Phortica (Phortica) alpha Chen & Toda, 2007

Chen, Hong-Wei, Toda, Masanori J., Lakim, Maklarin B. & Mohamed, Maryati B., 2007, The Phortica Sensu Stricto (Insecta: Diptera: Drosophilidae) From Malaysia, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 55 (1), pp. 23-41 : 25-27

Phortica (Phortica) alpha Chen & Toda , new species

( Figs. 1–5 )

Diagnosis. – Paramere basally broadened and with 1 acute projection, distally deeply bifurcated: apical process with 1–2 sensilla and 3 small teeth; lateral process with 2 acute projections ( Fig. 5 ).

Material examined. – Holotype male (terminalia dissected), MALAYSIA: Park Headquarters, Mt. Kinabalu , Sabah, coll. M. J. Toda, 7 Mar.2000 ( KPSP) . Paratypes: MALAYSIA: 1 male, same data as holotype except for 1 Oct.1999 ( KPSP); Mahua, Crocker Range , Sabah , 1 male, coll. M. J. Toda, 16 Oct.1999 ( SEHU); Poring , Sabah , 3 males, coll. M. J. Toda, 3 Oct.1999 (1 male FRIM, 1 male ITBC, 1 male SCAU) .

Description. – Head: Frons brownish black on upper half, brown on lower half.

Thorax: Scutellum with triangular black patch.

Wing: Slightly smoky, dark on anterior margin.

Legs: Fore- and midleg femora dark brown. Midleg tibia subapically lacking longer setae on anterior surface.

Abdomen: First to fourth tergites yellow; second tergite with black patches submedially and laterally; third and fourth tergites each with broad, medially slightly protruded, black band on posterior margin and 1 pair of yellow patches anterolaterally; fifth and sixth tergites nearly entirely black; sixth tergite broadened on posterior corners of lateral margins, broader than 1.2 times of dorsomedian section ( Fig. 1 ).

Male terminalia: Epandrium lacking pubescence anteroventrally, with 6 setae on dorsal to posterolateral portion per side ( Fig. 2 ). Surstylus lacking pubescence, with 1 verly long, stout spine (2 spines, probably as an aberration, in the male from Mahua, Crocker Range, Sabah) ( Fig. 3 ). Posterolateral lobe of hypandrium pubescent ( Fig. 5 ). Paramere lacking pubescence ( Fig. 5 ). Vertical process of gonopods curved at anteroventral corners ( Fig. 5 ). Aedeagus with 1 pair of bridges basally.

Female: Unknown.

Measurements: BL = 3.62 mm in holotype (range in 4 male paratypes: 3.40-4.18); ThL = 1.85 mm (1.64-1.88); WL = 3.11 mm (2.64-3.20); WW = 1.26 mm (1.20-1.36).

Indices: arb = 4-5/0, adf = 1.46 (1.30-1.80), flw = 1.50 (1.50- 1.60), FW/HW = 0.45 (0.40-0.45), ch/o = 0.06 (0.06), prorb = 1.10 (1.00-1.15), rcorb = 0.50 (0.40-0.50), vb = 0.35 (0.30- 0.35), dcl = 0.50 (0.50-0.60), presctl = 0.65 (0.55-0.65), sctl = 1.10 (1.10-1.20), sterno = 0.90 (0.90-0.95), orbito = 1.45 (1.40-1.50), dcp = 0.25 (0.24-0.25), sctlp = 1.00 (0.95-1.00), C = 2.00 (2.10-2.25), 4c = 1.50 (1.50-2.10), 4v = 2.73 (2.73- 3.46), 5x = 0.81 (0.67-0.89), ac = 4.00 (3.60-4.20), M = 0.58 (0.58-0.73), C3F = 0.75 (0.67-0.76).

Etymology. – In reference to the branch of basal bridge of aedeagus looking like Greek letter ‘alpha’ in lateral view.

Distribution. – Malaysia (Sabah).

Remarks. – This species is easily distinguished from the other members of the magna species-complex by the diagnostic characters, but somewhat resembles P. (P.) foliata (Chen & Toda, 1997) from southern China in the morphology of aedeagus and gonopods.

Figures

Figs. 1–5. Phortica (Phortica) alpha Chen & Toda, new species, male: 1, sixth tergite in ventral view; 2, epandrium and cercus in lateral view; 3, surstylus in frontal view; 4, tenth sternite and additional plate in frontal view; 5, hypandrium, gonopod, paramere and aedeagus in lateral view.