Griphophanes minimus, Naglis, Stefan & Grootaert, Patrick, 2012

Naglis, Stefan & Grootaert, Patrick, 2012, Review of the genus Griphophanes Grootaert & Meuffels (Diptera, Dolichopodidae), with the description of ten new species from Sri Lanka, Zootaxa 3525, pp. 51-64 : 59

Griphophanes minimus sp. nov.

( Figs. 8 A–B)

Material examined. SRI LANKA. HOLOTYPE 3: “ Ceylon, Prov. of Uva, Monagagala Mnt., Alt. 500 ft, 25 mls E Badulla, 7.III.62, Loc. 121: I”, “Swept in the veg. small stream” ( ZMLU). PARATYPES: 1 3, “ Ceylon, Prov. of Uva, Adawatte, Alt. 2000 ft, 7 mls S Bibile, 13.III.62, Loc. 141”, “Swept above surface of small stream”; 1 3, “ Ceylon, NW Prov., Andapolakanda, 3 mls NE Melsiripura, 7.III.62, Loc. 53“, “Ravine with small stream” [lacking one wing and most legs] (both ZMLU).

Diagnosis. Relatively small species, ac biseriate; first flagellomere as long as high; legs entirely dark brown, except trochanters yellowish brown; halter black; fore femur with strong ventral setae which are longer than diameter of femur; fore tibia swollen and curved apically; fore basitarsus compressed laterally.

Description. Male: Length (holotype): body 1.2 mm, wing 1.4 mm. Head: Frons velvet black, with dense brownish pruinosity; eyes converging below antennae and almost contiguous; palpus black with a small spine-like apical seta; antenna dark brown, first flagellomere about as long as high; lower postoculars black. Thorax: Mesonotum and scutellum dark metallic green, with brownish pruinosity; 5 strong dc; ac biseriate; scutellum with 2 strong marginal setae and 2 small lateral setae; pleura dark brown shining. Legs: Entirely dark brown, except trochanters yellowish brown. Fore leg: coxa with anterior setae; femur with av and pv row of strong setae on entire length, longer than diameter of femur; tibia slightly swollen and curved apically, with 1 small ad seta at 1/3, and some curved ventral setae; basitarsus compressed laterally, with small spine-like ventral setulae; relative podomere ratios: 42, 35, 10/5/7 /8/8. Mid leg: coxa with some anterior setae; femur with 1 strong anterior preapical seta, and ventral row of fine, hair-like setae which are as long as diameter of femur; tibia with 1 strong ad seta at 1/4, 1 smaller pd seta at 1/5, and 3 small apical setae; relative podomere ratios: 55, 57, 23/10/7 /6/8. Hind leg: coxa with 1 strong lateral seta; femur with a very small anterior preapical seta, and 2 small apicoventral setae; tibia with small pd seta at 2/3, strong sinuous dorsoapical seta, and apical seta ventrally; relative podomere ratios: 55, 63, 14/14/9 / 9/8. Wing: Hyaline, with grayish tinge; R4+5 and M parallel; CuAx ratio: 0.5; RMx ratio: 1.2; lower calypter dark brown with fan of dark brown setae; halter black. Abdomen: Dark metallic green, with brownish pruinosity; segments 6 and 7 ochreous brown, segment 8 dark brown; hypopygium dark brown. Hypopygium ( Figs. 8 A–B): hypandrium basally broad, with left triangular arm; epandrial lobe with 2 strong apical setae; ventral lobe of surstylus small, with 2 strong setae; dorsal lobe of surstylus straight, rectangular; with several small setulae; postgonite narrow, with strong and long dorsal seta; cercus subovate. Female: Unknown.

Etymology. The name refers to the relatively small body size of the species.

Figures

FIGURE 8. Griphophanes minimus sp. nov. male genitalia: (A) hypopygium, left lateral view; cer = cercus; dsur = dorsal lobe of surstylus; epl = epandrial lobe; pgon = postgonite; vsur = ventral lobe of surstylus; (B) hypandrium, ventral view (scale bar = 0.1 mm).