Biphallapodema oligodentata, Papp, László, 2014

Papp, László, 2014, New genera of Afrotropical limosinine sphaerocerids (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae), Zootaxa 3764 (2), pp. 101-130 : 107-108

Biphallapodema oligodentata sp. nov.

( Figs 17–27 )

Type material. Holotype male ( HNHM, body in a canada balsam preparation, abdomen with synsternite as well as genitalia with a part of S8 separated, and kept in a plastic microvial with glycerol): CONGO: Brazzaville, ORSTOM park, soil traps in forest, 2. I. 1964.—14 days, leg. J. Balogh & A. Zicsi—Hung. Soil-Zool. Exp., Congo No. 572.

Paratypes ( HNHM): 2 males 1 female (in a canada balsam preparation, males’ abdomen and genitalia in a plastic microvial with glycerol): ibid., 21. XI. 1963 - soil traps in forest, 3 days, No. 219. 1 male 2 females, 1 male 1 female (in 2 canada balsam preparations, abdomen and genitalia of the latter male in a plastic microvial with glycerol): ibid., soil traps around leaf-compost, No. 219, 16. XI. 1963, 20 days.

Description. Measurements in mm: body length 1.50 (holotype), 1.42–1.60 (paratypes); wing length 1.20 (holotype), 1.14–1.28 (paratypes); wing width 0.58 (holotype), 0.57–0.60 (paratypes). The two species of the genus differ in details of the male and female genitalia. Thus, only those characteristics are described below.

Male. Sternite 5 ( Figs. 21–22 ) with a not divided broad medio-caudal emargination, which bears a pair of processes of 5–6 long flat pegs each. Surstylus ( Fig. 25 ) with anterior part narrower than in B. polydentata . Basiphallus ( Figs 23, 26 ) larger but epiphallus thinner than in B. polydentata . Distiphallus ( Figs 26–27 ) with a large ventrally curved apical process, which is dentate on margins; an additional dorsal process also present.

Postgonite ( Figs 23–24 ) seems more strongly connected to the lower branch of connecting sclerite than in B. polydentata . Postgonite with a blunt caudal, as well as a very broad apical lobe each.

Female sternite 8 ( Fig. 17 ) weakly sclerotised, covered by small hairs, except anterior margin, sternite 8 bears some very short setulae only. Hypoproct ( Fig. 18 ) strongly sclerotised on a broad caudal rim, medial part membranous, its strong caudal part bears 2–3 upcurved setae in ventral view. Epiproct ( Fig. 19 ) comparatively large with minute hairs, except antero-lateral parts; its setal pair thin but long. Cercus ( Fig. 19 ) normal in shape, each with a pair of very long apical and medial pair of setae. Spermathecae ( Fig. 20 ) peculiar in shape: proximodistally flattened with a subcylindrical, more sclerotised inner part, sclerotised parts of ducts short with a bulbous distal end each. That is, common duct of paired spermathecae very short, its bulb occupies more than half of it.

Etymology. The specific epithet of this new species (‘oligodentata’ = a few teeth) refers to the low-numbered (5 each) pegs on the pair of processes on male sternite 5.

Figures

FIGURES 13 – 20. Female postabdomen and genitalia. 13 – 16 = Afrolimosina albitarsis sp. n. 13 = sternite 8, ventral view, 14 = tergite 8 with contours of sternite 8, lateral view, 15 = tergite 8, epiproct and cerci, dorsal view, 16 = spermathecae in glycerol with contours of one spermatheca in water. 17 – 20 = Biphallapodema oligodentata sp. n.. 17 = sternite 8, ventral view, 18 = hypoproct, ventral view, 19 = epiproct and cerci, dorsal view, 20 = spermathecae. Scale bar: Figs 13 – 20 = 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 21 – 27. Biphallapodema oligodentata sp. n., male postabdomen and genitalia. 21 = sternite 5, ventral view, 22 = medio-caudal part of sternite 5 in higher magnification, 23 = phallus and phallapodeme, 24 = postgonite with connecting sclerite, 25 = surstylus with ventral part of epandrium, lateral view, 26 = distiphallus with contours of basiphallus, left lateral view, 27 = distiphallus, anterior view. (BPh: basiphallus, con: connecting sclerite of postgonite, PA: phallapodeme, PG: postgonite). Scale bars: Figs 21, 23 = 0.2 mm, Figs 22, 24 – 27 = 0.1 mm.