Lispe weschei Malloch

Pont, Adrian C., 2019, Studies on the Australian Muscidae (Diptera). VIII. The genus Lispe Latreille, 1797, Zootaxa 4557 (1), pp. 1-232 : 150-155

Lispe weschei Malloch

( Figs 317–325 )

Lispa weschei Malloch, 1922: 389 .

Lispa weschei .— Malloch, 1923: 609; Malloch, 1925a: 334, 335; Lee, Crust & Sabrosky, 1956: 340.

Lispe weschei .— Séguy, 1937: 186; Pont, 1989: 693.

Type-material. The holotype ♂, from Port Melbourne, is in ANIC and has been examined in the course of this revision. It is in excellent condition. It is labelled as type by Malloch.

Diagnosis. This species, together with L. assimilis and L. xenochaeta , differs from other Australian Lispe by the slight forward curvature of vein M towards vein R4+5 ( Fig. 306 ). L. weschei differs from both L. assimilis and L. xenochaeta by the presence of a conspicous ad seta on fore tibia.

Material Examined. AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: King Rock, xi.1968, 2 ♀ ( QMBA); Newman Rock, 23 miles E by S of Fraser Range HS, 13.x.1968, Britton, Upton & Balderson, 1♀ ( ANIC); 10 miles E of Rabbit Free Fence, xi.1968, 1 ♀ ( QMBA). Northern Territory: 22 miles S of Alice Springs, 15.ii.1966, Britton, Upton & McInnes, 1♂ 1♀ ( ANIC); Avon Downs, on blossom, 10.iv.1976, D.H. Colless, 1♀ ( ANIC). Queensland: Amiens, 14.xii.1969, C.F. Ashby, 1♂ ( ANIC); Boggomoss, Taroom district, 25.27S, 150.02E, at light, 12.xi.1996, C.J. Burwell & S. Evans, 1♂ ( QMBA); Bohle River, Bruce Hwy, 7 miles W of Townsville, edge of lagoon, 30.xi & 21.xii.1969, P. Ferrar, 2♀ ( ANIC); 25 km NW by N of Boulia, at light, 8.iv.1976, D.H. Colless, 1♂ 1♀ ( ANIC); 4 km E of Camooweal, 12.v.1973, M.S. Upton & R.S. McInnes, 1♀ ( ANIC); Charleville, 7.iv.1976, D.H. Colless, 1♂ 1♀ ( ANIC); 15 km S of Charleville, 6.iv.1976, D.H. Colless, 5♂ 2♀ ( ANIC) ( BMNH); Cloncurry River, 17.vi.1976, J. Donaldson, 1♀ ( QDPC); Darr River, 31 km NW by N of Longreach, at light, 7.iv.1976, D.H. Colless, 1♀ ( ANIC); Emerald, Malaise trap, 6–18.ix.1982, D.A.H. Murray, 1♀ ( QDPC); Holts Creek, 8 km NE Musselbrook Resource Centre, Lawn Hill Nat. Park, 150 m, 18.32.32S, 138.11.05E, 10.v.1995, G. Daniels & M.A. Schneider, 1♀ ( QMBA); DPI Indooroopilly site, Malaise trap, 5–12.xii.1984, 1♀ ( QDPC); Lake Broadwater, near Dalby, 27.21S, 151.06E, 2.v.1987, G. & A. Daniels, 1♂ ( QMBA); the same, 30.i.1987, 1♀ ( QMBA); Lake Broadwater, via Dalby, m. v. light , 9.xii.1987, D.K. Yeates, 1♂ 5♀ ( QMBA, 1♀ OUMNH); Lake Dynevor, light trap, 3.iii.1963, Dyce & Murray, 1♀ ( ANIC); 5 km north of Leyburn, 27.58S 151.38E, m. v. lamp , 25.xii.1987, G. & A. Daniels, 4♀ ( QMBA); Longreach, lagoon on wet mud, 14.xii.1971, P. Ferrar, 2♀ ( ANIC); 66 km NW of Mt Isa, at light, 9.iv.1976, D.H. Colless, 3♂ ( ANIC); Mt. Moffat N.P., Top Moffat Camp, 13.xii.1987, m.v. lam-ight, D.K. Yeates, 2♀ ( QMBA); Mungallala, 15.vi.1976, J. Donaldson, 