Aphiura cynthiae, DISNEY, 2003

DISNEY, R. H. L., 2003, Tasmanian Phoridae (Diptera) and some additional Australasian species, Journal of Natural History 37 (5), pp. 505-639 : 513-515

Aphiura cynthiae sp. nov.

(figure 3)

Material

H  : male, Tasmania, Lake St Clair, near Cynthia Bay , 20 September 1998 ( R. H. L. Disney —25-26) ( TMH).

P    : 1 female as holotype, except ( UMZC); 1 male, Fern Tree, near Hobart, Grays Road, 147°15∞E, 42°57∞S (grid ref. 203474), 540 m altitude, at window of builder’s shed, 18 September 1998 ( RHLD —25-23) ( UMZC) .

Etymology The species is named after the type locality.

Diagnosis

Third antennal segment with numerous small SPS vesicles; arista pre-apical; palps relatively short and with irreguar pits on outer faces; scutellum with four bristles, the posterior pair weak but relatively long; right posterolateral lobe of epandrium truncated behind; hypandrium with a pair of large, subequal, lobes; femora brown.

Male

Frons very similar to A. alistairi , but mediolateral bristles level with lower (front) margin of posterior ocelli and with four SA hairs. Two or three bristles on cheek. Antennae pale brown and as figure 3B. Palps a little paler and as figure 3A. Proboscis similar to A. alistairi , but labrum paler. Thorax as A. alistairi but posterior scutellars longer and stronger, the anterior pair being only about 1.7× as long as the former. Abdomen similar to A. alistairi but with tergites not so dark. Hypopygium as figure 3C, D), the paraphyses of the penis complex being orange-brown. The left lobe of hypandrium bare in distal third or more, but the right lobe hairy to tip. Legs similar to A. alistairi , but hairs below hind femur shorter. Wing 1.66–2.37 mm long. Costal index 0.50–0.53. Costal ratios 5.66:1.97–2.22:1. Costal cilia 0.08– 0.10 mm long. Costa not obviously a little thickened, with four to seven axillary setae, otherwise wing as A. alistairi . Haltere with brown stem and basal region of knob, but rest of latter mainly pale whitish brown.

Female

Head very similar to male, but labrum is darker brown and its maximum width is about 1.3× that of third antennal segment. Thorax as male. Abdomen with brown tergites with minute hairs, which are only a little longer at hind margins. Ratios of the lengths of T 1– T 6 are about 0.45:1.41:1.27:1.36:1.44:1. T 5 distinctly a little narrower than T 4, and T 6 narrower still, where the pair of detached anterior portions embrace a narrow median longitudinal sclerite that is tapered anteriorly (similar to that of A. alistairi — figure 2A). Venter as male but with numerous hairs dorsolaterally adjacent to lateral margins of tergites and over entire segment 6. Cerci pale brownish yellow and about 3.6× as long as broad. Sternite 7 a narrow bar, broadening slightly towards rear, with hairs. Likewise sternite 8. Internally there is a well-sclerotized circular furca (S9), which is asymmetrically broader posteriorly. No sign of a Dufour’s crop mechanism. Legs similar to male. Wing 2.35 mm long. Costal index 0.58. Costal ratios 5.43:2.47:1. Costal cilia 0.09–0.10 mm long. With five axillary setae. Otherwise it and haltere as male.

Natural history

The female was gravid, with 18 typical phorid eggs (cf. figure 2.3(a) in Disney, 1994b).