Acraspisoides monticola, Winterton, Shaun L., 2007

Winterton, Shaun L., 2007, New species of Acraspisoides Hill & Winterton and Bonjeania Irwin & Lyneborg (Diptera: Therevidae: Agapophytinae), with the description of a new genus, Zootaxa 1438, pp. 1-25 : 3-4

Acraspisoides monticola sp. nov.

Holotype female, AUSTRALIA: NEW SOUTH WALES: Kosciuszko NP, 1.7 km ENE Thredbo, Malaise over narrow stream in wide grassy creek bed, 2–11.i.2004, 1380m, C.L. Lambkin, N.T. Starick, 36°30’07”S, 148°19’02”E (MEI 165147) ( ANIC).

Paratypes, AUSTRALIA: NEW SOUTH WALES: female, same data as holotype (MEI 165148) ( QDPI). QUEENSLAND: female, Mt. Glorious, Aug.–Sept. 1996, 27 °20.08’S, 152 °46.05’E, 650 m, S.L. Winterton, Malaise (MEI 165149) ( QDPI).

Diagnosis. Thorax uniform yellow or with dark suffusion on scutum; abdomen yellow to black, basal segments yellow at least laterally, segment 6 always black; terminalia yellow.

Description. Female Body length: 7.5–10.0 mm.

Head. Dark, overlain with dense, grey pubescence; longer than high in profile; frons flat or slightly convex, much wider than ocellar tubercle at narrowest point, antennae positioned low on frons; frons and face projecting anteroventrally; frontal pubescence admixed with sparsely distributed, short, dark setae; ocellar tubercle flattened; occiput convex, black, overlain with grey pubescence; multiple rows of black postocular setae; gena with long, pale setae ventrally; palp and labellum dark yellow with scattered dark setae; antenna yellow, shorter than head; dark setae of various lengths on scape and pedicel, lacking on medial surface; flagellum ovate, longer than scape and pedicel length combined.

Thorax. Dark yellow to yellow-brown, glossy; scutum sometimes with dark suffusion, overlain with sparse, grey pubescence admixed with numerous short, dark setae; scutellum covered with dense, matte black pubescence on anterior surface, yellow around margin and on posterior surface; scutal macrosetae (bristles) black; pleuron, sternum and coxae dark yellow to light brown, glossy; distinct longitudinal stripe of silver velutum on proepisternum, katepisternum, katepimeron, and meron; short pale setae on proepisternum, katepisternum, anepisternum and coxae; setae on katatergite pale, sometimes admixed with dark setae; legs light to dark brown, dark brown on posterior surface of fore and hind femora; hind tibia dark brown; wing hyaline with distinct black banding pattern; venation dark; haltere stem black, knob white; scutal chaetotaxy (pairs): notopleural (np), 3; supra-alar (sa), 1; postalar (pa), 1; dorsocentral (dc), 1–2; scutellar (sc), 1.

Abdomen. Glossy yellow to black-brown; always yellow laterally on segments 1–4; segment 6 always dark brown to black; scattered dark setae on each segment, terminalia yellow.

Genitalia. Not dissected. Similar externally to females of A. helviarta .

Male. Unknown

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from Latin: montis, mountain, and - cola, dweller, referring to collections of this species only in montane areas.

Comments. Acraspisoides monticola sp. nov. is known only from female specimens from montane localities in New South Wales and Queensland. This species is distinctive by its dark yellow and black body colouration.