Acantholimnophila Alexander, 1924

Ribeiro, Guilherme Cunha, 2012, Redescription of Notholimnophila Alexander and Acantholimnophila Alexander, poorly known New Zealand endemics (Diptera: Tipulomorpha: Limoniidae), Zootaxa 3173, pp. 54-68 : 58-60

Genus Acantholimnophila Alexander, 1924

Acantholimnophila Alexander, 1924: 368 . Type species: Limnophila maorica Alexander, 1922b .

Diagnosis. According to the analysis of Ribeiro (2008), the genus Acantholimnophila can be recognized by the following combination of autapomorphic features: length of scape up to 1.5x the length of the pedicel; flagellomeres tubular in shape; veins R2 and R3 reaching the wing margin almost parallel to each other; gonostylus subterminal in position.

Redescription. Coloration (male and female). General coloration pale brown.

Morphology. Head ( Figs 19–20 ). Antenna as long as body; Flagellum 14-segmented, tubular in shape, decreasing in length toward tip of antenna, bearing short verticils; scape slightly longer than pedicel and ca. 1.25x longer than wide; palpus 4-segmented, all segments tubular in shape; eyes separated dorsally by a wide area. Wing ( Figs 21–22 , 29 ). Macrotrichia all along wing veins; Vein h situated near the origin of vein M+Cu; tip of Sc reaching wing margin at the same level as tip of vein A1; R1 long, slightly sinuous, reaching C at the level of tip of M4; r- r very faint or absent; origin of Rs situated near the level of vein A2; R2+3 very short; veins R2, R3 and R4 running parallel to each other, pointing downwards near tip of wing; r-m little shorter than basal section of M1+2+3; four branches of M reaching wing margin; cell M1 ca. 2x longer than its petiole; discal cell present; position of m-cu variable; A1 reaching wing margin at the level of vein Sc; A2 reaching wing margin near the level of origin of Rs. Thorax ( Figs 18 , 23 , 28 ). Thoracic sclerites as in Figure 23 ; tibial spurs very small, barely distinct. Male genitalia ( Figs 24–26 , 30–31 ). Posterior margin of tergite 9 forming extensions longer than wide. Gonocoxite cone-shaped, ca. 2.15– 3.0x longer than wide, with an acute apex; gonostylus subterminal; lobe and clasper of gonostylus subequal in length, ca. 4.5x longer than wide; clasper of gonostylus harry, gradually narrowing and curved toward tip; interbase well developed, long and narrow, at least 5.0x longer than wide, not connected to each other medially; aedeagus relatively short, not extending posteriorly beyond mid length of gonocoxite; area of the aedeagal sheath between parameres and aedeagus very wide. Female terminalia ( Figure 27 ): hypogynial valve greatly developed, in lateral view ca. 2.5x broader than cercus; apex of hypogynial valve reaching about 2/3 of the length of cercus.

Remarks. The study of Ribeiro (2008) indicated a sister-group relationship between Acantholimnophila and the widely distributed genus Epiphragma , on the basis of shared apomorphic features such as the expansion of the aedeagal sheath between the medial margin of paramere and lateral margin of aedeagus, and the extended lateral margins of the interbases. In fact, the morphology of the male genitalia looks very similar in both genera. However, Epiphragma species are larger flies, with wings strongly patterned with ocelliform markings, one or more additional cross-veins in cell C and first and second flagellomeres fused.

Figures

FIGURE 18. Acantholimnophila maorica (Alexander). Male holotype, head and thorax, lateral view.

FIGURE 21. Acantholimnophila maorica (Alexander). Male holotype, wing.

FIGURES 22 – 23. Acantholimnophila maorica (Alexander). 22: wing venation. 23: thoracic sclerites, lateral view.

FIGURE 27. Acantholimnophila sp. (presumably maorica). Female ovipositor, lateral view.

FIGURES 19 – 20. Acantholimnophila maorica (Alexander). Head. 19: lateral view. 20: dorsal view.

FIGURES 28 – 29. Acantholimnophila bispina (Alexander). Male holotype. 28: head and thorax, lateral view. 29: wing.

FIGURES 24 – 26. Acantholimnophila maorica (Alexander). 24: Male genitalia, dorsal view. 25: aedeagus and associated structures, dorsal view. 26: male terminalia, lateral view.

FIGURES 30 – 31. Acantholimnophila bispina (Alexander). 30: male genitalia, dorsal view. 31: aedeagus and associated structures, dorsal view.