Scythropochroa trispinosa Steffan, 1969

Broadley, Adam, Kauschke, Ellen & Mohrig, Werner, 2019, Revision of the black fungus gnat species (Diptera: Sciaridae) described by W. A. Steffan from Micronesia, Zootaxa 4683 (2), pp. 215-241 : 236-238

Scythropochroa trispinosa Steffan, 1969

( Fig. 18 A–D)

Scythropochroa trispinosa Steffan, 1969 [ Steffan, 1969: 682–685, fig. 6 a–f]. Material studied: Holotype: Male. 31.x.–4.xi.1964, Marshall Islands, Kwajalein Atoll, Carlson Island, Malaise trap, leg. B.D. Perkins (BPBM 8222).

Conservation status: Body, head (without antennae), hypopygium and wings separated; wings under an isolated cover slip. The morphological details needed for determination are in rather good condition.

Comments. The species is characterized by a 1-segmented palpus, short and broad wings with a long R 1, y with macrotrichia, R 5 along the whole length with both dorsal and ventral macrotrichia; veins of the M-fork very indistinct, Cu-stem long, mediotergite with 3-5 short bristles, fore tibia at the inner apex with an indistinct patch of bristles, gonostylus short and with 3 apical spines.

The bristles on the mediotergite in connection with a 1-segmented palpus, long R 1 and an indifferent bristle patch on the apex of the fore tibia confirms that Steffan’s assignment of the species into the genus Scythropochroa is correct. Bristles on the mediotergite are a good character for the identification of species of this genus (Mohrig 2004).

Distribution. Marshall Islands.

Figures

FIGURE 18 A–D. Scythropochroa trispinosa Steffan, 1969. Holotype. A. Hypopygium; B. Head; C. Wing; D. Apex of fore tibia.