Trichotoca fraterna ( Jaschhof 2001 ) Jaschhof & Jaschhof, 2008

Jaschhof, Mathias & Jaschhof, Catrin, 2008, Catotrichinae (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) in Tasmania, with the description of Trichotoca edentula gen. et sp. n., Zootaxa 1966 (1), pp. 53-61 : 56-57

Trichotoca fraterna ( Jaschhof 2001) comb. n.

( Figs 3 , 4 )

Supplement to the description in Jaschhof 2001 .

Male. Head. Eye-bridge usually complete but in one specimen incomplete, i.e. on vertex with gap as wide as 1 ommatidium. Longest antennal sensory hairs longer than individual flagellomere. Maxillary palpus with basal segment bearing 1–3 setae, apical segment with invagination at apex.

Thorax. Fig. 3A . Mesanepisternum with 0–4 setae. Mesopreepisternum with 2–13 setae. Metanotum setose laterally. Metepisternum with 0–3 setae. Wing. Costal setae between junctions of R5 and M1 more sparse than elsewhere indicating presence of costal break. Legs. Femora, tibiae and tarsi with narrow scales in addition to ordinary setae.

Terminalia. In slide-mounted specimens outline of gonostylus ( Figs 4D–F ) and tegmen apex ( Figs 4A–C ) varying with angle. Sternite 10 barely traceable, very sparsely pubescent.

Female. Terminalia. Fig. 3B . Sternum 8 asetose, largely membranous, with very narrow sclerotized portion longitudinally. Gonocoxite 8 situated beneath tergite 9, large. Gonapophyses 9 forming interior sclerotized fork. Segment 10 small, tergite and sternite fused laterally. Spermathecal capsule globular. Spermathecal ducts ending separately on genital chamber roof.

Variation. CuA1 always joins the longitudinal vein, but its distance to CuA2 is varying. The apical portion of CuA2 is either evenly convex or, mainly in large-sized specimens, sinuous. Male body size varies between 3.0– 4.7 mm.

Distribution and phenology. Distribution on the Australian mainland encompasses New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory (including the type locality, Black Mountain), and Victoria ( Jaschhof 2001 ). Most specimens there were taken between 3 March and 27 June, one female specimen on 31 August. In Tasmania fraterna is known from three sites located in the island´s widely forested western half. All known specimens but two are from Warra, and were collected between 5 March and 19 May, with 31 August and 18 December being the only outliers. Specimens were captured twice by pitfall traps, otherwise by Malaise traps in altitudes between 100– 600 m. On two occasions specimens of both fraterna and edentula were captured by one and the same trap, but it is a striking fact that all known edentula specimens are from an elevation of 100 m or less.

Material studied (on slide). 1 female, Australia, Tasmania, Warra LTER Site, Mt Weld , 29 March 2001 , N. Doran & R. Bashford; 2 males, same site but 30 March 2001; 1 female, same site but 27 April 2001; 13 males, 1 female, Warra LTER Site, Manuka Road, 20 April 2004 , R. Bashford; 1 female, same site but 1 April 2005; 1 female, same site but 5 March 2007; 1 male, Tasmania, Ewart Creek 13 km NW Queenstown, near road A10 (41.58.576S, 145.27.708E), 22 Feb.–3 March 2006 , N. Jönsson, T. Malm & D. Williams.

Further material (in ethanol). 44 males, 4 females, Warra LTER Site, Manuka Road and Mt Weld , 24 March 2000 – 5 March 2007 (14 Malaise and 2 pitfall samples), R. Bashford & N. Doran ; 1 female, Tasmania, Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, Taffys Creek , near road A10 (42.13.009S, 146.03.535E), 22 Feb.–2 March 2006, N. Jönsson, T. Malm & D. Williams .

Figures

FIGURE 3. Trichotoca fraterna (Jaschhof). A: Thorax, lateral view. B: Female terminalia, lateral view. Specimens from Warra. Scale = 0.25 mm for A, 0.1 mm for B. st8 = sternum 8, gx8 = gonocoxa 8, gph9 = gonapophysis 9, sg10 = segment 10.

FIGURE 4. Trichotoca fraterna (Jaschhof), various specimens. A–C: Tegmen and ejaculatory apodeme. D–F: Gonostylus. Specimens from Warra. Scale = 0.05 mm.