1♀ ( QDPC); Surat, 14.vi.1976, J. Donaldson, 2♀ ( QDPC). New South Wales: 6.8 km N of Bellata, 13.xii.1974, Z. Liepa, 2♀ ( ANIC); 23 km SE by S of Byrock, at light, 5.iv.1976, D.H. Colless, 5♂ 3♀ ( ANIC, BMNH); same locality, 8.v.1973, M.S. Upton & R.S. McInnes, 1♂ 2♀ ( ANIC); "Calumet", 26 miles NE of Binnaway, xi.1931, A. Musgrave, 1♀ ( AMS); Castlereagh R., Mendooran, 24.iii.1971, D.K. McAlpine, 1♂ ( AMS); Condobolin, 27.xii.1976, Z. Liepa, 1♀ ( ANIC); Coocoran Lake, Lightening Ridge, 18.x.1984, K. Khoo, 1♀ ( AMS); 4 miles N of Dubbo, 25.iii.1971, D.K. McAlpine, 1♀ ( AMS); 12 km SW Ebor, m. v. light , 12.xii.1984, D.K. Yeates, 1♀ ( QMBA); 2.4 km NE of Eugowra, 24.iv.1971, Z. Liepa, 1♀ ( ANIC); Gibraltar Range Nat. Park, m. v. lamp , 15.xii.1984, D.K. Yeates, 1♀ ( QMBA); Gilmore Creek, Tumut, 23.xii.1973, Z. Liepa, 2♂ 1♀ ( ANIC); Goodooga, 22.x.1984, K.C. Khoo, 1♀ ( AMS); Goonoo Forest, 5 miles S Mendooran, m. v. lamp , 27.iii.1971, G. & A. Daniels, 1♂ 7♀ AMS, 1♀ QMBA & 1♀ BMNH; same locality, 23– 24.iii.1971, D.K. McAlpine, 1♂ 4♀ ( AMS) ; Goonoo State Forest , 31.54S, 148.57E, Malaise trap, 12–14.i.1994, M.E. Irwin & D.K. Yeates, 1♀ ( QMBA) ; Gunnodah , 26.xii.1964, M.I. Nikitin, 1♂ ( BMNH) ; Inverell , 4.iii.1926, E.W. Ferguson, 1♀ ( ANIC) ; Mendooran , 30.i.1971, G. Daniels, 2♀ ( AMS) ; 5 miles S of Mendooran , m. v. lamp , 23.iv.1973, G. Daniels, 1♂ ( AMS) ; same locality, 4.ix.1976, G. Daniels, 3♀ ( AMS) ; Moree , 20.ii.1918, W.W. Froggatt, 1♂ ( ANIC) ; Myalla Tank , 49 km E by N of Broken Hill, 31.50S 141.57E, 3.xii.1981, J.C. Cardale & I.D. Naumann, 1♀ ( ANIC) ; Myngan , no date, J.W.T. Armstrong, 2♂ ( ANIC) ; Salt Caves Dam, Pilliga SP, m. v. lamp , 8– 9.x.1988, R. de Keyzer & K.C. Khoo, 1♀ ( AMS) ; Shoalhaven River, Braidwood Road , 4.x.1973, Z. Liepa, 1♀ ( ANIC) ; Tumut River , 12.8 km SE of Gundagai, 24.xii.1973, Z. Liepa, 1♂ ( ANIC) ; 40 km N of Walgett , 19.vi.1976, Z. Liepa, 5♂ 10♀ ( ANIC, BMNH) ; Wallaroi Creek , 15 km S of Condobolin, 27.xii.1976, Z. Liepa, 1♀ ( ANIC) ; Wentworth to Pooncarie , 15–17.iv.1951, A.L. Dyce, 1♀ ( ANIC) . Australian Capital Territory: Black Mtn , light trap, 17.i.1962, 22.i.1965, 3.ii.1966, 19.ii.1965, 4.iii.1968, 17.iii.1965, 7.iv.1965, 25.xi.1959, 29.xi.1967, 1.xii.1964, 1.xii.1966, 4.xii.1967, 7.xii.1967, 8.xii.1961, 13.xii.1966, 19.xii.1959, 28.xii.1966, all I.F.B. Common, 8♂ 11♀ ( ANIC, BMNH) . Victoria: Cobram , 24.xii.1966, Z. Liepa, 4♀ ( ANIC, BMNH) ; Kerang , 15.vi.1946, R.T., 1♂ ( MV) ; Little Dessert , 5 miles S of Kiata, 12.ii.1956, I.F.B. Common, 1♂ ( ANIC) ; Mooroopna , 1.i.1924, 1♀ ( USNM) ; Port Melbourne , 10.xii.1906, W. Wesché, ♂ holotype ( ANIC) ; Pyramid Creek, 10 miles SE of Kerang, 25.xii.1966, Z. Liepa, 1♀ ( ANIC). South Australia: Koonchera Dune near Koonchera Waterhole , 26.41S, 139.30E, 2.ix.1997, J. & A. Skevington; Mt Eba, N of E/W line, viii, Campbell, 1♀ ( USNM) .

