Protearomyia greciana McAlpine, 1962

Macgowan, Iain, 2014, Three new species of Protearomyia McAlpine, 1962 (Diptera: Lonchaeidae) with a key to males of the Palearctic species, Zootaxa 3796 (2), pp. 337-348 : 343

Protearomyia greciana McAlpine, 1962

Although this species name was introduced by McAlpine (1962), the full description and assignation of type material is provided in McAlpine (1983). The description is not repeated here but further notes on the male genitalia which allow comparisons with the other Palearctic Protearomyia species are provided.

Male terminalia ( Figs. 22–26 ). Epandrium approximately 1.5x higher than wide, surstyli extending slightly beyond shell of epandrium, no ventral lobe present ( Fig. 22 ). Cerci fleshy, bearing irregular longitudinal rows of setulae. McAlpine (1983) describes the cerci as being “heavily sclerotized” but this is clearly not the case as can be seen from his own illustration ( McAlpine, 1983, p.897, Fig.19 ) and from specimens examined here. Hypoproct lying anterior to the cerci, dome-shaped, like the top of a skull, in posterior view twice as wide as high, in ventral view two small rounded anteroventrally directed apical processes are apparent emerging from under the cerci, each bearing a strong setulae ( Figs. 23 & 24 ). Surstyli on margin and posterior third covered with numerous small denticles ( Fig. 23 ), a small process on anterior third bearing a group of longer setulae, no inner teeth present. Phallus ( Fig. 26 ) a simple U-shape, apical section weakly sclerotized, usually recurved but this can vary depending on the specimen. Phallic guide ( Fig. 25 ) heavily sclerotized, double U-shape, outer processes relatively broad and pointed with slightly serrated inner margins, inner processes thinner and more conspicuously serrated, no ventral processes at base.

Differential diagnosis. This species along with P. hermonensis is one of only two known Palearctic species without a ventral lobe to the epandrium, it is however easily distinguished by the structure of the phallus, phallic guide and by the numerous denticles on the surstyli.

Figures

FIGURES 22 – 26. Protearomyia greciana McAlpine. Male genitalia. 22. Epandrium and associated structures, lateral view. 23. Same, posterior view. 24. Same, ventral view. 25. Phallic guide, ventral view. 26. Phallus, lateral view. Abbreviations; C = cercus, H = hypoproct, S = surstylus.

FIGURES 18 – 21. Protearomyia nigra (Meigen). Male genitalia. 18. Epandrium and associated structures, lateral view. 19. Same posterior view. 20. Phallus and phallic guide, ventral view. 21. Same lateral view. Abbreviations; H = hypoproct, P = phallus, PG = phallic guide, PN = prensisetae, VL = ventral lobe.