Curtonotum tsacas Kirk-Spriggs, 2013

Kirk-Spriggs, Ashley H. & Wiegmann, Brian M., 2013, <p> <strong> A revision of Afrotropical Quasimodo flies (Diptera: Schizophora; Curtonotidae). Part IV — the continental Afrotropical species of <em> Curtonotum </ em> Macquart, with descriptions of thirteen new species and a combined phylogenetic analysis of the Curtonotidae </ strong> </ p>, Zootaxa 3684 (1), pp. 1-166 : 93-94

Curtonotum tsacas Kirk-Spriggs , sp. n.

Figs 118 , 142 , 178 , 250, 254, 258 , 301 , 308, 309 , 328 , 329 .

Etymology. The specific epithet tsacas is a noun in apposition, named in honour of Léonidas Tsacas (MNHN) in recognition of his substantial contribution to our knowledge of Afrotropical Curtonotum .

Description: Male (primarily based on field-pinned HT).

As redescribed for C. campsiphallum (above), differing in the following respects:

Measurements: Overall length unknown (the ♀ measures 3.2–3.7 mm; n = 2, PT); length of head and thorax combined 1.7–2.5 mm; length of thorax and scutellum combined 1.7–2.4 mm; wing length 2.8–3.7 mm (n = 5, HT, PT).

Head ( Figs 118 , 142 ). Eye height/length ratio: 10:6 (n = 1, HT); frons ( Fig. 142 ) markedly narrow, frons length/width ratio: 5:7 (n = 1, HT), ground colour pale dirty yellow-brown, markedly darker brown or pitchy (see notes on variation below), at vertex between orbital plates and ocellar triangle and between orbital plates and eye margin, medial vittae conspicuous; flagellomere 1 pitchy black apically, arista with 9–10 dorsal branches and 4 ventral branches; 11 fine setae bordering genal groove; gena narrow, eye height/genal height ratio: 10:1 (n = 1, HT), silver pruinose throughout.

Thorax ( Fig. 118 ). Postpronotum with 12 fine black-brown setulae; anepisternum surface with 25 fine setulae, 2 arranged in a group in posterior corner; katepisternum with 20 setulae at base and along posterior margin.

Legs. Fore coxa with 9 brown setulae on anterior surface; fore tibia with ctenidium of 9–13 black spinules.

Wing ( Fig. 178 ). Membrane markedly infuscate brown or pitchy brown (see notes below on variation); dm–cu crossvein with acutely angled bend.

Abdomen. Tergite 1 simple, with oblique, subquadrate brown-black pruinose dorsolateral macula on either side only; tergite 2 with wide median fascia and oblique, subquadrate brown-black pruinose dorsolateral macula on either side; tergites 3–5 with broad, brown median fascia and well developed “T-shaped” brown lateral maculae, all merging with median fascia, lateral margin of tergites 2–5 with subtriangular maculae in basal ⅔; sternite 6 ( Fig. 301 ) laterally expanded (may appear wider than Fig. 301 in undissected specimens), broad basally with deep, subtriangular V-shaped apical excision, extensively darkened, especially medially, clothed in very short black irregular brown setulae.

Terminalia ( Figs 250, 254, 258 ). Hypandrium ( Fig. 250 , hy) hypandrial arms broad basally, expanded apically (viewed laterally), sclerotised area of medial lobes (viewed dorsally), very wide medially, abutting and overlapping; postgonite (pg); epandrium (ep) as wide dorsally as ventrally (viewed laterally), dorsal margin moderately straight; cercus (ce); surstylus (ss); phallus (as in Figs 254 , ph, bp, dp; 258, bp, dp); phallapodeme ( Fig. 254 , ph); ejaculatory apodeme (ea); basiphallus ( Figs 254, 258 , bp) relatively broad, expanded apically, with brown, heavily sclerotised semicircular baso-ventral process, with 3 large teeth-like serrations on posterior margin; distiphallus (dp) long, scimitar-like (viewed laterally), membranous area broad.

♀ Similar to ♂, except in the following respects: wing length 3.1–3.5 mm (n = 4, PT); postabdomen as illustrated in Figs 308, 309 .

Variation. Freshly collected specimens from Kosi Bay have the markings on the frons darker than the HT and the wing is also more darkly infuscate. The male terminalia are identical however. There is some variation in the number and size of teeth-like serrations on the posterior margin of the baso-ventral process of the phallus, other characters are consistent, however, and this is regarded as intraspecific variation only.

