Leptosciarella, TUOMIKOSKI, 1960

Menzel, Frank, Smith, Jane E. & Chandler, Peter J., 2006, The sciarid fauna of the British Isles (Diptera: Sciaridae), including descriptions of six new species, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 146 (1), pp. 1-147 : 100

LEPTOSCIARELLA (LEPTOSCIARELLA) PILOSA

(STAEGER, 1840)

Synonyms: elegans var. defecta (Strobl, 1910) ; subspinulosa ( Edwards, 1925a) .

Literature: Edwards (1925a): 536 [as Sciara subspinulosa ]; Freeman (1983b): 20 [as Trichosia (Leptosciarella) subspinulosa ]; Chandler et al. (1996): 258 [as Trichosia (Leptosciarella) verburyi [recte yerburyi ], misidentification]; Mohrig & Menzel (1997): 72; Menzel (1998): 21; Chandler et al. (2002): 123 [as Leptosciarella pilosa and Leptosciarella subspinulosa ].

Material examined: Balnaguard Burn, Perth & Kinross , 1 male, 1.vi.1998, Chandler leg. ( NMS) . Braelangwell , Highland Region, 3 males, 29.v.2002, Chandler leg. ( PPCM) . Brodick, Arran , North Ayrshire, 1 male, 22.v.−25.v.1919, Edwards leg. [paratype of Sciara subspinulosa ] ( BMNH) . Charleville Wood , Offaly, 3 males, 15.vi.1985, Chandler leg. ( PPWM) . Cilkenny Dingle , Powys, 1 male, 22.v.1979, Chandler leg. ( PPCM) . Devil’s Glen , Wicklow, 1 male, 10.vi.1985, Chandler leg. ( PPCM) . Feshiebridge , Highland Region, 1 male, 29.v.1975, Chandler leg. ( PPCM) . Gearagh , Cork, 1 male, 9.vii.1990, Withers leg. ( PPWM) . Hickling Broad , Norfolk, 1 male, 3.viii.1988, Withers leg. ( PPWM) . Lancaut Nature Reserve , Gloucestershire, 1 male, 28.v.2003, Gibbs leg. ( PDGB) . Migdale Wood , Highland Region, 1 male, 31.v.2002, Chandler leg. ( PPCM) . Morrone Birkwood , Aberdeenshire, 1 male, 31.v.1998; 1 male, 14.vi.2003, all Chandler leg. ( NMS, PPCM) . Phoenix Park , Dublin, 2 males, 24.viii.1994 (reared), Dyte leg. ( PPCM) . Rhôsili Down, Swansea / Abertawe, 1 male, 28.vi.1989, Holmes, Boyce & Reed leg. ( PPWM) . Sannox, Arran , North Ayrshire, 1 male, 26.v.−28.v.1919, Edwards leg. [holotype of Sciara subspinulosa ] ( BMNH) . Tarradale House , Highland Region, 1 male, v.2002, Sumner leg. ( PPCM) . Tummel Forest, Perth & Kinross , 1 male, 28.v.1973, Chandler leg. ( NMS) .

Ecological notes: widespread in broad-leaved (incl. calcareous) and carr woodland; also found in mixed woodland; conifer plantations; pine woodland; damp heath; sedge bed; wooded river bank; parkland with old trees. Reared from debris in rot hole in beech. v–viii.

Taxonomic note: Chandler et al. (2002) wrote that pilosa (Staeger) and subspinulosa (Edwards) were different species and that the synonymy by Mohrig & Menzel (1997) is not correct. The authors based their diagnosis on two characteristics: (a) the macrotrichia on the wing veins x and y; (b) the presence of a number of awl-like spines on the inner side on the gonostyles below the tooth. Chandler et al. found fairly constant characteristics during their examination of a relatively small number of examples from the British Isles. A check of both characteristics in 26 males from Germany, England, Austria and the Czech or Slovak republics has shown that there is strong variation in both characteristics and that even on one example alone there can be distinct differences. Examination of the Types of pilosa (Staeger) and subspinulosa (Edwards) as well as the DEI material found that the x–y macrotrichia varied from ‘complete’ to ‘totally absent’ with every variation between. In addition, the subapical spines below the apical tooth ranged from the presence of 4–5 pale spines together with several stronger bristles, to a denser group of about 10–15 dark spines. In preparations where the genitalia lie at an angle, the spines on the gonostyles appear to be almost totally absent. However, the spines are present but lie on the side. They can be seen under high magnification. The correlation between the presence of macrotrichia on x and y with the presence of only a few subapical spines on the gonostyles and, likewise, the absence of macrotrichia on y with the presence of strong spines on the inner side of the gonostyles as stated by Chandler et al. (2002) is not always the case. For identification of the species, it is established that the gonostyles (Mohrig & Menzel, 1997: 74, fig. 21a) are distinctive. On the basis of the variability described, subspinulosa (Edwards) is here confirmed as a synonym of pilosa (Staeger) and the error in the key in Mohrig & Menzel (1997) is corrected.