Acupalpa westralica, Shaun L., Winterton, 2011

Shaun L., Winterton, 2011, Revision of the stiletto fly genera Acupalpa Kroeber and Pipinnipons Winterton (Diptera, Therevidae, Agapophytinae) using cybertaxonomic methods, with a key to Australasian genera, ZooKeys 95, pp. 29-79 : 53

Acupalpa westralica sp. n. Fig. 20

Type material.

Holotype female, AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: Stirling Ranges N.P., Chester Pass Rd., Eucalyptus open woodland, 230m; C. Lambkin, J. Recsei, 3-15.xi.2003; Malaise, ANIC bulk sample 2191 [-34.433°, 118.076°] (MEI165188) (ANIC).

Diagnosis.

Frons profile rounded above antenna; scape yellow-brown, flagellum black; scutum grey-black with dark and pale stripes; pleuron black; wing dark banded; femora yellow with extensive dark suffusion dorsally [hind femur dark]; tibia brown; abdomen black with brown pubescence, silver velutum absent.

Description.

Body length= 8.0 mm. Head. Frons wider than ocellar tubercle, profile rounded above antenna, glabrous or with minute setae, surface texture smooth; face broadly rounded, expansive, with dark or pale setae; gena with pale setae; parafacial glabrous; mouthparts elongate, projecting anteriorly; palpus brown-black, narrowly cylindrical; occiput glabrous, glossy black; antennal base flat; frons roughly level with eye in profile; antennal length approximately equal to head; scape yellow-brown, shorter than flagellum, scape with sparse black setae; flagellum black, base of flagellum without setae. Thorax. Scutum uniform grey-black with diffuse brown and cream stripes; scutellum overlain with dense, matt-black pubescence; pleuron black, overlain with sparse silver-grey pubescence; wing markings dark banded infuscate; haltere knob white, dark basally; coxae yellow; hind femur dark, rest yellow with extensive dark suffusion dorsally; tibia and tarsi brown, fore-basitarsus white. Scutal chaetotaxy: np, 4; sa, 1; pa, 1; dc, 2; sc, 1. Abdomen. Black with brown pubescence, silver velutum absent; terminalia dark.

Comments.

Acupalpa westralica sp. n. is known only from the holotype female from southern Western Australia. This species superficially resembles Acupalpa rostrata in colouration, but the head shape suggests a close relationship to Acupalpa notomelas sp. n.

Etymology.

The specific epithet is derived from the western distribution of this species.