Leptocera melanaspis ( BEZZI, 1908 )

Papp, L., 2012, A Review Of The Afrotropical Species Of Leptocera Olivier (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae), Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 58 (3), pp. 225-258 : 246-249

Leptocera melanaspis ( BEZZI, 1908)

( Figs 57–70 )

Limosina melanaspis BEZZI, 1908: 384 . Type locality: Zaire, Kinshasa. Holotype male in the collection of the ISNB.

For detailed synonymy see ROHÁČEK et al. 2001: 155.

Material studied ( HNHM): Ethiopia: 1 male (gen. prep.): Abyssinia, Kovács – Marako, 1912. III. – “ Paracollinella melanaspis Bezzi m” DET. DR.O. DUDA. Ethiopia, leg. [András] Demeter , 1980: 4 males 5 females (also No. 55 on 1 f): Addis Ababa, Akaki River , 29. IX.; 2 females: ibid., 6/13. X.; 2 males 1 female: ibid., 6. X.; 2 males 1 female: ibid., Ambo, No. 513, 23. XI.; 1 male: Mt. Menagesha , 26. X. Congo: 1 female: Brazzaville , Congo River , 21–31. XII. 1963., leg. Endrődy-Y., Balogh, Zicsi. Uganda: 1 male, Uganda, Katona [= K. Kittenberger], Mujenje, 1913. VIII., “ Paracollinella melanaspis Bezzi f” det. DR. O. DUDA [misidentified as female]. Tanzania: 1 female: Africa or., Katona905 [= K. Kittenberger], Mto ya Kifaru, “ Paracollinella melanaspis Bezzi f” DET. DR. O. DUDA; 3 males 2 females: Morogoro region, Mikumi National Park , Mikumi Tented Camp – Netting over excrement of elephant, Feb 1, 1987, leg. S. Mahunka – T. Pócs – A. Zicsi, No.8. Republic of South Africa: 1 female (gen. prep.): Natal, New Hannover , 1913. VIII., “ Paracollinella melanaspis Bezzi f” DET. DR.O. DUDA; 1 male 1 female: R.S.A., KwaZulu Natal, N Drakensberg, along eNdumeni River, on sedge and on mud, Jan 31, 2007, No. 45, leg. L. Papp.

Male postabdomen and genitalia. Sternite 5 ( Figs 61–62 ) rather long with medium-sized discal and long marginal setae. Posteromedial desclerotized area not very wide but fairly long, with relatively long microtrichia and several longer setae ( Fig. 62 ). Synsternite ( Fig. 63 ) with sternite 6 and 7 extended far towards the right side, with large sclerotised portion on the right side; sternite 8 shifted to left side. Epandrium ( Fig. 58 ) with large transparent posteroventral (ventro-caudal) part devoid of setae, with fine hairs only. Epandrium otherwise with numerous long setae. Hypandrium strong, its apodeme shorter than phallapodeme ( Fig. 64 ), posteromedial processes to postgonites also strong. Subepandrial sclerite ( Fig. 58 ) comparatively small, only slightly higher than broad with narrow, more sclerotised median part. Cercus weakly sclerotised, transverse and haired, with one pair of stronger setae ( Fig. 58 ). Anterior part of surstylus ( Figs 57–58 ) short, with long, slender and bare ventrally directed anterior part (slightly broadened at apex) and relatively small posterior part, which bears some short setae medially. One longer seta basally an anterior part and 3 long setae on posterior part. Posterior part of surstylus peculiar ( Figs 58–59 ): the medial part shorter than anterior projection of anterior part of surstylus with some apical and subapical lateral setae, the lateral part of posterior part of surstylus lamelliform, broadly rounded and medially curved without any setae. Basiphallus ( Figs 60 , 66 ) extended caudally. Distiphallus ( Figs 60 , 66 ) with a larger dorsal and a shorter ventral medial rib, which are united caudally into a narrow sclerite (wide in L. marginata ), which is joined rather narrowly to the basiphallus. Distiphallus microtrichos between the sclerotised ribs. Postgonite ( Fig. 65 ) relatively short but thick, without basal caudal projection; basal part broader and rounded caudally; apical part rather thick with a definite anteriorly curved apex. Ejaculatory apodeme ( Fig. 66 ) discernible but without a characteristic shape.

Female postabdomen and genitalia. Tergite 8 ( Fig. 67 ) relatively large. Medially directed ventral processes long, the whole caudal margin with long setae. Sternite 8 ( Fig. 68 ) relatively small with medial process only, lacking lateral lobes. Tergite 10 ( Fig. 69 ) fused to cerci only at extreme sides, with a pair of stout medium-sized setae. Cercus not small compared to other species, with 3 apical setae. Spermathecae ( Fig. 70 ) spherical with short sclerotised ducts; apically curved spicules evenly distributed over surface (except apical part), not numerous.

view. Scale bars: 0.4 mm for Fig. 61 , 0.2 mm for Figs 62–64 , 0.1 mm for Figs 65–66

72–73, 0.1 mm for Figs 70–71, 74

Distribution – Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania (new), Uganda, Zaire. Remark. RICHARDS (1938) described “ Leptocera (s. str.) melanaspis (Bezzi) var. velutina , n. var. ” but he synonymised it with L. melanaspis in 1980 ( RICH- ARDS 1980: 619).

Figures

Figs 54–60. Leptocera spp., male postabdomen.54–56. L.marginata (ADAMS, 1905): 54 = right half of epandrium and genitalia, caudal view, 55 = anterior and posterior part of surstylus, lateral view, 56 = posterior part of surstylus, posterior view. 57–60. L. melanaspis (BEZZI): 57 = anterior part of surstylus, lateral view, 58 = right half of epandrium and genitalia, caudal view, 59 = posterior part of surstylus, posteroventral view, 60 = phallus and phallapodeme, left lateral view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm

Figs 61–66. Leptocera melanaspis (BEZZI, 1908), male postabdomen: 61 = sternite 5, ventral view, 62 = caudal part of sternite 5, ventral view, 63 = synsternite, posteroventral view, 64 = hypandrium, ventral view, 65 = postgonite, left lateral view, 66 = phallus and ejaculatory apodeme, left lateral

Figs 67–74. Leptocera spp., female postabdomen and spermathecae. 67–70. L. melanaspis (BEZZI, 1908): 67 = tergite 8, exact lateral view (left), and viewed perpendicular to surface (to show maximum dimensions), 68 = sternite 8, ventral view, 69 = tergite 10 and cerci, dorsal view, 70 = spermathecae. 71–74. L. erratica: 71 = spermathecae, 72 = tergite 10 fused with cerci, dorsal view, 73 = tergite 8 and sternite 8, lateral view, 74 = sternite 8, ventral view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm for Figs 67–69,