Atrichopogon (Meloehelea) ladislavi Tóthová, 2009

Tóthová, Andrea, Spinelli, Gustavo R. & Marino, Pablo I., 2009, A new Nearctic species of Atrichopogon (Meleohelea) and a redescription of Atrichopogon (M.) chilensis Ingram & Macfie (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), Zootaxa 2023, pp. 47-54 : 50-53

Atrichopogon (Meloehelea) ladislavi Tóthová , new species

Diagnosis: Female adult: only extant species of Meloehelea in the Nearctic Region with a very long slender third palpal segment with PR> 4 and about 22 large mandibular teeth.

Description: Female adult: Descriptive measurements in Table 1. Head: Antenna medium brown, with 13 flagellomeres, flagellomeres 1–8 disciform, proportions as shown in Fig. 3 B. Mandible well developed, with 20–22 teeth, 5–6 distal teeth very small, 9 at midlength broad. Laciniae with 12–13 teeth. Palpus ( Fig. 3 C) with very long, slender third palpal segment, pit at midlength. Thorax: scutum, scutellum dark brown ( Fig. 3 A). Wing ( Fig. 3 E) without pattern of pigmented membrane, with many macrotrichia on the entire membrane. Halter: white. Legs: Light brown; empodia present. Abdomen ( Fig. 3 D): light brown. Genitalia: 2 equal ovoid spermathecae, each with short neck.

Male adult: unknown.

Distribution and bionomics: The specimens of A. ladislavi were collected in a woodland habitat not far from a river near Rowanton, Québec, Canada (46°24’ N, 77°45’ W, 380 m).

TAXONOMIC DISCUSSION: According to a key to the subgenus Meloehelea which includes New World species ( Wirth, 1980), the characters of A. (M.) ladislavi indicate that it belongs in the lucorum group. This species is similiar to the European A. (Meloehelea) winnertzi Goetghebuer, 1922 , which also has a distinctive very long and slender 3rd palpal segment (PR>4.3), however the difference in mandibular teeth is obvious. While A. (M.) winnertzi has mandibles with 31–36 fine teeth, A. (M.) ladislavi has 20–22 large mandibular teeth.

Types: Holotype, female adult on microscope slide, labeled “ HOLOTYPE Atrichopogon ladislavi Tóthová , nr. Rowanton, P.Q., 29. vii. 1954, J.A. Downes, No. J.A.D. 126/4/29, CNC“; paratype: 1 female, from type locality, 29. vii. 1954, J.A. Downes, No. J.A.D. 126/4/28.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED: Canada, Québec, Rowanton, 29. vii. 1954, J.A. Downes, 2 females No. J.A.D. 126/4/ 29, 126/4/28.

Derivation of specific epithet: This species is named after the senior author´s beloved father who will stay in her loving memory.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Female of Atrichopogon (Meloehelea) ladislavi Tóthová sp. n. A—thorax (lateral view), B—head (dorsal view), C—mouthparts, D—terminal abdominal segments and spermathecae (dorsal view), E—wing.