, lateral view. B. Head, lateral view. C. Habitus, dorsal view. D. Head, dorsal view. E. Abdomen, dorsal view. F. Wing, dorsal view. G. Head anterior view. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURE 10. Protomiltogramma plebeia 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. Wing, ventral view. G. Head anterior view. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURE 11. Protomiltogramma popularis sp. n., paratype, male, Girringun National Park, QLD, 7.i.2017, N.P. Johnston, J.F. Wallman and T. Pape (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 12. Protomiltogramma rubra sp. n., paratype, male, Kakadu National Park, NT, 8.xi.2017, 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 13. Protomiltogramma subtilis sp. n., paratype, male, West McDonnell National Park, NT, 12.xi.2017, 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.