Micropsectra zernyi, MARCUZZI, 1950

Stur, Elisabeth & Ekrem, Torbjørn, 2006, A revision of West Palaearctic species of the Micropsectra atrofasciata species group (Diptera: Chironomidae), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 146 (4), pp. 165-225 : 211-212

MICROPSECTRA ZERNYI MARCUZZI

Micropsectra zernyi Marcuzzi, 1950: 273 . Holotype £ (NMW Präparat 372) Algeria, Djelfa area, Dj. Senalba, 14.x.1929, H. Zerny [examined].

Diagnostic characters

Micropsectra zernyi can be separated from other species in the atrofasciata group by the following combination of characters: adult male with AR c. 0.8; short, triangular anal point; digitus short, triangular; median volsella with spoon-shaped lamellae on distal 1/3 of stem, stem of volsella reaching well beyond posterior margin of superior volsella; inferior volsella with comparatively large dorsoapical swelling bearing posteriorly directed and anteriorly curved setae at apex only.

Description

Adult male (n = 1). Measurements and ratios in Table 1.

Coloration: Head brownish. Ground colour of thorax and abdomen light brownish; mesonotal stripes, postnotum, preepisternum, median and anepisternum dark brown; legs brownish; halteres white.

Head. Antenna with 13 flagellomeres. Frontal tubercles minute, whitish points; temporal setae in one row.

Wing. Subcosta and media bare, 2 setae on brachiolum, squama bare.

Legs. Pulvilli small, about 1/3 length of claws. Fore tibia with small scale, spur 11 µm long; middle and hind tibial combs c. 22 µm long. Middle tarsomere Ta 1 with 6 sensilla chaetica.

Hypopygium ( Fig. 19A–C ). Anal tergite rather triangulate, with separate, posteriorly directed anal tergite bands not reaching anal crests; 7 median tergite setae placed on an elevated knob anterior to anal point base; 11 ventral apical setae. Anal point relatively triangular, with minute knob at posterior end of high parallel crests; large microtrichia free area at base of anal point. Superior volsella roundish with 9 dorsal and 4–5 median setae; a small field of dorsal microtrichia on stem and ventrally on setiger; seta on stem not visible. Digitus small, triangular, not reaching margin of superior volsella. Median volsella comparatively long and slender with setiform and c. 16 spoon-shaped lamellae, the latter only on distal 1/3 of volsella; stem reaching well beyond posterior margin of superior volsella. Inferior volsella with comparatively large dorsoapical swelling, bearing numerous posteriorly directed and anteriorly curved setae at apex. Inner margin of gonocoxite with 3 strong setae.

Pupa and larva unknown.

Remarks

Only one specimen of this species was available for examination. We regard this specimen to be the holotype, since the squeezed hypopygium figured by Marcuzzi concurs with the specimen present in NMW. The holotype has lost parts of the fore and hind legs. The seta usually found on the stem of the superior volsella in Micropsectra species is not visible in the type. However, the hypopygium is squeezed in the mount, and is insufficient for conclusive evaluation of this character.

Figures

Figure 19. Micropsectra zernyi. A, hypopygium. B, median volsella. C, superior, median and inferior volsellae.