Elaphropeza modesta Shamshev & Grootaert, 2007

Grootaert, Patrick & Shamshev, Igor V., 2012, The fast-running flies (Diptera, Hybotidae, Tachydromiinae) of Singapore and adjacent regions, European Journal of Taxonomy 5, pp. 1-162 : 99-101

Elaphropeza modesta Shamshev & Grootaert, 2007

Figs 148-151

Elaphropeza modesta Shamshev & Grootaert, 2007: 105 (female only).

Diagnosis

Occiput black, antenna entirely yellow with postpedicel about 2.5 times longer than wide; thorax with scutum and metanotum dark brown; legs with tarsomere 5 black, hind tibia with 1 anterodorsal bristle.

Description

Male

(previously undescribed)

LENGTH. Body 3.1-3.0 mm, wing 2.1-2.2 mm.

HEAD. Occiput black. Anterior ocellars long, proclinate; posterior ocellars minute. Inner verticals long, outer verticals shorter. Antenna ( Fig. 148 ) entirely yellow (appearing somewhat darker subapically). Pedicel with circlet of subequally short setulae. Postpedicel about 2.5 times longer than wide. Stylus normally pubescent, brown, about 1.5 times longer than postpedicel and nearly as long as scape, pedicel and postpedicel combined. Palpus yellow, small, rounded.

THORAX. Almost entirely yellow, only scutellum and metanotum dark brown. Prothoracic episternum lacking long upturned bristle just above fore coxa, with 1-2 very short bristles in upper part. Postpronotal bristle not prominent. Mesonotum with 2-3 notopleurals (2 longer and stronger), 1-2 shorter postsutural supra-alar, 1 long postalar and 4 scutellars (apical pair very long, cruciate; lateral pair minute). Acrostichals and dorsocentrals undifferentiated, scutum evenly covered with short uniform setulae (except 2 pairs of long prescutellars).

LEGS. Quite robust, almost entirely yellow, only tarsomere 5 of all legs black. Coxae and trochanters with unmodified setation. Fore femur somewhat thickened, with rows of short anteroventral and posteroventral bristles, 2 longer pale setae near base and 1 strong brownish subapical bristle posteriorly. Fore tibia lacking prominent bristles (except subapicals). Mid femur with rows (3 basally otherwise 2) of spinulelike, short ventral setae. Mid tibia with slightly prominent ventral spinules, lacking subapical, black claw-like spine and prominent bristles (except subapicals). Hind femur with row of short anteroventral setae and about 4 short erect dorsal setae near base. Hind tibia bearing 1 anterodorsal bristle, with slightly prominent, rounded apical projection. Tarsi of all legs unmodified.

WING. Uniformly finely infuscate. Costal index: 55/37/36/16. R 4+5 and M 1+2 somewhat divergent near wing apex, both straight. Crossvein bm-cu transverse. Crossvein r-m near middle of cell bm. Calypter brownish yellow, with several long concolorous setae. Halter pale yellow.

ABDOMEN. Tergite 1 entirely pale yellow. Tergites 2 and 3 brownish, of subequal width viewed dorsally, deeply concave anteriorly and divided along midline; with unmodified setation. Tergite 4 broadest, dark brown, with numerous squamiform setae. Tergite 5 very narrow, concolorous with tergite 4, bearing squamiform setae. Tergites 6 and 7 brownish yellow, tergite 6 with numerous rather short posteromarginal bristles, tergite 7 with numerous long posteromarginal bristles.

TERMINALIA. Rather large, left surstylus dark brown, right epandrial lamella yellowish brown apically and yellow basally ( Figs 149-151 ). Cerci narrowly fused; right cercus short, digitiform, with several short setae, lacking spines; left cercus unbranched, short, digitiform, with several setae of different lengths, lacking spines. Epandrium completely divided. Right surstylus not prominent. Right epandrial lamella subrectangular ( Fig. 149 ), with short, digitiform apical projection, covered with numerous moderately long setae longer along ventral margin. Left epandrial lamella fused to hypandrium, with 3 moderately long setae apically. Left surstylus ( Fig. 151 ) with upper lobe large, broadly ovate, with scattered setulae on outer face but bearing some moderately long setae on inner face and several short strong setae near base dorsally. Hypandrium with 2 long setae apically. Phallus short. Two rod-shaped apodemes present.

Female

See full description in Shamshev & Grootaert (2007: 105). Material examined

SINGAPORE: 2 ♂♂, Semakau (SMK05), 13 May 2009, mangrove, Mal. (reg. 29068, leg. P.G.); 1 ♂, Semakau (SMK02), 3 June 2009, mangrove, Mal. (reg. 29141, leg. P.G.); 1 ♀, Semakau (SMK03), 3 June 2009, mangrove, Mal. (reg. 29142, leg. P.G.).

Distribution

Singapore.

Habitat and seasonal occurrence

This a rare mangrove species, previously known only from Chek Jawa. Currently it is also known from Semakau, with collection records from March, May and December.

Remarks

The male sex of E. modesta is described here for the first time.

Figures

Figs 148-151. Elaphropeza modesta Shamshev & Grootaert, 2007, ♂. 148. postpedicel and stylus of antenna, lateral view. 149. right epandrial lamella, lateral view. 150. epandrium with cerci, dorsal view. 151. left surstylus, lateral view. (after Shamshev & Grootaert 2007).