Protomiltogramma nigrisensa, Johnston & Wallman & Szpila & Pape, 2021

Johnston, Nikolas P., Wallman, James F., Szpila, Krzysztof & Pape, Thomas, 2021, Integrative taxonomy reveals remarkable diversity in Australian Protomiltogramma (Diptera: Sarcophagidae), Zootaxa 5043 (1), pp. 1-104 : 20-22

Protomiltogramma nigrisensa sp. n.

( Figs 8 , 15I–L )

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other Australian Protomiltogramma through the combination of: dark brown/black ground colour of 1st flagellomere (particularly laterally) and pale yellow/white microtomentum on fronto-orbital and parafacial plates.

Type material. Holotype ♂: Mitchell River , Mount Lindesay National Park, WA 12.xii.2015, N.P. Johnston, J.F. Wallman and K. Szpila ( ANIC).

Paratypes: 7 ♂ ( ANIC) (see Table 2) .

Other material. See Table 2.

Description. Body length: 5–8 mm (n = 4).

Male. Head ( Fig. 8B, D, F ). Frontal vitta orange-brown, 0.18 of head width at height of anterior ocellus; frontoorbital plate with gold microtomentum; 2 proclinate FO setae, a patch of unordered reclinate FO setae, slightly weaker than proclinate FO setae; ocellar setae weaker than reclinate FO setae; 10–12 frontal setae; 3rd aristomere black, thickened on basal 0.75, fine and hairlike on distal 0.25, equal in length to 1st flagellomere; 1st flagellomere black and 2.5x of pedicel length; pedicel setose, with a single strong seta and multiple weak setulae; scape without setae; parafacial plate with white microtomentum, as wide as 0.75 of distance between antennal insertion and eye margin; gena and postgena grey with black setae; genal groove and facial ridge slightly darker than parafacial plate; vibrissa located midway between tip of 1st flagellomere and lower facial margin; 1–2 supra-vibrissal setae.

Thorax ( Fig. 8A, C ). Dorsum dark grey with silver microtomentum; a major median, two major lateral and two minor lateral stripes (mediad to major lateral stripes and approximately half their width), major lateral stripes ending just before anterior margin of scutellum, minor lateral stripes ending just posterior to suture; scutellum with less pronounced microtomentum and some darkening on lateral margins; notopleuron with two strong setae; proepisternum bare; katepisternal setae 1+2–3 (with posterior katepisternal setae as an unordered patch), numerous weaker setae covering entire katepisternum. Wing: some specimens with weak fumosity on basal 0.25; dorsal surface of vein R 1 bare, R 4+5 with a patch of setae basally. Legs: black; fore-tarsal claws slightly shorter than tarsomere 5; pulvilli 0.75 of tarsal claw length; mid tibia with 1 AD, 1 PD, 2 P and 1 V setae.

Abdomen ( Fig. 8A, C, E ). Black with silver microtomentum on anterior margins of T3–5 (occupying approximately 0.25 of each tergite); median stripe absent; microtomentum variable depending on viewing angle, when viewed dorso-laterally distinct median spots are visible on T3 and T4; setae on entire posterior margin of T3, T4 and T5; backward and up-curved setae on T5 absent. Terminalia ( Fig. 15I–L ): cercus (lateral view) broad at base, narrowing slightly distally, distal 0.25 weakly hook-shaped, dorsal surface with only few dispersed setae; cerci (posterior view) elongated triangle-shaped, fused along basal 0.6 and separate on distal 0.4; surstylus (lateral view) 0.75 of cercus length, tapered to a single point; surstyli (posterior view) curved inwards towards cerci; acrophallus thin and needle-like, equal in length to cercus.

Female. As male.

Etymology. The species epithet “ nigrisensa ” [from the Latin nigri meaning ‘black’ and sensorium meaning ‘an organ of sensation’], which should be treated as a noun in apposition, refers to the characteristic dark brown/black antennae of this species.

Biology. Females were observed close to the nests of unknown species of Bembix ( Hymenoptera : Sphecidae ), whereas males were collected while perching on sticks and rocks on loose sandy trails.

Distribution. Australasia— Australia (QLD, WA).

Figures

FIGURE 8. Protomiltogramma nigrisensa sp. n., paratype, male, Watheroo National Park, NT, 12.xii.2015, N.P. Johnston, J.F. Wallman and K. Szpila (ANIC). A. Habitus, lateral view. B. Head, lateral view. C. Habitus, dorsal view. D. Head, dorsal view. E. Abdomen, dorsal view. F. Head anterior view. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURE 15. Protomiltogramma spp., male terminalia. A–D. Protomiltogramma kapnos sp. n. E–H. Protomiltogramma laticeps Malloch. I–L. Protomiltogramma nigrisensa sp. n. M–P. Protomiltogramma nigriseta (Baranov). Abbreviations: c = cercus, s = surstylus and p = acrophallus. Scale bars = 100 µm.