Phortica (Ashima) watabei Sati & Fartyal, 2020

Toda, Masanori J., Bänziger, Hans, Sati, Pradeep C., Fartyal, Rajendra S., Suwito, Awit & Katoh, Toru, 2020, Taxonomy and evolution of asymmetric male genitalia in the subgenus Ashima Chen (Diptera: Drosophilidae: Phortica Schiner), with descriptions of seven new species, Zootaxa 4789 (1), pp. 1-54 : 21-23

18) Phortica (Ashima) watabei Sati & Fartyal , sp. nov.

( Fig. 5 )

Diagnosis. Apical expansion of arista 1/4 as wide as long, apically tapering and pointed ( Fig. 5A ); fore and mid tibiae with dark gray rings proximally and distally (ch.17,18-1); posterior postgonite slightly curved outward, 1/2 as long as anterior one on the same lateral lobe; 2 anterior postgonites on the other lateral lobe widely divergent ( Fig. 5E ).

Description (not repeating characters common to P. brachychaeta ). Supracervical setae 7–10. Cibarial, medial sensilla approximately 7 per side; posterior sensilla approximately 7 per side. All tarsi with gray tarsomeres IV and V; all tarsomere Is slightly longer than 3 succeeding tarsomeres together.

Measurements (holotype / 1♂ paratype, in mm): BL = (n/a)/2.06, ThL = 1.27/1.42, WL = 2.50/2.52, WW = 1.13/1.14.

Indices (holotype / 1♂ paratype, in ratio): FW/HW = 0.41/0.48, ch/o = 0.11/0.09, prorb = 1.17/1.43, rcorb = 0.83/0.53, vb = (n/a)/0.36, dcl = 0.57/0.42, presctl = (n/a)/0.51, sctl = 1.20/1.00, sterno = 0.88/0.92, orbito = 2.00/2.37, dcp = 0.18/0.27, sctlp = 1.50/1.08, C = 2.60/2.31, 4c = (n/a)/1.68, 4v = 2.35/3.11, 5x = 0.75/1.09, ac = 3.10/2.58, M = (n/a)/0.76, C3F = 0.60/0.51.

The antisymmetry is observed in the postgonites: in A-type, the left lateral lobe bears 2 anterior postgonites, and the right lobe 1 posterior and 1 anterior postgonites; but in B-type, vice versa ( Fig. 5E ).

Holotype. ♂ (A-type) (DZHNBGU), “ Simli (Narainbagar), Chamoli Distr., Uttarakhand, India, 5.ix.2010, P.C. Sati ”.

Paratype. India: 1♂ (B-type), same data as the holotype ( SEHU) .

Distribution. India (Uttarakhand).

Remarks. This species is unique in having the fore and mid tibiae with gray color rings (ch.17,18-1) within the foliiseta subgroup, and somewhat resembles P. brachychaeta in the morphology of the aedeagal sheath and postgonites, but can be distinguished from it by the diagnostic characters.

Etymology. Patronym, in honor of Emeritus Prof. Hideaki Watabe, Hokkaido University of Education, who has long contributed to the taxonomy of Asian drosophilids.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Phortica (Ashima) watabei Sati & Fartyal, sp. nov. (♂ paratype). A, Head (frontal view); B, abdominal sternites; C, periphallic organs (caudal view); D, E, phallic organs (lateral and ventral views, respectively; B-type). Scale bars: 0.1 mm in C–E; 0.5 mm in A, B.