Corethrella (Corethrella) canningsi Borkent, 2008

Published, First, 2008, The Frog-Biting Midges of the World (Corethrellidae: Diptera), Zootaxa 1804, pp. 1-456 : 190-191

Corethrella (Corethrella) canningsi Borkent , new species

DIAGNOSIS: Male adult: unknown. Female adult: only extant species of Corethrella in the Oriental, Australasian, and Oceanic Regions with a wing with a midlength band and dark scales at its very apical margin (Fig. 72G), midfemur medium brown with non-discrete darker pigmentation at its base and apex, hind tibia with somewhat darker pigmentation at its base ( Fig. 59A) and the abdomen uniformly medium or dark brown.

DESCRIPTION: Male adult. Unknown.

Female adult. Descriptive statistics: see Tables 6-11. Head: Outline in anterior view laterally nearly circular ( Fig. 14H). Coronal suture elongate, extending ventrally past ommatida (as in Fig. 16B). Two large setae on frons between ventromedial area of ommatida (as in Fig. 16B). Antenna unknown. Clypeus ( Fig. 18 AP) squarish or somewhat wider than long. Mandible with small, pointed teeth. Palpus ( Fig. 35V) brown; segment 3 of nearly constant width or somewhat ovoid. Thorax ( Fig. 59A): uniformly light or medium brown, pale sclerites around base of wing. Posterior portion of dorsocentral row with single elongate setae situated somewhat lateral to one another. Prescutal suture elongate, interrupted by area of pale cuticle. Anterior anepisternum divided diagonally by sinuous suture, dorsal portion about equal to ventral portion. Ventral portion of posterior anepisternum triangular, uniformly brown, with anterodorsal margin not thick. Wing (Fig. 72G): Apex of R 2 equal to apex of M 1. Anterior margin with differently, discretely pigmented scales (indicating anterior margin of midlength band), with midlength band, some darker scales at very apex of wing; veins (other than costa and wing margin) with well-developed scales. Halter as dark as scutellum. Legs ( Fig. 59A): Light to medium brown, with the following areas with non-discrete, somewhat darker pigmentation: base and apex of forefemur and midfemur, apex of foretibia and midtibia, very base of hind femur and hind tibia; mid-, hind leg tarsomeres 2-4 with banding. With only slender setae, lacking scales (except for some in patch of whip-like setae on posterior portion of hind tibia). Midleg with thick, subapical setae on each of at least tarsomeres 1-3. Claws of each leg equal to those of others; equal on each leg, simple (without inner teeth). Empodia slender. Abdomen: At least all tergites uniformly pigmented light brown, sternites perhaps lighter posteriorly. Cercus light brown.

Immatures. Likely unknown (see taxonomic discussion below).

DISTRIBUTION AND BIONOMICS: Corethrella canningsi is known only from the holotype from Tatamba , Santa Isabel, Solomon Islands (Fig. 116A) at an altitude of 0-50 m. The specimen was collected with a Malaise trap .

TAXONOMIC DISCUSSION: The holotype was originally on a pin and was subsequently slidemounted. It is missing both its antennae.

Only one species of Corethrella , C. solomonis , was previously known from the Solomon Islands. As discussed under that species, some whole larvae were identified as paratypes and some additional larvae were excluded from the type series. Some, or all, of these may actually be larvae of C. canningsi .

TYPES: Holotype, female adult on microscope slide, labeled " HOLOTYPE Corethrella canningsi Borkent ”, “Solomon Is., Santa Ysabel: SE, Tatamba, 0–50 m, 4.IX.1964 ", “ R. Straatman, Malaise Trap, BISHOP” ( BPBM).

DERIVATION OF SPECIFIC EPITHET: The name canningsi is proposed in honor of Dr. Robert A. Cannings, a brilliant natural historian and excellent Dipterist. He has generously supported my research association with the Royal British Columbia Museum for many years.