Differential diagnosis. Curtonotum tsacas sp. n. is probably most closely-related to a group of three species having the basiphallus relatively broad and expanded apically and the membranous area of the distiphallus broad ( C. sao , C. hay sp. n. and C. campsiphallum ). It is most closely related to the last two named species, both of which share the short plate-like baso-ventral process with a series of teeth-like serrations on the posterior margin. They are separable by use of the above key.

Type material examined. SOUTH AFRICA: holotype ♂, “ SOUTH AFRICA: KZ-Natal / Enseleni Nature Reserve / 28°41'S, 32°03'E masl / Date: 26/07/1980 / Coll. R. Miller // HOLOTYPE ♂ / Curtonotum / tsacas sp. n. / A.H. Kirk-Spriggs 2011 [printed; red card]” (NMSA). In good condition; dissected, abdomen and terminalia in micro-vial pinned beneath specimen. Paratypes (all labelled: “ PARATYPE ♂ [or ♀] / Curtonotum / tsacas sp. n. / A.H. Kirk-Spriggs 2011 [printed; blue card]”): ETHIOPIA: 1♂, “ETHOPIA: GAMO / GOFA, Arba Minch / Springs, 1300m / 5.ii.2000.I.YAROM / & A. FREIDBERG” (TAU). KENYA: 1♂, “ KENYA (N.W.) / Kainuk, on / Morun

River / 25.XI.1989 / A . FREIDBERG / & FINI KAPLAN” ( TAU). [ MOZAMBIQUE]: 1♀, “Port. East Africa. / Amatongas Forest. / Near Gondola. / 4.II.1959 / A. C. van Bruggen. ” [head missing] ( PPRI). SOUTH AFRICA: 1♂, “DUKUDUKU BETWEEN / ST LUCIA & MATUBATUBA / ZULULAND, S. AFRICA / B. & P. STUCKENBERG / 7-8 APRIL 1960 // CURTONOTUM / n. sp.? aff. cam / psiphallus n.sp. / L. TSACAS DET. 1976 [printed & handwritten]” [head missing] ( NMSA); 2♂, 4♀, “RSA: KwaZulu-Natal, Kosi / Bay Nat. Res., picnic area / 26°57'52"S, 32°48'51"E / 15.xii.2010, 6 m / A. H. Kirk-Spriggs // Sweeping / dune forest & / woodland” [2♂ labelled “// BMSA (DNA)#0064” and “// BMSA (DNA)#0065”; labelled “// BMSA (D)29847– 29850; BMSA (D)30210–30211”] ( BMSA) .

Distribution. Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique and South Africa ( Figs 328 , 329 ). Exhibits a typical Rift Valley distribution pattern (see below).

Bionomics. Occurring in 5 major habitat types; predominantly in Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests, with records from Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas and Shrublands and Mangroves (Appendix III). In South Africa the species occurs in closed-canopy coastal dune forest and woodland and appear to shelter in natural hollows in the forest floor during daylight hours .

Figures

FIGURE 328. Distribution of continental Afrotropical species of Curtonotum. Topographical: C. sao, C. gonzo sp. n., C. quinquevittatum and C. tsacas sp. n.

FIGURE 329. Distribution of continental Afrotropical species of Curtonotum. Major Habitat Types: C. sao, C. gonzo sp. n., C. quinquevittatum and C. tsacas sp. n.

FIGURES 118–123. Head and thorax (lateral view) of Afrotropical Curtonotum spp. (male unless stated). 118. C. tsacas sp. n. (♀ PT, South Africa, Kosi Bay Nature Reserve, BMSA). 119. C. gonzo sp. n. (PT, Nigeria, River Bagel, NMWC). 120. C. saheliense (N-T, Nigeria, Katsina, ZSM). 121. C. simile (N-T, Israel, Ne’ot Semadar, TAU). 122. C. bicuspis sp. n. (HT, Namibia, Salambala campsite, NMNW). 123. C. cimbebas sp. n. (HT, Namibia, Tsaobismund 85, NMNW). Not to scale.

FIGURES 142–153. Frons of Afrotropical Curtonotum spp. (all males). 142. C. tsacas sp. n. (PT, South Africa, Kosi Bay Nature Reserve, BMSA). 143. C. gonzo sp. n. (PT, Nigeria, River Bagel, NMWC). 144. C. saheliense (N-T, Nigeria, Katsina, ZSM). 145. C. simile (PT, Arabia [= South Yemen], S. Othman, MNHN). 146. C. bicuspis sp. n. (HT, Namibia, Salambala campsite, NMNW). 147. C. cimbebas sp. n. (HT, Namibia, Tsaobismund 85, NMNW). 148. C. constance sp. n. (HT, Angola, 7 mi. N Vila Perreira d’Eça, MNHN). 149. C. cuthbertsoni (N-T, Uganda, Ankole, USNM). 150. C. litoralis sp. n. (HT, Kenya, Muhaka Field Station, NMNW). 151. C. pauliani (N-T, Namibia, Ejuju village, NMNW). 152. C. uncinatum sp. n. (PT, Namibia, Salambala campsite, NMNW). 153. C. unicuspis sp. n. (PT, Namibia, Mile 46, NMNW) [head of C. mcgregor sp. n. missing from both HT and PT cannot be illustrated]. Not to scale.