Description ♂ ♀. Head (profile as in L. assimilis , Fig. 304 ). Ground-colour black. Frons at broadest point 0.43 (♂) or 0.46 (♀), at lunula 0.38 (♂) or 0.4 (♀), of maximum head-width (frontal view). Fronto-orbital plate yellowish-white pruinose, more brownish above; parafacial, face, gena and most of occiput silvery pruinose, usually tinged with yellow in ♀. Frontal triangle narrow, dull brownish-grey. Parafacial moderate, almost (♂) or equally (♀) as broad as postpedicel; setulae in several rows. Antenna black, except tip of pedicel which is orange; postpedicel 2.9 (♂) or 2.5 (♀) times as long as broad, falling short of mouth-margin by 0.4 of its length. Arista short-plumose, the hairing at widest point 1.1 times width of postpedicel. Vibrissa strong. Gena moderate, 0.17 of vertical eye-length; genal setae strong, sparse. Palpus yellow, greatly swollen in apical half (as in L. assimilis , Fig. 305 ).

Thorax. Ground-colour black. Scutum and scutellum yellowish-grey dusted, pleura more grey. Scutum with weakly marked but distinct brown vittae as follows: a median vitta running from neck to scutellum and sometimes encroaching weakly on to scutellum; a pair of narrow vittae along the line of the dc setae; a pair of patches running across prst ia and prst sa; a pair of post vittae running along the line of the ia. Anterior spiracle yellowish. Acr setulae in 6 irregular rows at suture. Dc 2+4, prst and anterior 2 post setae short and at most 3 times as long as a ground-setula, sometimes longer in ♀. 2 pprn. 1+2 ia, all short and fine, 2–3 times as long as a ground-setula in ♂, sometimes second post seta well-developed, all rather longer and stronger in ♀. 1+1 sa, both strong. 1 strong and 1 weaker proepisternal setae. 1 strong proepimeral, equal to the strong proepisternal, with 2 adjacent setulae. Anepisternum with 1 short seta in upper anterior corner; posterior row with 3 strong and 3 weak setae. 3 strong kepst, lower one closer to posterior than to anterior seta. Meron bare. Scutellum with disc densely setulose, with 1 row of setulae descending on to sides; ventral surface bare.

Legs. Coxae, trochanters, femora (except knees) and tarsi black; tibiae yellow, darkened towards tips, especially fore tibia. Fore coxa in ♂ with many long fine straggly and curled setae on postero-apical edge, and also with similar but shorter setae along antero-apical edge ( Fig. 317 ). Fore femur without av setae or spinules; pv row complete, the setae sparse but longer than femoral depth, especially in ♂; pd row complete. Fore tibia with 1 submedian pv seta, and at about same level with an ad; with d, p and pv apical setae, also with an av in ♀. Fore tarsomeres without modifications. Mid femur in ♂ with long fine curled setae on av to pv surfaces in basal half, much longer than femoral depth, continued only as setulae in apical half, some similar setae also present on trochanter and postero-apical edge of coxa; with only short setulae in ♀; 1 a at middle; 2 p preapicals. Mid tibia with 1 submedian seta, more pv than p in position; with strong d, av, pv and p apicals, and weaker ad and pd apicals, the pd also strong in ♀. Mid tarsomeres without modifications. Hind coxa without a seta on posterior apical margin. Hind trochanter in ♂ with long curled setulae below ( Fig. 318 ). Hind femur in ♂ with fine setae in basal third of av and pv surfaces, becoming setulose thereafter, in ♀ without setae on ventral surfaces except for short preapical pv; ad row complete; without pd preapical. Hind tibia of ♂ slightly curved; with 1 ad, 1 av, and 1 pd; d and ad preapical setae present; 1 av but no pv apical. Hind tarsomeres not modified.

