Edenophorus spinosus, Sinclair, 2002

Sinclair, Bradley J., 2002, Revision of the South African endemic genus Edenophorus Smith (Diptera: Empididae), African Invertebrates 43, pp. 109-122 : 119

Edenophorus spinosus sp. n.

( Fig. 2 )

Etymology: Named in reference to the stout postpronotal bristles.

Holotype female labelled: SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape: ‘ Pakhuis Pass, 950m / Clanwilliam District / South-West Cape / 17–19 October 1964 / B & P Stuckenberg [all caps]’ ( NMSA).

Recognition: This species is distinguished by the long proboscis (ca 1.5 times height of head), four postpronotal bristles, and presence of cell dm.

Description:

Female:

Head: Eyes widely separated above antennae; facets not enlarged; face bare; 4 pairs of setulae on frons, upper-most longest. Antenna with basal antennal segments nearly concolorous with postpedicel; scape short, pedicel globular and longer than scape; postpedicel conical, clothed in fine pubescence, greater than twice length of pedicel, gradually tapered to style, which is slightly longer than pedicel. Stout occipital setae in single arching outer row. Proboscis ( Fig. 2 ) dark brown, at least 1.5 times height of head; palpus one-quarter length of proboscis, slender, bearing long, pale setae.

Thorax: Greyish brown, dusted with grey pruinescence, except anterior margin of scutum bare, shiny with narrow median pruinescent stripe. Thoracic setae generally short and stout, reduced to numerous rows: Acr biserial; at least 12 dc, uniserial, gradually increasing in length posteriorly with prescutellar dc stout, similar to pprn; inter-alar setulae shorter than dc extending to wing base; 4 pprn (lower 3 directed forward, upper 1 directed dorsally) and several short setulae; 1 ph; 3 npl, posterior bristle short; 1 pal; 4 sctl, inner pair stronger, twice length of outer. Antepronotum with 1 pair of short, stout setae. Upper half of anepisternum with several greyish setulae; precoxal bridge with 1–2 stout setae above fore coxa.

Legs: Fore coxa yellow, mid and hind coxae yellowish brown; remaining segments brownish yellow. Fore coxa with several pale lateral setae, slightly shorter than width of coxa; remaining segments clothed in fine setulae, lacking modified setae.

Wings (length 2.7 mm): Stigma faint. Venation similar to E. knysna ; cell dm present. Halter yellowish brown.

Abdomen: Brown, bearing short, pale setae; apex truncate.

Terminalia (undissected): cercus short, slightly longer than wide.

Male: Unknown.

Remarks: Again, as in E. nigricans , it is not usually recommended to base new species of empidids upon female specimens alone. However, the presence of four postpronotal bristles and the greatly lengthened proboscis appear unique among species of this genus, and are likely not to be sexually dimorphic features.

Figures

Figs 2–7. Edenophorus characters. 2. E. spinosus sp. n., head. 3. E. hiemalis sp. n., antenna. 4. E. knysna Smith, wing. 5. E. hiemalis sp. n., wing. 6–7. E. irwini sp. n., male terminalia. 6. Lateral view. 7. Posterior view. Scale bar = 0.1 mm, except Figs 2, 4, 5, where scale bar = 0.5 mm. [Abbreviations: cerc = cercus; ej apod = ejaculatory apodeme; epand = epandrium; epand lb = epandrial lobe; goncx apod = gonocoxal apodeme; pgt = postgonite; ph = phallus; sp ch = sperm chamber.]