Elissoma minuta, Winterton, 2023

Winterton, Shaun L., 2023, Wasp-mimicking soldier flies of the Australian Region: revision of Ampsalis Walker, Elissoma White and Lagenosoma Brauer (Stratiomyidae: Clitellariinae), Zootaxa 5246 (1), pp. 1-63 : 26-27

Elissoma minuta sp. n.

( Figs 13E, F ; 20 ; 25M ; 29B ; 32E ; 36 )

Zoobank. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:FB967BB6-4296-4E7D-881E-84CEB970B94C

Diagnosis. Antennae very short, flagellum black, covered with dark setae along flagellomeres V–VIII, flagellomeres IV–VII equal in length; legs relatively short; scutellar spines small and upturned; wing vein M 3 absent.

Description. Body length = 6.5 mm. Head. Frons flat, dark yellow; face yellow, black medially with short, pale setal pile; parafacial yellow, with silver pubescence along eye margin; ocellar tubercle black; occiput flat, black, covered with fine setal pile; postocular ridge narrowly carinate in male; antenna (length = 1.5 mm), black, flagellomeres IV–VII equal in length and combined equal half length of flagellomere VIII, ratio of length of flagellomere VII to VIII is 1: 4.5, flagellomere VIII narrowly plumose with microtrichia. Thorax. Female thorax black, white-yellow along dorsal margin of anepisternum, scutum with yellow elongate setal pile, white setae on pleuron; scutellar spines relatively small, upturned, equal to ca. 1/5 of scutellum length; coxae yellowish brown, femora and tibiae yellow, tarsi brown; haltere yellow; wing hyaline, venation brown; wing vein M 3 absent; pterostigma yellow.

Abdomen. Narrowed only slightly basally, segment 1 equal to width of scutum with segment 4 widest; segment 1 with lateral flange well developed; tergites 1–2 predominantly black, tergites 3–5 with large black spot medially, gradually smaller on posterior tergites. Male genitalia. Not dissected but epandrium rounded; gonocoxites relatively short and broad; gonostylus angular; phallus relatively short with medial lobe slightly longer than lateral lobes.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from Latin minutus —little, small, referring to the body size.

Comments. Elissoma minuta sp. n. is the smallest species in the genus and is similar to E. brunnea as it lacks wing vein M 3. The antennae are very short with the length proportions of flagellomeres VI–VIII unique to this species. The female is unknown.

Type material— Holotype male, AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: 1 male, 20 km S Nerren Nerren [-27.3887, 114.6506], 23.IX.1981, L.P. Kelsey, on heath ( ANIC).

Figures

FIGURE 13. A. Elissoma ichneumonoides sp. n., female, lateral view; B. Elissoma ichneumonoides sp. n., female, oblique view; C. Elissoma lauta White, male, lateral view; D. Elissoma lauta, male, dorsal view; E. Elissoma minuta sp. n., male, lateral view; F. Elissoma minuta sp. n., male, oblique view; G. Elissoma scapula sp. n., male, lateral view; H. Elissoma scapula sp. n., male, oblique view.

FIGURE 20. Stylised illustrations of the antenna of Eudmeta, Ampsalis, Elissoma and Lagenosoma.

FIGURE 25. Heads of Ampsalis and Elissoma. A. Ampsalis acta sp. n., male; B. Ampsalis acta sp. n., female; C. Ampsalis wallacei sp. n., male; D. Ampsalis wallacei sp. n., female; E. Elissoma australis sp. n., female; F. Elissoma gilva sp. n., female; G. Elissoma danielsi sp. n., male; H. Elissoma danielsi sp. n., female; I. Elissoma ichneumonoides sp. n., female; J. Elissoma hespera sp. n., male; K. Elissoma brunnea Hardy, male; L. Elissoma brunnea Hardy, female; M. Elissoma minuta sp. n., male; N. Elissoma lauta White, male.

FIGURE 29. Elissoma and Lagenosoma scutellums. A. Elissoma scapula sp. n., male; B. Elissoma minuta sp. n., male; C. Lagenosoma clitellum sp. n., male; D. Lagenosoma clitellum sp. n., female; E. Lagenosoma danielsorum sp. n., male; F. Lagenosoma danielsorum sp. n., female; G. Lagenosoma dimorphum sp. n., male; H. Lagenosoma dimorphum sp. n., female; I. Lagenosoma dispar Brauer, male; J. Lagenosoma dispar Brauer, female.

FIGURE 32. Ampsalis and Elissoma abdomens. A. Ampsalis wallacei sp. n., male; B. Elissoma australis sp. n., female; C. Elissoma brunnea Hardy, male; D. Elissoma lauta White, male; E. Elissoma minuta sp. n., male; F. Elissoma gilva sp. n., female; G. Elissoma hespera sp. n., male; H. Elissoma ichneumonoides sp. n., female; I. Lagenosoma clitellum sp. n., male; J. Lagenosoma clitellum sp. n., female.

FIGURE 36. Distribution of Elissoma species.