Helina parcepilosa (Stein)

Michelsen, Verner, 2023, Macaronesian Muscidae (Diptera). IV. The genus Helina Robineau-Desvoidy, and description of the male of Spilogona maderensis Michelsen, Zootaxa 5293 (2), pp. 251-276 : 269-270

11. Helina parcepilosa (Stein)

( Figs 11A–D )

Mydaea parcepilosa Stein ; Becker 1908a: 97 (Tenerife, La Palma).

Helina parcepilosa (Stein) ; Frey 1936: 133 (Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Palma); Kirchberg 1967: 334 (La Palma, Hierro); Báez 1983: 181 ff., pl.1 fig. 7 (Tenerife, La Palma).

Mydaea (Spilogaster) parcepilosa Stein ; Santos Abréu 1976: 112 ff., fig. 16 (Tenerife, La Palma).

Mydaea (Spilogaster) parcepilosa var. fulvipes Santos Abréu ; Santos Abréu 1976: 114, fig. 16 (La Palma). [Unavailable infrasubspecific name.]

Material examined. CANARY ISLANDS: FUERTEVENTURA [ MZH]: Chilegua , 1♀ 10‒14.v.1951 (B. Pettersson). GRAN CANARIA [ MZH]: Los Lagunetas, 1♁ 1931 ( R. Storå); Tafira, 2♁ 27.vi.1931 ( R. Storå); Las Palomas, 2♁, 1♀ 9‒10.iii.1950 (H. Lindberg). TENERIFE [ ZMHU]: Orotava, 1♁ i.1901 ( T. Becker). LA PALMA [ MZH, ZMHU]: 1♁ iv.1901 ( T. Becker); La Caldera, 1♁ 7.viii.1931 ( R. Frey). This is apparently a species that has declined in abundancy as all available records are from the 1950´es and earlier .

Description. Medium sized, wing length 6.0–7.0mm (n = 8). Male: Head and body mainly dark, densely yellowish grey pruinose; mesonotum in posterior view with brownish-black pattern of four stripes on anterior two-thirds of scutum (interrupted at the suture); abdomen ( Fig. 11A ) with paired oval marks on tergites III and IV, median linear marks absent or only present on tergite V; all tibiae and at least distal thirds of middle and hind femora yellow. Eyes bare. Arista long-plumose, longest branches c. 1.5 times as long as width of postpedicel. Frons at narrowest point as wide or nearly as wide as ocellar tubercle; frontal vitta at this point fully one-third as wide as frons. Dorsocentral setae 2 + 4; presutural acrostical field with setulae only arranged in 4–6 irregular rows; prealar seta very short or practically absent; katepisternal setae 2 + 2. Fore tibia with 1–2 p setae; mid tibia with 2–3 pd setae; hind femur with 1 pv seta near middle; hind tibia with 2 av, 3 ad setae and 1(–2) short pd setae on basal third. Abdomen ( Fig. 11A ) ovoid, somewhat short and broad; sternite V and hypopygium as in Figs 11B–D . Female: apart from usual sexual differences of the head and abdomen differing from the male by the legs being yellow on middle and hind femora except at basal fifths or less and on all tibiae; fore tibia with 1 short ad seta; hind femur with 0–1 pv seta near middle; hind tibia with 2–3 av, 3–4 ad setae and 1–3 short pd setae on basal third.

Distribution. Canary Islands: Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Palma, Hierro. A widespread but local Palearctic species with an apparent preference for dry habitats with sparse ground vegetation ( Harris & Gloaguen 2019).

Taxonomy. See under Helina atlantica .

Figures

FIGURE 11. Helina parcepilosa (Stein), male. Abdomen, (A); sternite V (B); hypopygium, caudal (C) and lateral (D). Same scale for B–D.