Phortica (Phortica) epsilon 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 : 30-32

Phortica (Phortica) epsilon Chen & Toda , new species

( Figs. 20–25 )

Diagnosis. – Paramere almost lacking pubescence, subapically with 1 acute projection ( Fig. 24 ); aedeagal median rod apically asymmetrically bifurcated, subapically expanded and with minute warts on surface ( Figs. 24, 25 ); aedeagal basal bridge strongly sclerotized, tripartite: anterior lobe with 2 triangular teeth apically and many spinules on lateral surface; median lobe widely clavate, with 1 triangular tooth apically; posterior process slender ( Fig. 24 ).

Material examined. – Holotype male (terminalia dissected), MALAYSIA: Park Headquarters, Mt. Kinabalu , Sabah, coll. M. J. Toda, 11 Mar.1999 ( KPSP).

Description. – Male. Head: Frons brown. Arista without ventral branches.

Thorax: Orange brown. Scutellum with trifurcate dark brown patch, pale on tip. Anepisternum lacking setulae.

Wing: Slightly smoky on anterior margin.

Legs: All femora brown except apical portions. Midleg tibia subapically with 3–4 longer setae on anterior surface.

Abdomen: First to fifth tergites yellow; second tergite with black patches submedially; third to fifth tergites each with medially slightly protruded, sublaterally interrupted, black band on posterior margin; sixth tergite nearly entirely dark, pointed anterolaterally, with a few long strong setae on posterolateral margins ( Fig. 20 ).

Male terminalia: Epandrium pubescent anteroventrally and dorsomedially, with 12 setae on dorsal to posterolateral portion per side ( Fig. 21 ). Surstylus pubescent, with dense setae medially and apically rounded prensisetae on inner margin ( Fig. 22 ). Additional plate between cerci and 10th sternite pubescent, medially connected to 10th sternite ( Fig. 23 ). Posterolateral lobe of hypandrium undeveloped. Paramere with 2 sensilla and 2 pointed teeth apically ( Fig. 24 ). Aedeagus with 1 pair of bridges ( Fig. 24 ).

Female: Unknown.

Measurements: BL = 4.00 mm in holotype; ThL = 1.28 mm; WL = 3.18 mm; WW = 1.40 mm.

Indices: arb = 3/0, adf = 1.80, flw = 1.30, FW/HW = 0.45, ch/o = 0.07, prorb = 1.10, rcorb = 0.45, vb = 0.40, dcl = 0.60, presctl = 0.80, sctl = 1.15, sterno = 0.90, orbito = 1.20, dcp = 0.23, sctlp = 1.00, C = 2.05, 4c = 1.47, 4v = 2.33, 5x = 0.70, ac = 3.67, M = 0.47, C3F = 0.73.

Etymology. – In reference to the aedeagal basal bridge looking like Greek letter ‘epsilon’ in lateral view.

Distribution. – Malaysia (Sabah).

Remarks. – This species is very similar to P. (P.) cardua ( Okada, 1977) in that the arista lacks ventral branches and the anepisternum lacking setulae, but can be distinguished from it by the aedeagal median rod and the paramere (in P. cardua : aedeagal median rod slender, unexpanded subapically; paramere pubescent distally).

Figures

Figs. 20–25. Phortica (Phortica) epsilon Chen & Toda, new species, male: 20, sixth tergite in ventral view; 21, epandrium and cercus in lateral view; 22, surstylus in frontal view; 23, tenth sternite and additional plate in frontal view; 24, hypandrium, gonopod, paramere and aedeagus in lateral view; 25, tip of aedeagal median rod in ventral view.