Protomiltogramma dalbiensis, Johnston & Wallman & Szpila & Pape, 2021

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 : 11-13

Protomiltogramma dalbiensis sp. n.

( Figs 3 , 14E–F )

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other Australian Protomiltogramma through the combination of: T1+2 and 3 without an orange/red brown patch laterally, the presence of only white setae on the genal dilation and 1st flagellomere yellow-white and more than 2x as long as pedicel.

Type material. Holotype ♂: Lake Broadwater Conservation Park , Dalby, QLD, Australia, 13.xi.2018, N. But- terworth and B. Dawson ( ANIC).

Paratypes: 8 ♂ in ANIC, 1 ♂ in QM (see Table 2).

Other material. See Table 2.

Description. Male. Body length: 5–7 mm (n = 3).

Head ( Fig. 3B, D, G ). Frontal vitta yellow-white, 0.1 of head width at height of anterior ocellus; fronto-orbital plate with white microtomentum; 2 proclinate FO setae, 1 strong reclinate FO seta and a patch of unordered weak reclinate FO setae; ocellar setae weaker than reclinate FO setae; 10–12 frontal setae; 3rd aristomere orange-brown on proximal 0.75, black on distal 0.25; thickened over entire length, 0.5 of 1st flagellomere length; 1st flagellomere yellow-orange and 2.5x pedicel length; pedicel setose with a single strong seta and numerous other weaker setae; scape without setae; parafacial plate with white microtomentum, narrower than maximum width between point of antennal insertion and eye margin; gena and postgena grey with white setae; genal groove and facial ridge identical in colour to parafacial plate; vibrissa located midway between tip of 1st flagellomere and lower facial margin, 1 supra-vibrissal seta; parafacial plate with white setulae on entire surface.

Thorax ( Fig. 3A, C ). Dorsum with light grey microtomentum; a median, two major lateral and two minor lateral stripes (mediad to major lateral stripes and approximately half their width), major lateral stripes ending just before anterior margin of scutellum, median stripe ending before suture, minor lateral stripes ending just posterior to suture; scutellum with darkening on lateral margins; notopleuron with two distinct, strong setae; proepisternum bare; katepisternal setae 1+2, numerous weaker setae covering entire katepisternum. Legs: black; fore-tarsal claws 0.5 of tarsomere 5 length; pulvilli 0.5 length of tarsal claws; 1 mid-tibial AD, 2 posterior (P) and 1 V setae. Wing ( Fig. 3F ): hyaline; dorsal surface of vein R 1 bare, R 4+5 with a small patch of setae basally.

Abdomen ( Fig. 3A, C, E ). Black with dull grey microtomentum on anterior margins of T3–5 (occupying approximately 0.25 of each tergite); T1+2–5 with no distinct median marginal setae; no median stripe; backward and up-curved setae present on T5 and well developed. Terminalia ( Fig. 14E–F ): cercus (lateral view) long and narrow with a curved tip and distinct triangular bulge at 0.5 of length, dorsal surface densely covered with setulae; cerci (posterior view) fused along basal 0.25, separate in distal 0.5; surstylus (lateral view) slightly shorter than cercus; with one distinct setose lobe on anterior margin, narrow proximally and broad in distal 0.25; surstyli (posterior view) curved towards cerci; acrophallus thin and needle-like, slightly shorter than cerci, with proximal sclerotisation.

Female. Unknown.

Etymology. The species epithet “ dalbiensis ”, which should be treated as an adjective, refers to the town of Dalby, Queensland, the type locality of this species.

Biology. Males were collected while perching on sticks and rocks on loose sandy trails.

Distribution. Australasia— Australia (NT, QLD, WA).

Remarks. The male terminalia of this species are very similar to those of P. nigriseta distinguished only by a slightly more curved cercus (viewed laterally). Despite this, P. dalbiensis sp. n. can be distinguished from P. nigriseta on the basis of the entirely black/brown arista and the absence of a lateral light orange/brown patch on T1+2–T3. This species is clearly delineated from P. nigriseta molecularly. Caution should be taken when identifying this species on the basis of male terminalia alone.

Figures

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 14. Protomiltogramma spp., male terminalia. A–D. Protomiltogramma cincta Townsend. E–F. Protomiltogramma dalbiensis sp. n. G–J. Protomiltogramma grandis sp. n. K–N. Protomiltogramma incana sp. n. Abbreviations: c = cercus, s = surstylus, p = acrophallus. Scale bars = 100 µm.