FIGURES 172–181. Wing of Afrotropical Curtonotum spp. (all males). 172. C. angolense (PT, Angola, 10 mi. NE of Sá da Bandeira [= Lubango], CAS). 173. C. campsiphallum (N-T, Cameroon, Limbe (shore), TAU). 174. C. freidberg sp. n. (PT, Malawi, Viphya Mts., TAU). 175. C. hay sp. n. (HT, Uganda, Mujenje, HNHM). 176. C. quinquevittatum (N-T, Malawi, Viphya Mts., TAU). 177. C. sao (N-T, Nigeria, Gadau, BMNH). 178. C. tsacas sp. n. (PT, South Africa, Kosi Bay Nature Reserve, BMSA). 179. C. gonzo sp. n. (HT, [Ghana], Kwadaso, HNHM). 180. C. saheliense (N-T, Nigeria, Samaru, MNHN). 181. C. simile (N-T, Oman, Ourm, MZLU). Not to scale.

FIGURES 247–258. Male terminalia of Afrotropical Curtonotum spp. 247–250. Hypandrium and epandrium (lateral view). 247. C. hay sp. n. (HT, Uganda, Mujenge, HNHM). 248. C. quinquevittatum (N-T, Malawi, Viphya Mts., TAU). 249. C. sao (N- T, Nigeria, Gadau, BMNH). 250. C. tsacas sp. n. (PT, South Africa, Kosi Bay Nature Reserve, BMSA). 251–254. Phallus (right lateral view). 251. C. hay (same). 252. C. quinquevittatum (same). 253. C. sao (same). 254. C. tsacas (same). 255–258. Apical section of phallus (left lateral view). 255. C. hay (same). 256. C. quinquevittatum (same). 257. C. sao (same). 258. C. tsacas (same). Scale bars = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 295–305. Male sternites of Afrotropical Curtonotum spp. 295. C. angolense (N-T, Angola, 10 mi. NE of Sá da Bandeira [= Lubango], CAS). 296. C. campsiphallum (N-T, Cameroon, Limbe (shore), TAU). 297. C. freidberg sp. n. (PT, Malawi, Viphya Mts., TAU). 298. C. hay sp. n. (HT, Uganda, Mujenge, HNHM). 299. C. quinquevittatum (N-T, Malawi, Viphya Mts., TAU). 300. C. sao (N-T, Nigeria, Gadau, BMNH). 301. C. tsacas sp. n. (PT, Kenya, Kainuk, TAU). 302. C. gonzo sp. n. (PT, [Ghana], Kwadaso, HNHM). 303. C. saheliense (N-T, Nigeria, Yankari Game Reserve, NMWC). 304. C. simile (N- T, UAE, Wadi Maidan, NMWC). 305. C. uncinatum sp. n. (PT, Namibia, Kubunyana, NMNW). Scale bars: 295–301, 303–305 = 0.5 mm; 302 = 0.6 mm.

FIGURES 306–321. Examples of female postabdomen of Afrotropical Curtonotum spp. 306. C. campsiphallum (N-T, Cameroon, Limbe (shore), TAU), ventral. 307. Same, lateral. 308. C. tsacas sp. n. (PT, South Africa, Kosi Bay Nature Reserve, BMSA), ventral. 309. Same, lateral. 310. C. gonzo sp. n. (PT, [Ghana], Kwadaso, HNHM), ventral. 311. Same, lateral. 312. C. simile (N-T, UAE, Wadi Maidag, NMWC), ventral. 313. Same, lateral. 314. C. litoralis sp. n. (PT, [Tanzania], Zanzibar, BMNH), ventral. 315. Same, lateral. 316. C. uncinatum sp. n. (N-T, Namibia, Regenstein 32, NMNW), ventral. 317. Same, lateral. 318. C. sakalava (N-T, Madagascar, Berenty Special Reserve, CAS), ventral. 319. Same, lateral. 320. C. balachowskyi (N-T, Madagascar, Ambovamy Belambo, TAU), ventral. 321. Same, lateral. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.