Botanophila peristeriana, Michelsen, Verner, 2009

Michelsen, Verner, 2009, Revision of the Botanophila helviana species group (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) in Europe, Zootaxa 2108, pp. 45-61 : 56-59

5. Botanophila peristeriana sp. nov.

Figs. 7 , 25–28 .

Etymology. The specific epithet ‘peristeriana’ is derived from the name of the type locality (Mt. Peristéri) in combination with the Latin suffix -ana.

Description. Size. Very small, wing length 3.2–3.6mm (n=16).

Male. Frons at narrowest point distinctly wider than distance between inner margins of posterior ocelli, frontal vitta at this point much wider than combined width of narrow parafrontals. Parafacial at narrowest point fully as wide as postpedicel. Also gena in lateral aspect relatively broad; genal setae standing in multiple rows. Arista barely longer than antenna measured from base of scape to tip of postpedicel; aristomere 3 thickened on basal third. Palp slightly shorter than fore tarsomere 1; prementum slightly longer than fore tarsomere 1, covered in thin dusting allowing a blackish subshine on lateral parts. Thorax with a matt black shine through thin ash-grey dusting; on mesonotum with a brown tinge on posterior part and in certain aspects with a weak pattern of three darker stripes. Presutural acrostichal rows in front no farther apart than their distance to dorsocentral rows; middle pair of acrostichals strongly enlarged; a few setulae present between rows. Notopleuron without accessory setulae. Proepimerals 3–5 setae and setulae. Wing base and calyptrae dark brown infuscated; knob of halter ochreous-yellow. Abdomen relatively short and broad; with a distinct dark subshine through thin greyish dusting that in posterior aspects reveals a poorly defined black pattern consisting of a broad mid-dorsal stripe and laterally tapering anterior bands on tergites II–V. Terminalia ( Figs. 7 , 25, 26 ): Cerci distally, as in B. kitadakeana ( Fig. 15 ), without a median prong, but that species has a very different shape of surstylus ( Fig. 16 ) as seen in lateral aspect.

Female. Parafacial at narrowest point about same width as postpedicel. Gena in lateral aspect comparatively broad with genal setae at least in front standing in three rows. Arista barely longer than antenna measured from base of scape to tip of postpedicel; aristomere 3 thickened on basal third. Palp slightly shorter than fore tarsomere 1; prementum slightly longer than fore tarsomere 1, covered in thin dusting allowing a strong blackish subshine on lateral parts. Thorax appearing lighter as in male, but still with a matt, dark subshine through thin, dark-grey dusting; three dark-brown mesonotal stripes faintly indicated in certain aspects, especially in front of scutellum. Presutural acrostichal rows in front no farther apart than their distance to dorsocentral rows; middle pair of acrostichals strongly enlarged; a few setulae present between rows. Notopleuron without accessory setulae. Proepimerals 3–4 setae and setulae. Wing base and calyptrae lightly brownish infuscated; knob of halter ochreous-yellow. Abdomen appearing uniformly shiny black through very thin layer of brown dusting. Oviscapt ( Fig. 28 ): Almost as in B. saliciphila ( Fig. 31 ) except cerci more angular subbasally along outer margin. Spermathecae ( Fig. 28 ) normal for the species group, modestsized and with long, very slender ducts.

Material examined. Type material [ ZMUC]: Greece: Thessalía: Chalíkion, Mt. Peristéri (39.39N 21.09E), 1700–1800m, 10 males [including holotype], 6 females, 26.v.1994 (V. Michelsen).

Biology. The type specimens were found in late spring at a rocky ridge giving some shelter in an otherwise barren high altitude pasture heavily grazed by sheep.

Distribution. So far known only from the type material from the Thessalía province of northern Greece.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 7. Botanophila spp. 1. Seed head of Ranunculus repens L. with supposed egg of B. helviana (arrow). 2. Uterine egg, B. saliciphila. 3. Left labellum, B. kitadakeana, female. 4. Male sternite V, B. helviana. 5, 6. Hypopygium in caudal and lateral aspects, B. miniatura. 7. Gonites, phallus (with ejaculatory apodeme) and phallapodeme in lateral aspect, phallus in anterior aspect, B. peristeriana. Scale bar = 1.0 mm (1); 0.25 mm (2); 0.1 mm (3 – 7).

FIGURES 25 – 28. Botanophila peristeriana. 25, 26. Hypopygium in caudal and lateral aspects. 27. Oviscapt, flat mounted. 28. Spermathecae. Scale bar = 0.1 mm (25, 26); 0.25 mm (27, 28).

FIGURES 15 – 17. Botanophila kitadakeana. 15, 16. Hypopygium in caudal and lateral aspects. 17. Oviscapt, flat mounted. Scale bar = 0.1 mm (15, 16); 0.25 mm (17).

FIGURES 29 – 31. Botanophila saliciphila. 29, 30. Hypopygium in caudal and lateral aspects. 31. Oviscapt, flat mounted. Scale bar = 0.1 mm (29, 30); 0.25 mm (31).