Paradelia ignotaeformis

Michelsen, Verner, 2007, Taxonomic review of Eurasian Paradelia Ringdahl (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) with descriptions of two new species, Zootaxa 1592, pp. 1-44 : 20

15. Paradelia ignotaeformis (Schnabl in Schnabl & Dziedzicki, 1911)

Figs. 82–85 .

Pegomyia (Anthomyia) ignotaeformis Schnabl in Schnabl & Dziedzicki, 1911: 266, plate figs. 289, 290 [labelled ‘291’ in error], 799.

Pseudonupedia ignotaeformis (Schnabl) ; Hennig 1972: 437, plate figs. 688, 705, 708. Paradelia (Paradelia) ignotaeformis (Schnabl) ; Griffiths 1987: 777.

Taxonomic remarks. Schnabl in Schnabl & Dziedzicki (1911) described ignotaeformis from four males collected in Poland: Ż wir (Warsaw area) 3–16 April on flowering Salix caprea . Schnabl made the keen observation that this small blackish anthomyiid superficially resembles Pegoplata infirma (Meigen) [then known as ‘ ignota Rondani’], but is more closely related to Paradelia intersecta (Meigen) based on genitalia structure. Even if the syntypes of ignotaeformis were lost during WW2, the excellent original illustrations of the male terminalia, including a photomicrograph of sternite V, leave no doubt about the identity of the species. Still, ignotaeformis remained unrecognized until Hennig (1972) redescribed it on basis of a male in Deutsche Entomologische Institut, Eberswalde from Germany: Pichelsberg (Berlin), 9.iv.1898, leg. L. Oldenberg.

Description. Small (WL 3.6mm; n=1), reminiscent of P. intersecta but differing from it as follows:

Male. More blackish in general appearance. Most parts of body sparsely greyish black to brownish black dusted, only lighter grey on postpronotal calli and anterior mesonotum. Wing infuscated, calyptrae much paler, whitish. Haltere dark brown infuscated. Abdomen wholly matt blackish with barely visible mid-dorsal stripe.

Hind tibia with 2 ad setae. Sternite V ( Figs. 82, 83 ) with basal plate shorter and posterior lobes bearing a longer and apically slenderer outer lamella. Also hypopygium ( Figs. 84, 85 ) different: epandrium less dorsally projected, cerci less convex in lateral view and surstyli of different shape in both posterior and lateral views.

Female. Unknown.

Material examined. RUSSIA [ FMNH]: Karelia rossica: Kolatselkä, 1 male 3.v.1943 (L. Tiensuu).

Distribution. A rarely collected species known only from Germany (Berlin area), Poland (Warsaw area) and as new from Russia (East Karelia).

Figures

FIGURES 82 – 85. Paradelia ignotaeformis, male. 82, 83. Sternite V, lateral and ventral views. 84, 85. Hypopygium, lateral and caudal views. Same scale for 82, 83 and 84, 85 respectively.