Acomoptera vockerothi, Kerr, Peter H., 2011

Kerr, Peter H., 2011, Six new species of Acomoptera from North America (Diptera, Mycetophilidae), ZooKeys 137, pp. 41-76 : 65-67

Acomoptera vockerothi sp. n. Figs 2426

Type Material.

Holotype: ♂, "Can: Manitoba, 2mi., ne. Treesbank, along, Souris R. 11.viii.1993, 49°40'N, 99°36'W, B. Gallaway MT" / "HOLOTYPE 11G627 ♂ Acomoptera vockerothi Kerr 2011" [red label]. Deposited in CNC, complete specimen in excellent condition, glued directly to the pin.

Paratypes: CANADA: 1 ♂, same data as holotype [CNC]; 4 ♂♂, "Ont., Iroquois Falls, 30.vi.1987, J.R. Vockeroth" [48.768°, -80.673°; CNC]; 1 ♂, "Ont., Iroquois Falls, 7.vii.1987, J.R. Vockeroth / 11G495" [48.768°, -80.673°; CNC]; 1 ♂, "N.Burgess Twp., Lanark Co., ONT., 7.ix.1970, D.M. Wood" [45.010°, -76.359°; CNC]; 1 ♂, "Thwartway Island, St. Lawrence Is. National Park / A. Carter, Aug 27, 1976, Malaise Trap, Code 4529-G" [44.294°, -76.150°; CNC]; 1 ♂, "King Mt., Old Chelsea, QUE., June 16-1960, J.G. Chillcott" [45.489°, -75.864°; CNC]; 1 ♂, "Duncan Lake, Nr. Rupert, Que., 1.IX.1971, J.F.McAlpine" [54.690°, -75.989°; CNC]; 1 ♂, "N.S., CBHNt.Pk., Mackenzie Mt., 300m PG645851, 29.VIII.1983 / Picea Betula woods" [46.738°, -60.650°; CNC]; 1 ♂, "N.S., CBHNt.Pk., Lone Shieling, 300m PG731861, 21.VIII.1983 / Maple forest with fern undergrowth, J.R. Vockeroth" [46.738°, -60.650°; CNC]; 1 ♂, "N.S., S. Harbour, Bch. PG962943, 12.VIII.1983, J.R. Vockeroth" [46.866°, -60.468°; CNC]; USA: 1 ♂, "Laurel, MD., 25 May 65, Malaise Trap / 11G482" [39.099°, -76.359°; CNC]; 3 ♂♂, "Laurel, MD., 26 May 65, Malaise Trap" [39.099°, -76.359°; CNC]; 1 ♂, "Highlands, Macon Co., N.C. 3850', 35°3.2'N, 83°11.3'W, June 21, 1958, Jean L. Laffoon" [ISUI]; 1 ♂, "Highlands, Macon Co., N.C. 3850', 35°3.2'N, 83°11.3'W, at light, VII-5-1958, Jean L. Laffoon" [ISUI]; 1 ♂, "Clear Creek, 1 mile so. Highlands, Macon Co., No. Car. 3000', 35°1.5'N, 83°11.5'W, VII-1-1958, J. Laffoon" [ISUI]; 2 ♂♂, "Robin Branch (near Wayah Bald), 4000', Macon Co., No. Car., 35°10.1'N, 83°35.1'W, VII-3-1958, J. Laffoon" [ISUI].

Diagnosis.

This species is most similar to Acomoptera crispa sp. n. in having similarly-shaped gonostyli that feature a line of long, curved setae near the dorsal margin, as mentioned above. The gonocoxites of Acomoptera vockerothi bears a posteromedial denticulate ridge ventrally, however (Figs 25B, 26B). It is also distinguished by having a short, unforked ventromedial gonostylus lobe (Fig. 26E) and the outer dorsal lobe is broadly attached dorsally (Figs 25, 26 A–B, 26 D–E).

Description.

Male. Body length (n=10): 4.6-6.3 mm (avg = 5.6 mm). Wing length: 4.5-5.3 mm (avg = 5.0 mm).

Coloration (Fig. 24). Head brown; palpomeres yellow to yellowish brown. Antennal scape, pedicel, and flagellomeres yellow to yellowish brown, flagellomeres darker than scape and pedicel. Thorax cream-colored to yellowish or light brown; area of scutum bearing acrostichal and dorsocentral setae defined by darker coloration, scutum setae gold- or golden brown-colored. Legs becoming increasingly brown towards tarsi, coxae yellowish or cream-colored; femur yellowish, tibia yellowish brown, tarsi brown. Wing hyaline without markings, wing veins brown; haltere stem and knob yellow to light yellowish brown. Abdominal segments concolorous, yellowish brown to brown, with scattered yellow or golden brown setae. Terminalia yellowish brown.

Head. Ocelli slightly raised; middle ocellus approx. same size as lateral ocelli; lateral ocellus located approx. width of ocellus or less from eye margin, separated from median ocellus by approx. twice its own diameter. Eyes with sparse, inconspicuous microsetae, which are approximately as long as width of facet. Face with brown setae, longest of which approx. same length as width of face. Antennal length approx. 0.8 × length of abdomen. Palpus approx. 1.0 –1.25× width of head (anterior view); length of palpomeres 2 and 3 subequal; palpomere 4 approx. 4.5 × longer than wide; palpomere 5 approx. 10 × longer than wide, subequal to or longer than combined length of palpomeres 3 and 4.

Thorax. Antepronotum bearing setae; remaining thoracic sclerites bare. Wing venation similar to others in the genus ( Vockeroth 1980: fig. 3); costal vein extends beyond R5, approx. 0.33 × distance between R5 and M1; R1, R5, M1, and M2 with at least some setae on lower surface.

Male Genitalia (Figs 25-26). Epandrium approx. 3 × wider than long. Gonocoxites with dorsomedial comb (Figs 26A). Gonostylus complex, as shown in Figs 25, 26 A–B, 25 D–E.

Female unknown.

Etymology.

The species is named after J.R. Vockeroth, a remarkably friendly and engaging person, legendary figure in the history of Dipterology, author of the genus, and frequent collector of this species.