Paradelia

Michelsen, Verner, 2007, Taxonomic review of Eurasian Paradelia Ringdahl (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) with descriptions of two new species, Zootaxa 1592, pp. 1-44 : 14-15

9. Paradelia sp. aff. helleni ( Ringdahl, 1932)

? Pegomyia alpestris Karl, 1943: 77 , fig. 13a, b.

Taxonomic remarks. It is not presently possible to assign a female from the Salzburg province, Austria (see below) to any of the currently recognized species of Paradelia . The possibility exists though, that it belongs to an unrecognized species of Paradelia described from the nearby Styria province by Karl (1943) under the name Pegomyia alpestris . It was based on 1 male taken in the subalpine zone of Admonter Kalbling, Styrian Alps. The holotype was probably lost during WW2, but Karl’s drawing of the male hypopygium ( Fig. 55 ) is unmistakably of a Paradelia . Hennig (1972: 435) treated Karl’s species as a junior synonym of P. brunneonigra but I disagree with that synonymy based on certain aspects in the original description: (1) a body length of 5mm; (2) a densely grey-dusted abdomen without a distinct mid-dorsal dark stripe; and (3) a sternite V with non-projecting posterior lobes. Karl’s original drawing of sternite V ( Fig. 54 ) is also difficult to reconcile with that of P. brunneonigra ( Fig. 66 ). Therefore, the possibility exists that Paradelia alpestris (Karl) is a valid species of the Austrian Alps but currently unrecognized in the male sex.

Descriptive notes. Male. Unknown, but see above.

Female. Very similar to P. h e l l e n i but different as follows: Palpus distinctly enlarged, longer than haustellum and apically distinctly spatulate vs. normal in size and shape. Parafacial in middle nearly 2x as wide as basal width of fore femur vs. less than 1.25x as wide. Wing vein C bare dorsally and ventrally vs. sporadically setulose dorsally and extensively setulose ventrally. Oviscapt not examined.

Material examined. AUSTRIA [Coll. D.M. Ackland]: Salzburg: Hohe Tauern Nat. Pk.: Fuscher Tal: Lähner, 2000m, grazed, 1 female 23.vii.1993 (J.W. Ismay).

Figures

FIGURES 54, 55. Paradelia alpestris, male. 54. Sternite V, ventral view. 55. Hypopygium, caudal view. (After Karl, 1943.)

FIGURES 65 – 68. Paradelia brunneonigra, male. 65, 66. Sternite V, lateral and ventral views. 67, 68. Hypopygium, lateral and caudal views. Same scale for 65, 66 and 67, 68 respectively.