Ampsalis acta, 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 : 11

Ampsalis acta sp. n.

( Figs 7A–D ; 20 ; 25A, B ; 28A ; 35 )

Zoobank. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:909E6F74-9BA7-42B0-A2D5-7276EB28A166

Diagnosis. Wing with smoky infuscate band across wing at pterostigma, pterostigma brown, costal margin yellow distally; scutum brown with green or yellow patches laterally anterior to transverse suture and on postalar callus; scutellum brown with pale margin with relatively small spines; abdominal tergites 3–5 black; femora brown to black, yellow apically.

Description. Body length = 12.0–14.0 mm. Head. Black and yellow, female frons slightly rounded, yellow with elongate black stripe medially, extending dorsally to ocellar tubercle; face protruding, yellow with short, white setae; parafacial yellow; ocellar tubercle black; female with yellow, carinate postocular ridge; occiput black, covered with white setal pile; antenna (length = 5.0 mm) with scape and pedicel dark yellow; flagellum black, flagellomeres VI–VII twice as long as combined length of flagellomeres V–VI, ratio of length of flagellomere VII to VIII is 1:33, flagellomere VIII elongate and deeply plumose with microtrichia. Thorax. Black with whitish-green or yellow areas on antepronotum, postpronotum, anteriorly on anepisternum and katepisternum, katatergite and scutum, scutal markings as subtriangular markings laterally, anterior to transverse suture and on postalar callus; scutellum black with whitish-green or yellow margin, scutellar spines minute; coxae dark yellow to black; femora black; tibiae blackish, yellow in basal half; tarsi dark yellow; haltere blue to yellow; wing hyaline, smoky infuscate band across wing at pterostigma; pterostigma brown; costal margin yellow distally. Abdomen. Narrowed at base, segment 1 with lateral flange weakly developed; tergites 1–2 whitish green to yellow, black medially, tergites 2–5 predominantly black; sternites 2–5 black. Genitalia. Not dissected.

Etymology. This species epithet is derived from the Latin acta —seashore, referring to the apparent coastal distribution of this species. Gender is female.

Comments. Ampsalis acta sp. n. appears closely related to A. wallacei sp. n. based on colour and is similarly distributed in coastal northern Queensland. This species is recognisable by the wing being mostly hyaline with faint brown infuscation midway, the wing membrane in cells bm and d largely devoid of microtrichia and the femora being mostly black to brown.

Type material— Holotype male, AUSTRALIA: Queensland: Shiptons Flat [-15.4701, 145.1399], 19.X.1980, D.H. Colless ( ANIC).

Paratype. AUSTRALIA: Queensland: 1 female, Cairns [-16.886, 145.738], 15.XI.1952, J.G. Brooks ( CSCA) .

Figures

FIGURE 7. Ampsalis spp.A. Ampsalis acta sp. n., male, lateral view; B. Ampsalis acta sp. n., female, lateral view; C. Ampsalis acta sp. n., male, oblique view; D. Ampsalis acta sp. n., female, oblique view; E. Ampsalis wallacei sp. n., female, lateral view; F. Ampsalis wallacei sp. n., male, lateral view; G. Ampsalis wallacei sp. n., female, oblique view; H. Ampsalis wallacei 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 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 35. Distribution of Australasian Ampsalis species.