Myxophryxe murina Cerretti & O'Hara

O'Hara, James E. & Cerretti, Pierfilippo, 2016, Annotated catalogue of the Tachinidae (Insecta, Diptera) of the Afrotropical Region, with the description of seven new genera, ZooKeys 575, pp. 1-344 : 266

Taxon classification Animalia Diptera Tachinidae

Myxophryxe murina Cerretti & O'Hara sp. n. Figs 12 c–d, 14d

Type material.

Holotype ♂: "Malaise trap/ mature/ Fynbos"; "RSA [Republic of South Africa]: Western Cape/ de Vaselot [error for de Vasselot] Nat[ural]. Res[erve]. at:/ 33°58.194′S 23°32.193′E / 24-27.i.2009/ A. Kirk-Spriggs, S. Otto"; "Entomology Dept./ National Museum/ P.O. Box 265/ Bloemfontein 9300/ South Africa"; " BMSA (D)/ 0544" (NMB). Paratype ♂: same data as holotype but " BMSA (D)/ 0543" (MZUR).

Etymology.

The species epithet derives from the Latin adjective murinus, meaning mouse-grey, referring to the colouration of the species.

Description.

Body length: 9.8-10.4 mm.

Male differs from that of Myxophryxe longirostris as follows:

Colouration (Figs 12 c–d, 14d): Head ground colour black except genal groove and face, which are brownish-red. Microtomentum of head, thorax and abdomen yellowish-grey with golden reflections. Posterior 1/3 of scutellum reddish-brown. Antenna black. Palpus brown on proximal 2/3, shading into yellowish on distal 1/3. Legs black. Basicosta brownish-black. Abdomen black, entirely covered with dense, irregularly tessellate microtomentum.

Head (Fig. 12 c–d): Frons 1.1-1.2 times as wide as compound eye in dorsal view. Fronto-orbital plate with a row of 7-8 frontal setae descending distinctly below level of base of arista. Parafacial slightly convex, at its narrowest point 1.2-1.3 times as wide as width of postpedicel. Facial ridge slightly convex, with 1 row of robust, erect setae on lower 3/4-4/5; longest setae of facial ridge about as long as width of postpedicel. Postpedicel 4.5-6.3 times as long as pedicel. Gena in profile 0.3-0.4 times as high as compound eye. Palpus slightly clubbed, 0.6-0.7 times as long as postpedicel. Prementum normal, 0.3-0.5 times as long as height of head (3.7-5.0 times as long as wide); labella normally developed and not pointed apically.

Thorax: Four or 5 postpronotal setae, 3 strong, basal setae arranged in a straight line; 1 strong anterior seta arising between inner and mid basal setae or in front of mid basal one; 1 smaller anterior seta (when present) arising in front of inner basal seta. Katepimeron with 1-3 short setulae on anterior 1/4.

Legs: Preapical anterodorsal seta of fore tibia about as long as preapical dorsal seta. Hind tibia with 3 dorsal preapical setae (mid-dorsal one distinctly shorter that anterodorsal preapical and posterodorsal preapical setae).

Wing: Costal spine well developed, at least as long as crossvein r-m. Second costal section ventrally bare.

Abdomen (Figs 12c, 14d): General setulae of tergites 3 and 4 slightly raised laterally and mid-dorsally. Tergite 5 0.9-1.0 times as long as tergite 4.

Female. Unknown.

Distribution.

South Africa.