Botanophila helviana Michelsen, 1983

Michelsen, Verner, 2009, Revision of the Botanophila helviana species group (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) in Europe, Zootaxa 2108, pp. 45-61 : 48-50

1. Botanophila helviana Michelsen, 1983

Figs. 1, 4 , 11–14 .

Botanophila helviana Michelsen 1983: 293 ; Ackland 1989: 217; Michelsen & Barták 2001: 457, 460; Michelsen & Báez 2002: 200; Michelsen 2004.

Description. Size. Small, wing length 3.5–4.1mm (n=22).

Male. Frons at narrowest point slightly narrower than distance between inner margins of posterior ocelli. Parafacial at narrowest point distinctly narrower than width of postpedicel. Gena in lateral aspect strikingly narrow, only half as wide as postpedicel, genal setae arranged in two close-set rows. Arista rather longer than antenna measured from base of scape to tip of postpedicel; aristomere 3 thickened on basal quarter. Slender proboscis moderately extended: palp shorter than fore tarsomere 1; prementum longer than fore tarsomere 1 but not as long as fore tarsomeres 1–2, extensively shiny black with only a little dusting on extreme distal part. Thorax extensively covered in very dark, chocolate brown dusting; pattern of darker striping absent on mesonotum. Presutural acrostichal rows in front no farther apart than their distance to adjacent dorsocentral rows; middle pair of acrostichals moderately enlarged; several setulae present between rows. Notopleuron without accessory setulae apart from two notopleural setae. Proepimeral setae and setulae 4–8. Knob of halter bright yellow, contrasting with dark brownish infuscated wing base and calyptrae. Abdomen fairly slender, covered in dark, greyish brown dusting, in oblique posterior aspects revealing a narrow mid-dorsal black stripe and broad, laterally strongly tapering bands on tergites II–V. Terminalia ( Figs. 11–13 ): Most similar to B. minuta ( Figs. 18, 19 ), but cerci longer, apically with submedian prongs almost in line with lateral angles.

Female. Parafacial at narrowest point distinctly narrower than width of postpedicel. Gena in lateral aspect very narrow, only about half width of postpedicel, genal setae arranged in two close-set rows. Antennal scape and pedicel ochreous brown, contrasting with black postpedicel. Arista rather longer than antenna measured from base of scape to tip of postpedicel; aristomere 3 thickened on basal quarter. Slender proboscis moderately extended: palp shorter than fore tarsomere 1; prementum longer than fore tarsomere 1 but not as long as fore tarsomeres 1–2, extensively shiny black with only a little dusting on extreme distal part. Thorax covered in light greyish dusting; darker stripes not apparent on mesonotum. Presutural acrostichal rows in front no farther apart than their distance to adjacent dorsocentral rows; middle pair of acrostichals moderately enlarged; several setulae present between rows. Notopleuron without accessory setulae. Proepimeral setae and setulae 1–5. Wing base and calyptrae ochreous-yellow tinged. Knob of halter pale yellow. Abdomen covered in comparatively dense light greyish dusting only allowing a matt, dark subshine. Oviscapt ( Fig. 14 ) similar to that of B. minuta ( Fig. 20 ) in having slender tergite VII pieces and cerci convex along outer margin, but differs in having sternite VI distinctly wider than sternite VII.

Material examined. CZECH REPUBLIC [ ZMUC]: Ústí nad Labem: Bílina (50.33N / 13.48E), 310m, fallows + wood, 1 male 18.vi. 1994, 200m, mixed wood nr. pond, 1 male 1.vi.1996 (M. Barták); Bílina (50.33N / 13.50E), 440m, mixed wood, Malaise trap, 1 male 28.v–25.vi.1998 (M. Barták); Bílina (50.32N / 13.52E), 380m, mixed wood nr. brook, Malaise trap, 1 male 13–28.v.1998, 1 male 28.v–15. vi.1998, 1 female 15–25.vi.1998 (M. Barták). DENMARK [ ZMUC]: E Jutland: Hestehave Skov (56.17N / 10.27E), 1m, 1 female [paratype] 28.vi.1974 (V. Michelsen). Møn: Høvblege (54.57N / 12.30E), 100m, 1 male 28.v.1983, 2 males 1 female 25.vi.1999 (V. Michelsen). NE Zealand: Allindelille Fredskov (55.30N / 11.46E), 70m, 1 male [holotype] 24.v.1981 (V. Michelsen); Gladsaxe (55.43N / 12.28E), 22m, 1 male 3.vi.1987, 1 male 11.vi.1987, 1 male 22.vi.1987, 1 female 8.vii.1987, 1 female 26.v.1988 (V. Michelsen). Bornholm: Slotslyngen (55.15N / 14.44E), 30m, 1 female [paratype] 26-31.v.1979 (S. Andersen & V. Michelsen). SLOVAKIA [ ZMUC]: Humenné: Ruské (48.54N / 21.10E), 370m, sweeping undergrowth in decidious forest, 1 male 3.vi.1985 (J. Rohácek). SPAIN [ ZMUC]: Gerona: Queralbs (42.20N / 02.09E), 12-1300m, 1 male 13-17.vi.1982 (Andersen, Lyneborg & Michelsen). SWEDEN [ MZLU]: Skåne: Kullaberg (56.17N / 12.29E), 1 male 6.vi.1963 (H. Andersson).

Biology. Botanophila helviana prefers sheltered, lush meadows on calcareous soils. Adults of both sexes are anthophilous, feeding on nectar and pollen. As stated earlier, it seems that the larva feed on developing achenes of Ranunculus .

Distribution. Known with certainty only from temperate parts of Europe: Britain ( Ackland 1989), Czech Republic ( Michelsen & Barták 2001), Denmark ( Michelsen 1983), France ( Ackland 1989), Slovakia ( Michelsen 2004), Spain ( Michelsen & Báez 2002), Sweden ( Michelsen 2004).

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 11 – 14. Botanophila helviana. 11 – 13. Hypopygium in caudal and lateral aspects. 14. Oviscapt, flat mounted. Scale bar = 0.1 mm (11 – 13); 0.25 mm (14).

FIGURES 18 – 20. Botanophila minuta. 18, 19. Hypopygium in caudal and lateral aspects. 20. Oviscapt, flat mounted. Scale bar = 0.1 mm (18, 19); 0.25 mm (20).