Lobosciara spinipennis ( Sasakawa, 1962 )

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 : 229

Lobosciara spinipennis ( Sasakawa, 1962)

( Fig. 11 )

Literature: Steffan (1969): 727–731, fig. 23 a–j; Vilkamaa & Hippa (1994): 48, fig. 3 A–D.

Material studied: 3 males, 16.vii.1945, “No. 6”, “No. 7” & “No. 8” collected from Guam: Pt. Oca, light trap, leg. G.E. Bohart & J.L. Gressitt ; 1 female, same data (no specimen number) ; 1 male, 5.viii.1945, Guam: Pti. Ritidian, light trap, leg. J.L. Gressitt ( BPBM) .

Comments. This is the type species of the genus Lobosciara Steffan, 1969 . Lobosciara spinipennis (along with B. bishopi ), are common on the islands of Micronesia. They comprised 90% of the specimens that Steffan identified during his Micronesia study ( Steffan 1969).

It is interesting to note that in late 1992, there was an outbreak of sciarids following severe defoliation of trees on Guam caused by typhoon Gay, with windrows of the dead flies (presumed to be L. spinipennis ) found along the shoreline and around buildings for weeks after the storm ( Kerr 2000).

Distribution. Micronesia, Thailand.

Figures

FIGURE 11. Lobosciara spinipennis (Sasakawa, 1962). Male hypopygium. Photograph courtesy of Neal Evenhuis, Bishop Museum.