Aphaniosoma falciferum Ebejer, 1998

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 : 61-62

Aphaniosoma falciferum Ebejer, 1998

Fig. 30

Material examined

ISRAEL • 1 ♂; Park Caesarea; 29 Mar. 1999; N. Meltzer and V. Kravchenko leg.; on Tamarix nilotica ; SMNHTAU • 1 ♂; Park Caesarea; 15 May 2000; N. Meltzer and V. Kravchenko leg.; on Tamarix nilotica ; SMNHTAU • 2 ♂♂; Park Caesarea; 24 Apr. 1998; N. Meltzer and V. Kravchenko leg.; on Tamarix nilotica ; SMNHTAU • 1 ♂; Park Caesarea; 27 Apr. 1999; N. Meltzer and V. Kravchenko leg.; on Tamarix nilotica ; SMNHTAU • 1 ♂; ‘ En Zin; 13 May. 1999; I. Yarom and V. Kravchenko leg.; on Tamarix sp. ; SMNHTAU • 1 ♂; ‘ En Zin; 13 Nov. 1999; I. Yarom and V. Kravchenko leg.; on Tamarix parviflora ; SMNHTAU • 2 ♂♂; Nahal Neqarot , N of Sappir; 6 Apr. 1998; I. Yarom and V. Kravchenko leg.; on Tamarix nilotica ; SMNHTAU • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; on Tamarix parviflora sodomensis ; SMNHTAU • 2 ♂♂; ‘ Enot Zuqim; 19 Mar. 1995; A. Freidberg leg.; on Tamarix sp. ; SMNHTAU • 1 ♂; ‘ Enot Zuqim; 3 Mar. 1998; N. Meltzer and V. Kravchenko leg.; on Tamarix sp. ; SMNHTAU • 1 ♂; ‘ Enot Zuqim; 30 Mar. 1999; N. Meltzer and V. Kravchenko leg.; on Tamarix nilotica ; SMNHTAU • 1 ♂; ‘ Enot Zuqim; 12 Apr. 1999; I. Yarom and V. Kravchenko leg.; on Tamarix parviflora ; SMNHTAU • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀; Mizpe Ramon , 25 km NW; 2 May 1995; I. Yarom leg.; SMNHTAU • 8 ♂♂; ‘ Enot Zuqim; 30 Mar. 1995: I. Yarom leg.; on Tamarix sp. ; SMNHTAU • 14 ♂♂; Revivim; 1 May 1995; I. Yarom leg.; on Tamarix sp. ; SMNHTAU • 1 ♂; Nahal Neqarot; 3 May 1995; I. Yarom leg.; on Tamarix sp. ; SMNHTAU • 5 ♂♂; Metar; 4 May 1995; I. Yarom leg.; on Tamarix sp. ; SMNHTAU • 3 ♂♂; Western Negev, Nahal Lavan; 30°58ʹ N, 34°24ʹ E; 24 Mar. 2000; M.J. Ebejer leg.; shrubs on sand; MJE .

Remarks

This is pale yellowish grey species very similar to A. yaromi sp. nov. The main differences are found in the males and are given under that species. The male hypopygium of A. falciferum is illustrated in the original description ( Ebejer 1998: 207, figs 25–27). The appearance of the hypopygium in situ is shown in Fig. 30B–C . Females of A. falciferum and A. yaromi (see below) are indistinguishable. Only those females collected with males in the absence of the other species are listed above. The remainder are listed separately under both names following the material examined section for A. yaromi .

The only two previously known specimens originated from margins of a pool in steppe in central Iraq’s fertile plain, fed by the river Euphrates. The habitats of this species in Israel share some similarities in that they were collected at small water bodies with sparse surrounding vegetation in hot arid areas.

Distribution

Iraq ( Ebejer 1998). New record for Israel.

Figures

Fig. 30.Aphaniosoma falciferumEbejer,1998,♂(SMNHTAU).A. Habitus, lateral view.B. Hypopygium, postero-ventral view. C. Hypopygium, lateral view.