Aphaniosoma oculicauda Collin, 1949

Ebejer, Martin J., 2023, The genus Aphaniosoma Becker, 1903 (Diptera: Chyromyidae) in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East, with descriptions of new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 872, pp. 1-161 : 119-121

Aphaniosoma oculicauda Collin, 1949

Fig. 68

Material examined

Syntypes

EGYPT • 40 ♂♂, 14 ♀♀ (7 females headless); Fayoum, Lake Karun ; 2–23 Sep. 1945; R.L. Coe leg.; NHMUK, B.M. 1946–39 , bar code 013933290–343 .

Other material

EGYPT • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Alexandria, Abu Kir ; 20 Oct. 2003; P. Gatt leg.; beach, wrack; PG • 2 ♂♂, preserved in alcohol; Alexandria, Ras Rashid ; 21 Oct. 2003; P. Gatt leg.; beach; MJE .

ISRAEL • 1 ♀; Elot ; 18 Mar. 1995; B. Merz leg.; MHNG • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; ‘ Iddan ; 19 Mar. 1995; A. Freidberg leg.; SMNHTAU • 9 ♂♂, 9 ♀♀; Qalya ; 28 Sep. 1995; I. Yarom leg.; SMNHTAU • 1 ♂; Dead Sea , Nahal Qidron; 7 Jun. 1996; B. Merz and A. Freidberg leg.; MHNG • 1 ♂; Jericho , route 90; 31°48ʹ N, 35°29ʹ E; 25 Mar. 2000; M.J. Ebejer leg.; on roadside vegetation; MJE .

Remarks

Pont (1995: 122) listed 40 male and 18 female syntypes. This species is one of a few where the male hypopygium, when visible in situ, can be highly distinctive even without dissection ( Fig. 68B–C ). On examining the specimens listed by Pont as syntypes, many males are in good condition and provide easy recognition of the species intended by Collin (33 males bar code 013933290–322 are in good condition; 013933323-329 are headless). Some other specimens are not identifiable, being in very poor condition. Among them (specimen with bar code 013933330), probably a male, is represented only by fragments of the hypopygium in Euparal and 6 specimens are of indeterminate sex, being in such poor condition. The rest of the specimens were not found. As a result, in the present study 40 males and 14 females are recognized as syntypes.

Distribution

Cyprus, Egypt, Oman ( Collin 1949; Ebejer 1996, 2021a). New record for Israel.

Figures

Fig. 68. Aphaniosoma oculicauda Collin, 1949, ♂, (MJE). A. Head, lateral view and thorax, dorsal oblique view. B–C. Hypopygium in situ. B. Posterior view. C. Ventro-lateral oblique view.