Elaphropeza asexa, Shamshev & Grootaert, 2007

Grootaert, Patrick & Shamshev, Igor, 2015, New species of fast-running flies (Diptera: Empidoidea, Hybotidae, Tachydromiinae) from mangroves in Singapore, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 63, pp. 583-609 : 586-589

Elaphropeza asexa, Shamshev & Grootaert, 2007

( Figs. 6–11 )

E. asexa Shamshev & Grootaert, 2007: 128 (female), fig. 204, Type locality: Singapore, Nee Soon .

Material examined. Singapore: Semakau Island , 2 females, SMO2 , 17 May 2012, mangrove, (reg. 29239, Ma 6783) ; 1 male, 2 females, SMO2 , 7 June 2012, mangrove, (reg. 29278, Ma 6784; all barcoded: 1 male reference AB42570224, voucher in box Entomo _005_ 20140417 in position F2; 1 female reference AB42570230, voucher in box Entomo _005_ 20140417 in position F3; 1 female reference AB42570236, voucher in box Entomo _005_ 20140417 in position F4) ; 1 female, SMO2 , 14 June 2012, mangrove, (reg. 29291, Ma 6786) ; 1 male, SMO2 , 25 October 2012, mangrove, (reg. 29538, Ma 6829) ; 1 male, SMN3 , 6 June 2013, mangrove, (reg. 29961, Ma 7045, Fig. 6 ) ; 2 males, 1 female, SMN2 , 27 July 2013, mangrove, (reg. 29999, Ma 7096) ; 1 female, SMO2 , 3 April 2012, mangrove, (reg. 29162, Ma 7166) ; 1 male, 3 females, SMN1 , 28 March 2013, mangrove, (reg. 29824, Ma 7281) ; 1 female, SMO2 , 14 November 2013, mangrove, (reg. 30242, Ma 7586) ; 2 females, SMO2 , 27 December 2012, mangrove, (reg. 29665, Ma 7593) ; 1 female, SMO2 , 24 October 2013, mangrove, (reg. 30223, Ma 7977) ; 1 female, SMO2 , 31 October 2013, mangrove, (reg. 30226, Ma 7981) ; 1 female, SMO2 , 17 October 2013, mangrove, (reg. 30210, Ma 7983) ; 1 female, SMO2 , 28 November 2013, mangrove, (reg. 30288, Ma 7986) ; 1 female, SMO2 , 14 November 2013, mangrove, (reg. 30262, Ma 8874); Sungei Buloh , 1 female, SB1, 8 May 2013, mangrove, (reg. 29903, Ma 7314) ; 2 females, SB1, 16 May 2013, mangrove, (reg. 29926, Ma 7317) ; 3 females, SB1, 29 May 2013, mangrove, (reg. 29942, Ma 7320) ; 2 females, SB1, 3 July 2013, mangrove, (reg. 30007, Ma 7335) ; 1 female, SB1, 24 October 2012, mangrove, (reg. 29530, Ma 7375) ; 1 female, SB1, 23 January 2013, mangrove, (reg. 29699, Ma 7414); Pulau Ubin , 1 male, PU1 , 16 June 2012, mangrove, (reg. 29293, Ma 7429) ; 1 female, PU1 , 23 June 2012, mangrove, (reg. 29306, Ma 7442) ; 1 female, PU4 , 3 August 2013, mangrove, (reg. 30071, Ma 7464) ; 1 female, PU1 , 1 September 2012, mangrove, (reg. 29436, Ma 7503) ; 1 female, PU1 , 6 October 2012, mangrove, (reg. 29501, Ma 7519) ; 1 female, PU1 , 17 November 2012, mangrove, (reg. 29579, Ma 7530) ; 1 female, PU1 , 26 January 2013, mangrove, (reg. 29709, Ma 7543) ; 1 female, PU4 , 27 April 2013, mangrove, (reg. 29889, Ma 7649) ; 1 female, PU4 , 1 November 2013, mangrove, (reg. 30240, Ma 8063) ; 1 female, PU4 , 16 August 2013, mangrove, (reg. 30096, Ma 8893) .

Diagnosis. Species of the E. ephippiata group; recognised by almost entirely yellow thorax with only metanotum brown, antenna with postpedicel about 2.0 times as long as wide, stylus very long, legs yellow, fore tibia with 1 short anterodorsal bristle on about middle, hind tibia with 1 anterodorsal bristle, acrostichals biserial and dorsocentrals uniserial, haltere brownish.

Description. Length: wing 2.5 mm.

