Schizohelea withersi Szadziewski, Dominiak, Rumišek et Rupp, 2024

Szadziewski, Ryszard, Dominiak, Patrycja, Rumišek, Mario, Neinhuis, Christoph, Wanke, Stefan & Rupp, Thomas, 2024, Predatory midges of the genus Schizohelea Kieffer, 1917 in Europe and North Africa (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), Zootaxa 5514 (2), pp. 169-187 : 179-182

Schizohelea withersi Szadziewski, Dominiak, Rumišek et Rupp , sp. nov.

( Figs. 7d–f , 9 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:86497A70-7EA2-4015-9F31-565A2C1AED60

Diagnosis. Second and first radial cells of similar length. Macrotrichia on wing membrane absent. Male of the species is distinct in having bilobed apex of gonostylus, aedeagus armed with two large, beak-like apicolateral processes, apex of parameres armed with long claw and strong flap, and gonocoxite with lateroventral tubercle in form of two asymmetrical rounded lobes. Female unknown.

Description

Male. Body black, with paler tarsi ( Fig. 7f ). Flagellum not preserved. Eyes with small mictrotrichia between ommatidia. Third palpal segment 0.070 mm long ( Fig. 7d ). Wing length 1.30 mm, costal ratio CR 0.55; first and second radial cells of similar length ( Fig. 7e ). Wing membrane without macrotrichia. Scutellum with 4 strong and 8 short marginal setae. Haltere knob pale with few small setae on apex. Legs slender, hind femur stout ( Fig. 7f ). Hind tibial spur short. Hind tarsomere 1 with a subbasal spine and a single row of palisade setae. Tarsal ratio TR(1) 1.5, TR(2) 2.0, TR(3) 1.7. Genitalia ( Fig. 9 ). Gonocoxite with bilobed and asymmetrical lateroventral expansion, proximal lobe small ( Fig. 9d ). Gonostylus slightly curved, with bilobed apex, 0.7 of gonocoxite length ( Figs. 9b–c ). Parameres stout, apex armed with long claw and a strong flap ( Fig. 9e ). Aedeagus with low basal arch, armed with two large and beak-like apicolateral processes ( Fig. 9f ).

Female unknown.

Type material. Holotype male, France, Provence-Alps-French Riviera , Bois de Bouis near Vidauban, Malaise trap, 20.04.2015, P. Withers leg. ( CEIG).

Etymology. The species is named in honour of our friend the late Phil Withers who collected the holotype in France.

Distribution. France.

Comments. The peculiar shape of aedeagus, parameres and gonostyles in males of S. withersi makes it impossible to confuse this species with any other currently known member of the genus Schizohelea .

Figures

FIGURE 7. Schizohelea clastrieri Szadziewski, Dominiak, Rumišek et Rupp, sp. nov. (a–c) and S. withersi Szadziewski, Dominiak, Rumišek et Rupp, sp. nov. (d–f), males: a—flagellomeres 11–13 of teratological antenna; b, d—maxillary palp; c, e—wing; f—thorax and legs.

FIGURE 9. Schizohelea withersi Szadziewski, Dominiak, Rumišek et Rupp, sp. nov., male genitalia: a—ventral view; b, c—gonostylus; d—gonocoxal expansions; e—parameres; f—aedeagus.