Curtonotum cimbebas 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 : 112

Curtonotum cimbebas Kirk-Spriggs , sp. n.

Figs 123 , 147 , 183 , 269, 272, 275 , 331 .

Curtonotum cuthbertsoni: Duda, 1935: 31 , Type VII of Tsacas (1977: 153).

Etymology. The specific epithet cimbebas is a noun in apposition, derived from “Cimbebas”; the archaic name for the area between Cape Negro and the Tropic of Capricorn on the southwest African seaboard.

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

As described for C. uncinatum (above), differing in the following respects:

Measurements: Overall length unknown; length of head and thorax combined 2–2.7 mm; length of thorax and scutellum combined 1.9–2.6 mm; wing length 3.3–3.8 mm (n = 5, HT, PT).

Head ( Figs 123 , 147 ). Eye height/length ratio: 11:6 (n = 1, HT); frons ( Fig. 147 ) wider than long, frons length/ width ratio: 6:8 (n = 1, HT), very slightly wider at vertex than at ventral margin; arista with 7–9 long dorsal branches and 2 or 3 ventral branches; gena narrow eye height/genal height ratio: 11:1 (n = 1, HT).

Thorax ( Fig. 123 ). Anepisternum with 13 fine setulae 3 arranged in a group in posterior corner; katepisternum with 14 short, fine setulae.

Legs. Fore coxa with 7 brown setulae; fore tibia with ctenidium of 9–10 short, sharp, black spinules.

Wing ( Fig. 183 ). Dm–cu crossvein vertical with even arch; anal lobe broad.

Abdomen. Sternite 6 as in Fig. 305 .

Terminalia ( Figs 269, 272, 275 ). Hypandrium ( Fig. 269 , hy); postgonite (pg); epandrium (ep); cercus (ce); surstylus (ss); phallus (as in Figs 272 , ph, bp, dp; 275, bp, dp); phallapodeme ( Fig. 272 , ph); ejaculatory apodeme (ea); basiphallus ( Figs 272, 275 , bp) wide basally, expanded into quite broad lateral expansion apically; distiphallus (dp) long, scimitar-like (viewed laterally), membranous area broad, basal “spine” very short, but erect and sharp, more apical spine relatively broad basally and sharp.

♀ Unknown.

Variation. No significant variation is noted.

Differential diagnosis. Curtonotum cimbebas sp. n. belongs to a group of ten species here ascribed to the uncinatum species-group, nine of which are virtually identical externally and are only separable based on minor differences in the male phallus (see Differential diagnosis under C. uncinatum sp. n. for details). Curtonotum cimbebas sp. n. can be separated from other species in the species-group by reference to the above key.

Type material examined. NAMIBIA: holotype ♂, “ Namibia: KARIBIB DISTRICT. / Tsaobismund 85 at: / 22°22'40"S 15°44'58"E / 13-15.iv.2001 / A.H. Kirk-Spriggs & E. Marais / Malaise traps // Namibian National / Insect Collection / National Museum / P.O. Box 1203 / Windhoek, Namibia [printed; blue card] // HOLOTYPE ♂ / Curtonotum / cimbebas sp. n. / A.H. Kirk-Spriggs 2011 [printed; red card]” (NMNW). In excellent condition; dissected, abdomen and terminalia in micro-vial pinned beneath specimen. Paratypes (all labelled: “ PARATYPE / Curtonotum ♂ / cimbebas sp. n. / A.H. Kirk-Spriggs 2011 [printed; blue card]”): NAMIBIA: 9♂, same data as holotype; 1♂, “ Namibia: NAUKLUFT PK / Tsams Ost spring / 24°14'45"S, 16°06'17"E / 26-27.xi.1997 / [A.H.] Kirk-Spriggs & [E.]. Marais / Malaise trap”; 5♂, “ Namibia: NAUKLUFT PK / Naukluft spring / 24°15'78"S, 16°14'08"E / 28-30.xi.1997 / [A.H.] Kirk-Spriggs & [E.] Marais / Malaise trap”; 5♂, “ Namibia: WINDHOEK DISTRICT / Greylingshof 107: Gaub Canyon / 23°29'S 16°46'E / 02-03.x.1999 / A.H. Kirk-Spriggs & T. Pape / Malaise trap sample” (all NMNW); 5♂, “South West Africa / Gobabeb 30.I.1978 / Kuiseb River Bed / O. Lomholdt leg.” (ZMUC).

Distribution. Endemic to Namibia ( Fig. 331 ). Apparently confined to the Namibian Escarpment and immediate vicinity.

Bionomics. Occurring in the Nama Karoo and Namib Desert major habitat types; predominately in the Deserts and Xeric Shrublands vegetation type (Appendix III). Sampled in Malaise traps in the vicinity of springs in the Naukluft Mountains , which form part of the Namibian Escarpment , and in the ephemeral riverbeds of the Kuiseb and Tsaobis Rivers of Namibia .

Figures

FIGURE 331. Distribution of continental Afrotropical species of Curtonotum. Topographical: C. cimbebas sp. n., C. constance sp. n., C. litoralis sp. n., C. mcgregor sp. n. and C. pauliani.

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 182–190. Wing of Afrotropical Curtonotum spp. (all males). 182. C. bicuspis sp. n. (PT, Namibia, Salambala forest, NMNW). 183. C. cimbebas sp. n. (PT, Namibia, Tsams Ost spring, NMNW). 184. C. constance sp. n. (HT, Angola, 7 mi. N Vila Perreira d’Eça, MNHN). 185. C. cuthbertsoni (N-T, Zimbabwe, Chimana Causeway, ZSM). 186. C. litoralis sp. n. (HT, Kenya, Muhaka Field Station, NMNW). 187. C. mcgregor sp. n. (HT, Nyasaland [= Malawi], Port Herald, BMNH). 188. C. pauliani (N-T, Namibia, Ekuju village, NMNW). 189. C. uncinatum sp. n. (PT, Namibia, Salambala campsite, NMNW). 190. C. unicuspis sp. n. (HT, Salambala campsite, NMNW). Not to scale.

FIGURES 268–276. Male terminalia of Afrotropical Curtonotum spp. 268–270. Hypandrium and epandrium (lateral view). 268. C. bicuspis sp. n. (PT, Namibia, Susuwe, NMNW). 269. C. cimbebas sp. n. (HT, Namibia, Tsaobismund 85, NMNW). 270. C. constance sp. n. (HT, Angola, 7 mi. N Vila Perreira d’Eça, MNHN). 271–273. Phallus (right lateral view). 271. C. bicuspis (same). 272. C. cimbebas (same). 273. C. constance (same). 274–276. Apical section of phallus (left lateral view). 274. C. bicuspis (same). 275. C. cimbebas (same). 276. C. constance (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.