Minettia (Plesiominettia) prominens, Li & Bai & Yang, 2023

Li, Wenliang, Bai, Yingming & Yang, Ding, 2023, The genus Minettia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 (Diptera: Lauxaniidae: Lauxaniinae) from the Oriental Region with descriptions of seventeen new species, Zootaxa 5256 (3), pp. 201-249 : 228-231

Minettia (Plesiominettia) prominens sp. nov.

( Figs. 91–100 )

Diagnosis. Frons with a pair of black longitudinal stripes along fronto-orbital rows, extending from ocellar triangle to occiput; acrostichal setulae in six irregular rows; phallus tubular at base, with membranous spiny processes in ventral view.

Description. MALE. Body length 4.3–4.8 mm, wing length 5.1–5.4 mm. FEMALE. Body length 4.2–4.5 mm, wing length 5.3–5.6 mm.

Head ( Fig. 91 ) blackish brown, with grayish white pruinescence. Face and parafacial with dense grayish white pruinescence. Frons brown, as long as wide and parallel-sided, with a pair of black longitudinal stripes along frontoorbital rows, extending from ocellar triangle to occiput; ocellar triangle blackish brown, ocellar setae developed, almost as long as posterior fronto-orbital setae; anterior fronto-orbital setae reclinate, shorter than posterior frontoorbital setae. Gena about 1/6 height of eye. Antenna brown, the tip and dorsal margin of first flagellomere blackish brown, 1.6 times longer than high; arista blackish brown except paler basally, pubescent with longest setulae shorter than 1/4 height of first flagellomere. Proboscis blackish brown, with white and black setulae; palpus black with black setulae.

Thorax ( Fig. 94 ) blackish brown, with grayish white pruinescence. 0+3 dorsocentral setae; acrostichal setulae in six irregular rows, with a pair of strong acrostichal setulae, longer than first post-sutural dorsocentral setae; a pair of strong prescutellar setae, longer than first post-sutural dorsocentral setae and strong acrostichal setulae. One anepisternal seta, two katepisternal setae. Legs blackish brown, tibia yellow or brownish yellow at base; fore tarsi brownish yellow, mid and hind tarsi yellow. Fore femur with seven posterior dorsal setae, seven posterior setae and five posterior ventral setae; fore tibia with one dorsal preapical seta and one strong apical ventral seta. Mid femur with five anterior setae; mid tibia with one strong dorsal preapical seta and one strong apical ventral seta. Hind femur with one preapical anterior dorsal seta; hind tibia with one dorsal preapical seta. Wing ( Fig. 92 ) hyaline and yellow at base, part of wing veins brown; costa with 2nd (between R 1 and R 2+3), 3rd (between R 2+3 and R 4+5), and 4th (between R 4+5 and M 1) sections in proportion of 8.6: 1.8: 1.4; r-m before middle of discal cell; ultimate and penultimate sections of M 1 in proportion of 6.2: 3.3; ultimate section of CuA 1 about 1/5 of penultimate. Haltere pale yellow.

Abdomen ( Fig. 95 ) black, with grayish white pruinescence. Male genitalia ( Figs. 96–100 ): syntergosternite circular, the spiracle with one circular hair.Anterior margin of epandrium with a pair of weakly sclerotized processes; surstylus with setae, separated from epandrium, curved inward apically in posterior view; hypandrium narrow in the middle and wide on both sides. Postgonite cylindrical, shorter than phallus. Phallapodeme stubby, shorter than phallus; phallus tubular at base, consisting of one ventral sclerite and one dorsal sclerite, with membranous spiny processes in ventral view.

Type material. Holotype ( CAUC): ♁, CHINA, Yunnan Province: Jinping Yakou, 2006. V. 18, Junhua Zhang . Paratypes ( CAUC): 6 ♁♁ , 4♀♀, data same as holotype; 1 ♁, CHINA, Yunnan Province: Jinping Yakou , 2006. V . 18, Shan Huo.

Distribution. China (Yunnan)

Remarks. The new species is somewhat similar to Minettia (Minettiella) spinosa Shi & Yang from Hubei, but it can be separated from the latter in the frons with a pair of black longitudinal stripes along fronto-orbital rows, extending from ocellar triangle to occiput; thorax with a pair of strong acrostichal setulae and two katepisternal setae; epandrium with a small subapical depression in lateral view. In Minettia (Minettiella) spinosa Shi & Yang , frons without black longitudinal stripe; mesonotum without strong acrostichal setulae, katepisternum with one seta; epandrium without subapical depression in lateral view.

Etymology. Latin, prominens , referring to anterior margin of epandrium with a pair of weakly sclerotized processes.

Figures

FIGURES 91–95. Minettia (Plesiominettia) prominens sp. nov. Male. 91. head, anterior view; 92. wing; 93. habitus, lateral view; 94. thorax, dorsal view; 95. abdomen, dorsal view.

FIGURES 96–100. Minettia (Plesiominettia) prominens sp. nov. Male. 96. syntergosternite and epandrium, lateral view; 97. epandrial complex, posterior view; 98. syntergosternite, anterior view; 99. phallic complex, ventral view; 100. phallic complex, lateral view. Scale 0.5 mm.