Pachycerina micropunctata, Davies & Miller, 2009

Davies, Gregory B. P. & Miller, Raymond M., 2009, Revision of Afrotropical Pachycerina Macquart (Diptera: Lauxaniidae), African Invertebrates 50 (2), pp. 295-295 : 310-312

Pachycerina micropunctata sp. n.

Figs 8 , 27 , 37 , 48

Etymology: From Greek mikros (small or little) and Latin punctum (dot or spot), in reference to the tiny prefrontal (facial) spots, which are much smaller than those of other Afrotropical species ( Fig. 8 ).

Diagnosis: Small prefrontal spots are distinctive ( Fig. 8 ); prefrons is also less bulging than in other Pachycerina species. P. micropunctata is restricted to Madagascar and the Comoros.

Description:

Head: Brown spots encircling fronto-orbital bristle alveoli faint. Ocellar spot black, anterior edge of ocellar spot abruptly truncate. Prefrontal spots small, dark brown. Prefrontal lower lateral corners infuscated. Prefrons in profile not as tumid as other Pachycerina species. All flagellomeres yellow, specimens from Comoros with distally infuscated postpedicel.

Thorax:Yellow, coloration darker on scutum but acrostichal, dorsocentral and presutural vittae not easily seen. Meso- and sternopleura yellow-orange with no upper and lower lateral thoracic vittae. Scutellum yellow. Legs all yellow to orange, protibia and protarsus orangish (not blackish as in other species). Wing hyaline. Haltere yellow-orange.

Abdomen: Yellow-orange, but frequently discoloured to black.

Male terminalia ( Figs 27 , 37 , 48 ): S5 with acuminate posterior arms; medial spur present. T6 with paired black spots. Surstyli long (longer than epandrium). Gonopods asymmetric. Left gonopod slightly shorter than right gonopod. Left gonopod with small lateral spinule. Aedeagal apodeme long, thin and curved.

Measurements: ơ (n=1), ^(n=4): head length – ơ 0.6, ^0.6; thorax length (incl. scutellum) – ơ 1.7, ^1.6; abdomen length – ơ 1.1, ^1.7; wing length – ơ 3.3, ^3.2.

Holotype: ơ MADAGASCAR: Navana-Antongil , Maroantsetra [15°26'S: 49°45'E], 20–25.iii.1958, B.R. Stuckenberg ( NMSA).

Other material examined: MADAGASCAR: 4^Navana-Antongil, Maroantsetra [15°26'S: 49°45'E], 20– 25.iii.1958, B.R. Stuckenberg ( NMSA) ; 1ơ Vakoana, Andringitra, Ambalavao , 21–24.i.1958, B.R. Stuckenberg ( NMSA) ; 1^Andasibe (= Périnet ) [18°49'S: 48°26'E], 1.x.1958, F. Keiser ( MHNB) ; 6ơ 1^Ifanadiana [21°15'S: 47°27'E], 23 & 24.viii.1958, F. Keiser ( MHNB) ; 2ơ 1? Mananjary [21°17'S: 47°56'E], 17 & 20.viii.1958, F. Keiser ( MHNB) ; 1ơ 1^Ambodimanga [14°59'S: 50°12'E], 8 & 19.viii.1958, F. Keiser ( MHNB) . COMOROS: 1^Anjouan, Lac de Dzialandzé , 15.i.1974, L. Matile ( MNHN) ; 1^Anjouan, Col de Moya , 16.i.1974, L. Matile ( MNHN) ; 1ơ Grande Comore, Kartala, Convalescence , 20–21.xi.1973, L. Matile ( MNHN) .

Figures

Figs 5–8. Schematic illustrations of Pachycerina thorax and head: (5) dorsal view of scutum showing deployment of scutal vittae; (6) dorsal view of scutum and scutellum showing deployment of bristles and setae by position of their alveoli (note the two acrostichal bristle rows, lateral displacement of the posteriormost dorsocentral bristle off the longitudinal dorsocentral axis and setulae between anteriormost dorsocentral bristle and transverse suture); (7) pleuron showing deployment of pleural vittae; (8) lateral view prefrons, P. vaga Adams (left) and P. micropunctata sp. n. (right) (note the difference in the size of the prefrontal spots between the two species).

Figs 23–27. Posterior view of male terminalia: (23) Pachycerina stuckenbergi sp. n.; (24) Pachycerina vaga Adams; (25) Pachycerina crinicornis (Thomson); (26) Pachycerina gabela sp. n.; (27) Pachycerina micropunctata sp. n. Scale bar = 0.8 mm.

Figs 34–38. Dorsal view of male inner genitalia: (34) Pachycerina nigrivittata sp. n.; (35) Pachycerina vaga Adams; (36) Pachycerina crinicornis (Thomson); (37) Pachycerina micropunctata sp. n.; (38) Pachycerina seychellensis Lamb. Scale bar = 0.5 mm.

Figs 39–48. Sternite 5 of male Pachycerina species: (39) P. vaga Adams; (40) P. nigrivittata sp. n.; (41) P. gabela sp. n.; (42) P. atrimela sp. n.; (43) P. pellocera sp. n.; (44) P. stuckenbergi sp. n.; (45) P. crinicornis (Thomson); (46) P. potentilla sp. n.; (47) P.seychellensis Lamb; (48) P. micropunctata sp. n. Abbreviation: post proc – posterior process. Scale bar = 0.5 mm.