Wing. Clear. Tegula brown to orange, basicosta yellow. Crossvein r-m placed below the point where vein R1 enters costa; dm-cu curved, longer than apical section of vein CuA1. Vein M slightly curved forward before apex and converging with vein R4+5 (as in L. assimilis , Fig. 306 ). Calypters creamy (♂) to white (♀), with yellowish (♂) to creamy (♀) margins. Haltere yellow.

Abdomen. Ground-colour black. Dust on tergites grey. In ♂, dorsal areas of tergites with a pattern of large dark quadrate spots (as in L. assimilis , Fig. 307 ), but spots on tergites 3 and 4 coalescing medially, with a smaller or larger grey-dusted indentation on hind-margin, and tergite 5 with the black spot complete, without a dusted indentation posteriorly; in ♀, this dark pattern less extensive, the dark spots on tergites 3 and 4 completely separated, and the mark on tergite 5 with a deep dusted indentation on hind-margin. ♂ epandrium mainly grey dusted. ♀ ovipositor with exposed tergites dusted grey to brownish-grey. Sternites 1–5 grey dusted. Setae weakly developed, the only erect setae being a pair of lateral marginals on tergite 4 (♂) and 2 pairs of marginals on tergite 5. Sternite 2 with a pair of strong setae, otherwise sternites 3–5 with only sparse setulae ( Fig. 319 ).

Ƌ terminalia. Epandrium separated from tergite 5 by syntergosternite 8, which has 2 spiracles. Tergite 6 and sternite 6 absent. Surstylus absent, i.e. fused to epandrium without trace ( Fig. 320 ). Cercal plate deeply divided ventrally ( Fig. 321 ). Hypandrium attached at one point, via an apparent praegonite to lower anterior corner of epandrium. Phallic complex ( Fig. 322 ): hypandrium expanded at posterior end as a V-shaped plate connected to base of phallus; praegonite and postgonite present, the latter simple and curved; phallapodeme long but normal in structure, connected to each side of hypandrium by a bridge; phallus long, tubular, simple, juxta large, covered with coarse teeth; basal part flanked by a number of plates.

♀ ovipositor ( Figs 323–325 ). Tergites 6 and 7 complete; tergite 8 divided dorsally, each half displaced laterally by the large epiproct, without setae. Sternite 6 reduced to two small plates; sternite 7 absent, suppressed by the edges of the very large tergite 7 which almost meet ventrally; sternite 8 represented by 2 small weakly-sclerotised plates. Epiproct large, divided medially, with several setae. Hypoproct large, with only weak spines at apex. Cercus broad, plate-like, connected to the epiproct, with several strong setae. 3 spermathecae.

Measurements. Wing-length, 5.0– 5.5 mm (♂), 4.5–6.5 mm (♀). Body-length, 7.0– 7.5 mm (♂), 6.0–8.0 mm (♀).

Biology. Adults are reported to frequent ponds, alighting on the surface of the water. Otherwise nothing known.

Distribution. Known only from Australia (WA, NT, Q, NSW, ACT, V).

Figures

FIGURES 317–319. Lispe weschei Malloch, ♂. 317. Right fore coxa, anterodorsal view. 318. Hind coxa and hind trochanter, anterior view. 319. Sternites 1–5. (317, 318, ACT, Black Mountain; 319, NSW, 23 km SE by S of Byrock.)

FIGURES 320–322. Lispe weschei Malloch, ♂. 320. Hypopygium, lateral view. 321. Cercal plate, dorsal view. 322. Phallic complex, lateral view. (NSW, 23 km SE by S of Byrock.)

FIGURES 323–325. Lispe weschei Malloch, ♀ ovipositor. 323. Dorsal view. 324. Ventral view. 325. Lateral view. (ACT, Black Mountain.)

FIGURES 304–308. Lispe assimilis Wiedemann. 304. ♂ head, lateral view. 305. ♀ palpus. 306. ♂ wing, apical half. 307. ♂ abdomen, dorsal view. 308. ♂ abdomen, lateral view. (306, NT, 12 miles SW of Alroy Downs; others, NT, Batten Point.)