Protomiltogramma kapnos, 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 : 15-18

Protomiltogramma kapnos sp. n.

( Figs 6 , 15A–D )

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other Australian Protomiltogramma through the combination of: entirely orangebrown arista, abdomen with orange/red brown patches laterally on T1+2 and T3 and presence of dull silver/grey microtomentum covering 80% of T1+2–5 (microtomentum highly variable with light angle).

Type material. Holotype ♂: Lost City , Litchfield National Park, NT, Australia, 10.xi.2017, N.P. Johnston, J.F. Wallman and K. Szpila ( ANIC).

Paratypes: 3 ♂ ANIC, 1 ♂ QM (see Table 2).

Other material. See Table 2.

Description. Male. Body length: 5–7 mm (n = 5).

Head ( Fig. 6B, D, F ). Frontal vitta orange-brown, 0.2 of head width at height of anterior ocellus; fronto-orbital plate with white microtomentum; 2 proclinate FO setae and a patch of unordered, weak reclinate FO setae; ocellar setae weaker than reclinate FO setae; 13 frontal setae; 3rd aristomere orange-brown, thickened on basal 0.75, thin on distal 0.25, equal in length to 1st flagellomere; 1st flagellomere orange-brown and 2x the length of the pedicel; pedicel setose, with two strong setae; scape without setae; parafacial plate with white microtomentum, narrower than maximum width between point of antennal insertion and eye margin; gena and postgena grey with black and white setae; genal groove and facial ridge slightly darker than parafacial plate; vibrissa located midway between tip of 1st flagellomere and lower facial margin; 2 supra-vibrissal setae; parafacial plate with white setulae on entire surface.

Thorax ( Fig. 6A, C ). Dorsum with silver microtomentum in anterior 0.25, otherwise dark grey; a 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 scutellum, median stripe ending just posterior to suture, minor lateral stripes ending just posterior to suture; scutellum with darkening on lateral margins; notopleuron with two distinct strong setae; proepisternum bare; katepisternal setae 1+3, numerous weaker setae covering entire katepisternum. Legs: black; fore-tarsal claws slightly shorter than tarsomere 5; pulvilli 0.5 length of tarsal claws; mid tibia with 1 AD, 2 P and 1 V setae. Wing: hyaline; dorsal surface of vein R 1 bare, R 4+5 with a small patch of setae basally.

Abdomen ( Fig. 6A, C, E ). Black with dull silver microtomentum on anterior margins of T3–5 (occupying approximately 0.8 of each tergite), microtomentum highly variable with viewing angle; lateral patches of orangebrown present on T1+2–3; median stripe absent; backward and up-curved setae present on T5 and weakly developed; marginal setae present along entire posterior margins of T4–5. Terminalia ( Fig. 15A–D ): cercus (lateral view) straight, dorsal surface weakly setose; cerci (posterior view) elongated (distance from apex to base 5x maximum cercus width) and tapered, fused on basal 0.25 then separate on distal 0.75; surstylus (lateral view) equal to cercus length, with a single lobe curving posteriorly towards cercus; surstyli (posterior view) curved slightly inwards towards cerci; acrophallus thin, needle-like and 0.3 of length of cercus from base to tip.

Female. Unknown.

Etymology. The species epithet “ kapnos ” [Greek for ‘sooty’ or ‘smoky’], which should be treated as a noun in apposition, refers to extensive dull grey microtomentum covering the entire abdomen of this species.

Biology. Males were collected while perching on sticks and rocks on loose sandy trails. Males were also collected on sandy riverbanks, particularly near the interface of the sand and water.

Distribution. Australasia— Australia (NT, QLD, WA).

Figures

FIGURE 6. Protomiltogramma kapnos sp. n., paratype, male, Leyburn, QLD, 7.xi.1993, G. Daniels and A. Daniels (QM). 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.