Notiocoenia paniculata

Mathis, Wayne N. & Marinoni, Luciane, 2016, Revision of Ephydrini Zetterstedt (Diptera: Ephydridae) from the Americas south of the United States, Zootaxa 4116 (1), pp. 1-110 : 15

The paniculata Group

Diagnosis. Although similar to the pollinosa group, specimens of this species-group may be distinguished by the following combination of characters: Head: Frons wider, width at level of medial ocellus about 3 times distance between ptilinal suture and medial ocellus; arrangement of ocelli in nearly equilateral triangle, distance between posterior pair only slightly longer than between either posterior ocellus and anterior ocellus; lateral vertical seta lacking; 1 pair of smaller proclinate fronto-orbital setae inserted anterior of larger lateroclinate setae, size about 1/3 larger setae; arista pectinate with dorsal branches along basal 2/3, longest rays subequal to 1/2 width of basal flagellomere; interfoveal hump with distinct dorsal crease; face from oral margin to dorsum of interfoveal hump higher, length much longer than longest facial seta along oral margin; coloration of face grayish brown to brown, not contrasted distinctly with coloration of frons. Thorax: Vestiture of mesonotum appearing duller, more densely microtomentose, disc of scutellum much shinier; row of larger acrostichal setae extended posteriorly beyond level of transverse suture; postpronotum bare; scutellum slightly convex, bare dorsally; dorsocentral setae 4 (1+3), anterior seta weaker; postsutural, supra-alar seta subequal to postalar seta; coloration of pleural areas with contrasting brown and slightly brownish gray areas, especially evident on anepisternum; wing appearing shiny, mostly hyaline but with slight brownish infuscation, crossvein dm-cu with darker brown infuscation; coloration of legs mostly rufous but variable; femora mostly subequal in size, slender. Abdomen: Darker brown, with some bluish coloration, subshiny to shiny, abdominal tergite 5 short, approximately 1/3 length of tergite 4. Male terminalia: Surstylus either lost or more likely fused indistinguishably with ventral margin of epandrium; ventral margin of epandrium (= surstylus) truncate; aedeagus a long, slender, tapered process, apex slightly corniform. Female ventral receptacle with small operculum and large roughly C-shaped extended process in lateral view.

Natural history. We have collected specimens of both described species of this species group from the Lake District of southern Chile (Osorno Province). Although an occasional specimen was encountered in other habitats, most were collected at one site near Termas de Aguas Calientes, Parque National Puyehue. This site was a densely shaded seepage area, approximately 2 by 10 m, alongside a narrow path used by grazing stock. A densely vegetated, steep bank paralleled its length to the south; the path marked its northern limit. The seepage area was muddy, highly organic, and relatively undisturbed. A dense overhang of brush from the adjacent bank shaded the area at all times and probably provided most of the organic debris. The brush also protected the area, acting as a barrier to stock animals. Most specimens were collected by sweeping under the overhang and just over the muddy seepage area. The surrounding vegetation was typical of a Southern Beech ( Nothofagus ) forest. Both species occur sympatrically at this locality.