Micropeza soosi Ozerov, 1991

Kim, Wonwoong, Weele, Ruud Van Der & Lee, Seunghwan, 2022, New records of Micropezidae (Diptera, Acalyptratae) from South Korea, with description of a new species of Rainieria Rondani, Zootaxa 5178 (1), pp. 26-40 : 27-28

Micropeza soosi Ozerov, 1991

( Figures 1A–B , 4C–D , 7B, 7D , 8A )

Micropeza (Protylos) soosi Ozerov, 1991: 7 (sp. nov.)

Micropeza (Soosomyza) soosi Ozerov, 1997: 2 (cat.)

Micropeza soosi Ozerov, 2008: 434 (diag.)

Diagnosis. Recognized by its small body size (5.4–5.7mm); overall body coloration black; strong inner vertical, outer vertical, and postocellar bristles present; legs dull orange, except apical half of fore femora gradually transitioning into black; fore tibia black, apical tip of femora / basal and apical tip of tibia black in middle and hind legs; tarsus uniformly black in all legs, coxae creamy white; wing uniformly light gray; halters cream-white; sternites and tergites dark brown, epandrium black; pleural membrane of both sex light brown, with dark brown patch under each T 2–4 in males and T 2–5 in females ( Fig. 1A–B ); male genital fork (S5) with elongated narrow arms, strong suberect black setae present on the outer margin of each arm ( Fig. 7D ); epandrium shape as in ( Fig. 7B ); female ovipositor black with apex transitioning into yellow.

Material examined. South Korea: Gangwon-do: 1♂, Hoengseong-gun, Anheung-myeon, Bonghwa-ro , 800, (37°27'27.4"N, 128°08'42.6"E), 04.vi.2021, coll. Wonwoong Kim ( SNUM) ; 1♀, Pyeongchang-gun, Bongpyeongmyeon, Heungjeonggyegok-gil , 120-12, (37°37'53.2"N 128°21'03.9"E), 04.vi.2021, coll. Jae Seok Oh ( SNUM) ; 1♂, 2♀, Hoengseong-gun, Anheung-myeon, Bonghwa-ro , 800, (37°27'27.4"N, 128°08'42.6"E), 15.vi.2020, coll. Wonwoong Kim ( LEMQ) ; 1♀, same locality, 18.vi.2020, coll. Wonwoong Kim ( LEMQ) .

Distribution. South Korea * (Gangwon-do), Russia (Far East: Amur Oblast, Primorsky Krai)

Biology. Small groups displaying territorial behaviors were observed on a leaf of Persicaria thunbergii (Siebold & Zucc.) (Polygonaceae) and other low foliage at a shaded forest rim. One female was observed taking out its telescopic ovipositor while perching on the leaves of Robinia pseudoacasia L. ( Fabaceae ), but further observation is needed to confirm its oviposition preference.

Remarks. Ozerov (1997) proposed the subgenus Soosomyza to accommodate Palearctic species M. tibetana (Hennig, 1937) , M. pilifemur Soós, 1975 , and M. soosi Ozerov, 1991 . According to Marshall (2010), the subgeneric classification of this genus is not fully known and thus the subgenus name is not included here.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Korean Micropezidae species, live individuals. A, Micropeza soosi, female, on a forest edge; B, ditto, male, on a plastic surface; C, Rainieria triseta, female; D, Mimegralla suzukiana, female [Figures C–D provided by Sangsu Kim]

FIGURE 4. Lateral habitus of Korean Micropezidae species. A, Compsobata dentigera, male; B, ditto, female; C, Micropeza soosi, male; D, ditto, female; E, Mimegralla suzukiana, female.

FIGURE 7. Male genitalic structures of Korean Micropezidae species. A, Compsobata dentigera, male terminalia; B, Micropeza soosi, male terminalia; C, Compsobata dentigera, male sternite V; D, Micropeza soosi, male sternite V.

FIGURE 8. Wings of Korean Micropezidae species. A, Micropeza soosi; B, Compsobata dentigera; C, Rainieria triseta; D, Rainieria tenebrosa; E, Mimegralla suzukiana.