Thinophilus clavatus Zhu, Yang & Masunaga, 2006

Grootaert, Patrick, 2018, Revision of the genus Thinophilus Wahlberg (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) from Singapore and adjacent regions: A long term study with a prudent reconciliation of a genetic to a classic morphological approach, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 66, pp. 413-473 : 425

Thinophilus clavatus Zhu, Yang & Masunaga, 2006

(Fig. 10)

Thinophilus clavatus Zhu, Yang & Masunaga, 2006: 145 ( Figs. 1–3 ). Type locality: China, Hainan, Wanning .

Material examined. THAILAND: 5 males, 5 females, Ban Bangluek, Pak Pha Nang (Nakhon Si Thammarat prov.), 1 May 2015 (leg. A. Samoh, in coll. NHM PSU) ; 1 male, Elet, Pak Nam, Muang Chumphon (Chumphon prov.) 16 February 2015 (leg. A. Samoh, in coll. PSUNHM; 1 male in RBINS) ; 3 males, 6 females, Bang Kong Khong, Pak Pha Nang (Nakhon Si Thammarat prov.), 1 May 2015 (leg. A. Samoh, in coll. PSUNHM) ; 5 males, Talumpuk Cape, Pak Pha Nang ( Nakhon Si Tammarat prov. ), 2 May 2015 (leg. A. Samoh, in coll. PSUNHM) ; 1 male, Bangluek , Nakhon Si Thammarat (Nakhon Si Thammarat prov.), 3 May 2015 (leg. A. Samoh, in coll. PSUNHM: NGS barcode: Doli 6_19_012 male in coll. RBINS) .

Diagnosis. A large species (6.2 mm). 9 dc, anterior dc very short, only prescutellar bristle long. All tarsomeres of the fore leg are narrowly but distinctly darkened and only the apical half of the apical tarsomere is black. The posteroventral bristles on the apical half of the fore femur are longer than the femur is wide (Fig. 10) in T. clavatus . Tarsomere 1 of the fore leg is a little thickened at the base and the ventral spinules are strong. A row of long fine posteroventral bristles is present on fore tibia and tarsomere 1. Cerci brown, dorsally fused. Surstylus brownish black with 2 black subapical spines.

Remarks. Thinophilus clavatus is larger but very similar to T. chaetulosus sp. nov. We refer to the discussion of the differences under the latter species. The male terminalia are also similar sharing a pair of spine-like bristles at the tip of the surstylus. The cercus seems broader in the specimens studies here than in the original description of T. clavatus .

The holotype of T. clavatus is from Wanning (alt. 10 m) while there is a male paratype from Tongshi (alt. 340m), both localities on Hainan Island , China. Apparently this species is not a true mangrove species but has a broader habitat. Here it was observed only in mangrove habitats but since it is a rare species in Thailand and Brunei, it might have been overlooked in terrestrial habitats .

Distribution. China, Southern Thailand.

Not found in Singapore yet, but expected.

Figures

Fig. 1. Present extension of Singapore’s mangroves (in green). The numbers indicate the sites that were sampled during the 1-month Singapore Mangrove Insect Project (SMIP 2009); and the 2-year Mangrove Insect Project (MIP 2012-2014). 1, Mandai mangroves; 2, Kranji Nature Trail; 3, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve; 4, Lim Chu Kang; 5, Sarimbun mangroves; 6, Berlayer Creek; 7, Pulau Semakau original or old mangrove (SMO); 8, Pulau Semakau, replanted or new mangrove (SMN); 9, Changi creek; 10, Pulau Tekong; 11, Pulau Ubin, Chek Jawa; 12, Pasir Ris; 13, Pulau Seletar; 14, Sungei Cina.

Fig. 2. Thinophilus apicatus sp. nov., male habitus.

Fig. 3. Thinophilus apicatus sp. nov., male. A, Mid femur; B, Hind femur; C, Posterior view of fore leg; D, Anterior view of fore coxa.