Male (described for the first time): Occiput entirely black, largely shining; with yellowish setation; inner verticals very long inclinate, outer verticals somewhat shorter, inclinate. Anterior ocellars very long proclinate, posterior ocellars minute. Frons shining, very narrow, above antennae about as broad as anterior ocellus. Antenna with scape and pedicel yellow, postpedicel (except extreme base) and stylus brownish; pedicel with circlet of subequally short setulae; postpedicel short, nearly 2.0 times longer than wide; stylus with short pubescence, very long, nearly 3.5–4.0 times longer than postpedicel. Proboscis brownish yellow. Palpus pale yellow, small, rounded, silvery pubescent, bearing scattered setulae, subapical seta moderately long.

Thorax almost entirely yellow only metanotum with large subtriangular spot; shining, with yellowish setation. Prothoracic episterna lacking long upturned seta just above fore coxa. Postpronotal well prominent, long, inclinate. Mesonotum with 2 long notopleurals (accompanied by 2 somewhat shorter and thinner setae), 1 similar postsutural supra-alar, 1 similar postalar and 4 scutellars (apical pair very long, cruciate; lateral pair minute); acrostichals short, arranged in 2 broad rows, sparse (5–6 in row), lacking on prescutellar depression; dorsocentrals uniserial, sparse (about 8 in row), 2 prescutellar pairs long.

Legs long, slender, yellow, tarsomere 5 of all legs somewhat darker. Coxae and trochanters with unmodified setation. Fore femur slightly thickened, with rows of anteroventral and posteroventral short setae, 1 long thin seta near base and 1 subapical strong seta anteriorly. Fore tibia with 1 short anterodorsal bristle on about middle. Mid femur with ventral short spinule-like setae more numerous on basal part, 1 long thin seta near base and 1 long strong subapical seta anteriorly. Mid tibia without ventral spinules, lacking prominent setae (except subapicals). Hind femur with moderately long anteroventrals and 4 erect dorsal setae near base. Hind tibia with 1 long anterodorsal bristle on about middle; apical projection small, rounded, brownish. Tarsi of all legs unmodified, with unmodified setation.

Wing normally developed, finely infuscate, covered with uniform microtrichia; basal section of M 1+2, crossveins bmcu and r-m pale, R 2+3, R 4+5, apical section of M 1+2 and entire CuA 1 brown. Costal vein with moderately long, uniform setulae along anterior margin. Costal bristle long, brown. Costal index: 59/29/43. Vein Rs long, slightly longer than crossvein bm-cu. Vein R 2+3 evenly bowed. Veins R 4+5 and M 1+2 somewhat divergent near wing apex, R 4+5 slightly bowed, M 1+2 straight. Vein CuA 1 reaching wing margin. Vein A 1 quite distinct. Crossvein bm-cu slightly oblique. Crossvein r-m somewhat before middle of cell bm. Squama brownish yellow, with long, brownish yellow setae. Haltere brownish.

Abdomen. Tergite 1 pale yellow; tergites 2–3 brownish yellow, subtriangular viewed laterally, divided medially, with scattered unmodified setae; tergite 4 dark brown, shining, broadest, with numerous squamiform setae; tergite 5 very narrow, with some slightly flattened setae; tergites 6 wider than tergite 5, undivided, with short unmodified setae; tergite 7 broad, with long posteromarginal setae; tergite 8 unmodified. Sternites yellowish, with scattered minute setae, sternite 8 with long posteromarginal setae. Gland-like structure present between tergites 4–5. Terminalia ( Figs. 8–11 ) moderately large, yellow. Right epandrial lamella densely set with bristles, surstylus fused with lamella ( Fig. 8 ). Left cercus very large with long black subapical bristles on right side ( Fig. 9 ), dorsally with a subapical extension set with short spine-like bristles ( Fig. 10 ). Left epandrial lamella with several long bristles ( Fig. 9 ). Left surstylus covered with hair-like bristles ( Fig. 11 ).

Female: See original description.

Distribution. Singapore.

Remarks. Elaphropeza asexa was described from a large number of females found in a mix of terrestrial forests and mangroves. The holotype was designated from a female found in a swamp forest at Nee Soon and there were more records from terrestrial forests such as primary forest at Bukit Timah and Sime forest. The original description included nineteen females recorded from mangroves on Pulau Ubin. During our recent mangrove survey 7 males were recorded and 37 females. Since we do not have fresh terrestrial material for a genetic analysis we are not sure that the terrestrial specimens are conspecific with the mangrove specimens.

Figures

Figs. 6–7. Elaphropeza asexa Shamshev & Grootaert, 2007: 6, habitus male lateral (photo Abdullah Samoh); 7, habitus female dorsal.

Figs. 8–11. Elaphropeza asexa Shamshev & Grootaert, 2007: 8, right epandrial lamella, lateral view; 9, epandrium with cerci, dorsal view; 10, left cercus lateral view; 11, left surstylus, lateral view. Scale bar = 0.1 mm.