Diplonevra longifistula, Disney, 2012

Disney, R. H. L., 2012, Five new species of scuttle fly (Diptera: Phoridae) from southern Africa, African Invertebrates 53 (1), pp. 113-113 : 114-115

Diplonevra longifistula sp. n.

Figs 1–3

Etymology: The name refers to the long anal tube.

Description:

Male.

Frons brown, midline length about equal to maximum breadth, microtrichia absent, with only 7 hairs toward each side, 2 below antial bristles and none in middle. Bristle sockets surrounded by pale spots. Supra­antennal bristles well below antials, which are a little lower on frons than anterolaterals. Likewise mediolaterals are a little lower than pre­ocellars. No bristles on cheeks and a pair on each jowl. Antenna dusky yellow to increasingly brown towards base of arista, which is brown, and with pedicel and postpedicel as in Fig. 3 . Palps with brown basal segments and yellow second segments, and each of latter bears 5 apical bristles and numerous fine hairs along its lower edge. Labrum brown basally, but pale yellow distally and only about 0.8× as broad as a postpedicel. Labella pale. Thorax brown, being darkest on top. Notopleuron with 3 bristles, front one being clearly longer and more robust than two behind. Scutellum with single pair of strong bristles. Abdominal tergites brown, with fine hairs which are a little longer on T6 ( Fig. 1 ). Venter brownish grey on sides, but more greyish yellow below, and with only a few hairs on segment 5, but several longer hairs on segment 6. Hypopygium very pale to pale yellow in parts and as in Fig. 1 . Legs yellow apart from brown patch on mid coxa, tip of hind femur and most of hind tibia. Front tibia with near­dorsal spine in basal third followed by row of weakly differentiated hairs. All tarsal segments with posterodorsal hair palisade and segment 5 a little longer than 4. Mid tibia with 2 longitudinal hair palisades, anterodorsal one being sharply deflected onto anterior face just beyond anterodorsal bristle of basal pair of bristles. Base of hind femur as in Fig. 2 . Hind tibia with anterior bristle in basal quarter and a series of transverse dorsal combs between two hair palisades. Wing 4.2–4.3 mm long. Costal index 0.45. Costal ratios 5.5:1.0:1.0. Costal cilia 0.16–0.17 mm long. Vein Sc weak and fading well before reaching vein 1. Strong hair at base of vein 3. With 5 axillary bristles, all but most basal being clearly longer than costal cilia. All veins brown. Membrane brownish grey (clearly evident to naked eye when viewed against a white background). Haltere whitish yellow.

Holotype: ♂ MALAWI: Ntschisi [= Ntchisi] Forest Reserve [13.32°S 34.05°E], 1500 m, montane forest and woodland, 3–4 xii.1980, J. Londt & B. Stuckenberg ( NMSA, 5–108).

Figures

Figs 1–3. Diplonevra longifistula sp. n., ♂: (1) left face of hypopygium; (2) posterior face of base of hind femur and tip of trochanter; (3) pedicel and postpedicel of antenna. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.