Elissoma australis (Kertész) 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 : 19

Elissoma australis (Kertész) comb. n.

( Figs 11A, B ; 20 ; 25E ; 28C ; 32B ; 36 )

Pycnothorax australis Kertész, 1923: 125 — Woodley, 1989: 351 [catalogue], 2001: 172 [catalogue].

Diagnosis. Flagellum white apically, flagellomere VII slightly longer than combined length of flagellomeres V–VI; scutellum and pale areas of head and scutum greenish; scutellar spines well developed; wing vein M 3 present; hind tibia and tarsi black with white apex.

Redescription. Body length = 9.0 mm. Head. Female frons flat, yellowish green with paired ‘tear’-shaped black markings medially, black band dorsally through ocellar tubercle; face flat, yellowish green, lacking setae; parafacial yellow; ocellar tubercle black; occiput black, carinate postocular ridge whitish green laterally, covered with fine dark setal pile; antenna (length = 5.2 mm) with scape and pedicel dark brown; flagellomeres I–VIII light brown with dark microtrichia, flagellomere VIII white apically, flagellomere VII slightly longer than combined length of flagellomeres V–VI, ratio of length of flagellomere VII to VIII is 1:24, flagellomere VIII elongate and deeply plumose with microtrichia. Thorax. Female thorax whitish green with extensive black markings on antepronotum, postpronotum, anteriorly on anepisternum and katepisternum, katatergite, and scutum, scutal markings as broad medial stripe (broader anteriorly), and subtriangular markings laterally, anterior and posterior to transverse suture, dark band along transverse suture; scutellar spines well developed and slightly upturned, equal to 1/3 of scutellum length; coxae and legs dark yellow, hind tibia, basitarsus slightly elongate and thickened, both along with basal portion of tarsomere II black, remaining hind tarsomeres white; haltere yellow; wing hyaline, pterostigma dark brown; wing vein M 3 present. Abdomen. Female abdomen narrowed at base but not petiolate, segment 4 widest and slightly wider than scutum; segment 1 with lateral flange weakly developed; tergites 1–2 whitish green, tergites 2–5 black medially, whitish green laterally; sternites 2–5 black, whitish green laterally, sternite 2 with yellowish medial prominence. Female genitalia. Not dissected.

Comments. The male holotype in the Hungarian Museum was presumed destroyed by fire in 1956. Due to the similarities of this species to others in the genus a neotype is required to stabilise the species concept herein. Although it is a female, the specimen designated here agrees with the original description and the collection locality (Mount Cook) is close to the original type locality of Herberton listed by Kertész (1923). The above description is based on this female neotype. The body markings indicate a close relationship with E. gilva sp. n. Elissoma australis is differentiated from all other species of the genus by the flagellum being white apically, well developed scutellar spines, and distinctive head and scutal markings.

Type material— Neotype female, AUSTRALIA: Queensland: 1 km SE of Mount Cook [-15.5059, 145.2755], 13.X.1980, D.H. Colless (at light) ( ANIC).

Figures

FIGURE 11. A. Elissoma australis (Kertész), female, lateral view; B. Elissoma australis, female, oblique view; C. Elissoma brunnea Hardy, male, dorsal view; D. Elissoma brunnea, male, oblique view; E. Elissoma gilva sp. n., female, lateral view; F. Elissoma gilva sp. n., female, dorsal view; G. Elissoma hauseri sp. n., male, oblique view; H. Elissoma hauseri sp. n., male, lateral 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 28. Ampsalis and Elissoma scutellums.A. Ampsalis acta sp. n.; B. Ampsalis wallacei sp. n.; C. Elissoma australis sp. n.; D. Elissoma brunnea Hardy; E. Elissoma danielsi sp. n., F. Elissoma gilva sp. n.; G. Elissoma hespera sp. n.; H. Elissoma hauseri sp. n.; I. Elissoma ichneumonoides sp. n.; J. Elissoma lauta White.

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.