Wharia willcocksorum, Brown, Brian V. & Oliver, Hugh, 2008

Brown, Brian V. & Oliver, Hugh, 2008, Two new genera of Phoridae (Diptera) from New Zealand, Zootaxa 1933, pp. 1-11 : 6-7

Wharia willcocksorum n. sp.

Description. Critical characters of the definition of this species are given in the Diagnosis for the genus. Other characters observed in specimens belonging to the species are as follows:

Body length 0.9–1.8 mm; color brown to dark brown.

Male: Frons blackish-brown; mean frontal width 0.55 head width, range 0.52–0.58. One pair of reclinate supra-antennal setae present. Ventral fronto-orbital setae absent; other normal frontal setae present (one pair each of dorsal and ventral interfrontal setae, dorsal fronto-orbital setae, inner vertical setae, and ocellar setae). Flagellomere 1 enlarged, oval; arista subapical. Scutum and pleuron dark brown. Legs, including coxae, lighter brown than rest of body. Wing venation as in Fig. 14 ; mean costal length 0.46 wing length, range 0.43– 0.49; halter brown. Abdominal tergites brown. Male terminalia brown; both sides of epandrium with one long and several shorter setae; medially with elongate, ventrally-curved process below cerci ( Figs. 15–16 ); hypandrial lobes large, especially right one, which curves medially under rest of terminalia ( Fig. 15 ).

Female: Similar to male, but flagellomere 1 smaller, rounder. Abdominal tergite 1 relatively large, onehalf length of tergite 2; tergites 2–6 gradually reduced posteriorly, without visible gland openings between tergites. Segments 1–6 lacking sternites. Abdomen posterior to segment 6 largely membranous, non-parasitic type. Tergite 7 absent, tergite 8 narrow, triangular (broader apically). Sternite 7 elongate, narrow strip, sternite 8 absent. Cerci present, unmodified.

Variation. The process at the base of the hind femur of male specimens is remarkably varied, if these specimens do indeed only represent a single species. The process ranges from a rounded posterior opening covered with thin membrane ( Figs. 5–6 ), a similar rounded ventral opening ( Figs. 7–8 ), a small, narrow opening, and no opening at all ( Figs. 11–12 ). Above the opening is a distinctive row of setae that can be linear ( Fig. 6 ) or otherwise organized ( Figs. 8, 10, 12 ). The variation in structures is not geographically organized, and all of the morphs can be found in the Turangi area. Some specimens exist that are intermediate to the ones shown.

If these hind femoral structures are used to stimulate females during mating, as in the genus Dohrniphora Dahl ( Brown & Kung, 2007) , they are expected to be highly species specific ( Eberhard, 1985). Thus, this variation could be evidence for a large number of cryptic species. At this time, however, we prefer to recognize a single, varied species, until further evidence (such as DNA sequences) can be brought to bear on the subject. The specimen we designated as the holotype has a hind leg similar to Figs. 5–6 . We did not designate any other type material, so that in the future, if more species are recognized, their names will not be burdened with this synonym.

Derivation of specific epithet. Named for Irene and Colin Willcocks, who kindly allowed us to collect phorid specimens on their property.

Natural history. Unknown.

Holotype. ɗ, NEW ZEALAND: North Island: Raglan, 37.83°S, 174.82°E, 5–8.ii.2006, B. Brown, H. Oliver, Malaise trap, 100 m [barcode: LACM ENT 223181] (NZAC).

Other (non-type) material examined. NEW ZEALAND: Chetwode Island: Te Karaho, 40.94°S, 174.08°E, 4ɗ, 11–17.ii.1988, C. A. Muir, swept from ferns. North Island: Kamai Forest Park, Wairongomai Valley, 37.87°S, 178.20°E, 1ɗ, 21.i.1988, A. Plant, sweeping; Raglan, 37.83°S, 174.82°E, 3ɗ, 2Ψ, 5–8.ii.2006, B. Brown, H. Oliver, Malaise trap, 100 m, 1Ψ, 8.ii.2006, B. Brown, in compost, 3ɗ, 8–21.ii.2006, B. Brown, H. Oliver, Malaise trap; Sandy Bay Community, Coromandel Peninsula, 1ɗ, 16–19.ii.2006, B. Brown, H. Oliver, Malaise trap (note: only some body parts preserved, rest of body used for molecular analysis); Tongariro National Park, Lake Rotopounamu, 39.02°S, 175.73°E, 3ɗ, 13.ii.2006, B. V. Brown, sweeping (note: only some body parts preserved for one specimen, rest of body used for molecular analysis); near Turangi, Desert Road at Oturere River, 39.18°S, 175.76°E, 2ɗ, 10–14.ii.2006, B. Brown, H. Oliver, Malaise trap, 850 m; near Turangi, Tree Trunk Gorge, 39.17°S, 175.81°E, 3ɗ, 12–14.ii.2006, B. Brown, H. Oliver, Malaise trap, 850 m; Waihi, Woodland Road, 37.47°S, 175.85°E, 1ɗ, 9–14.ii.2006, B. Brown, H. Oliver, Malaise trap, 100 m.

South Island: Home Range, 42.62°S, 172.45°E, 1ɗ, 7.xii.2000, 1ɗ, 1Ψ, 1.ii.2001, 1ɗ, 10.ii.2001, R. Didham, FIT, pasture, 64 m; Punga Cove, 44.60°S, 167.85°E, 2ɗ, 15–19.xi.1988, M. H. Bowie, pan trap; Rocklands, 45.67°S, 169.98°E, 4ɗ, 2Ψ, 2–16.i.1975, B. Barrett, pitfall trap, 432 m (LACM, NZAC).

Figures

FIGURES 13 – 16. Wharia willcocksorum new species, male. 13, head, specimen from Rotopounamu [LACM ENT 223564]. 14, wing, specimen from Tree Trunk Gorge [LACM ENT 221624]. 15 – 16, male terminalia, right lateral and left lateral, specimen (molecular voucher) from Sandy Bay [LACM ENT 240024].

FIGURES 1 – 6. Wharia willcocksorum new species, specimen from Rotopounamu [LACM ENT 223564]. 1, habitus, left lateral. 2, head and thorax, left lateral. 3, head, anterior. 4, thorax, dorsal. 5, hind femur, posterior. 6, hind femur, posterior, basal area.

FIGURES 7 – 12. Wharia willcocksorum new species, hind femur, posterior, and hind femur, posterior, basal area. 7 – 8, specimen from Tree Trunk Gorge [LACM ENT 221624]. 9 – 10, specimen from Raglan [LACM ENT 223165]. 11 – 12, specimen from Desert Road at Oturere River [LACM ENT 221483].