Limnophora albitarsis Stein, 1915

Dawah, Hassan A., Abdullah, Mohammed A. & Deeming, John C., 2020, The Muscidae (Diptera) of Saudi Arabia, descriptions of two new species, new records and updated list of species, Zootaxa 4869 (1), pp. 1-54 : 34

Limnophora albitarsis Stein, 1915 ( Fig. 51 )

Limnophora albitarsis Stein, 1915: 34

Limnophora quadristriata van Emden, 1951: 390 , 702. Synonymy by van Emden 1965: 570.

Specimens examined. 1m, 1f, Jazan, Wadi Lejab , 30.xii.2015, sweeping, H.A. Dawah ( CERS) ; 4m, 1f, Jazan, Wadi Al-Razan , 30.xii.2015, sweeping, H.A. Dawah ( CERS; NMWC) .

Distribution. New to Saudi Arabia and to the Arabian Peninsula. It was described from Taiwan (as “Formosa”).

Taxonomic Remarks. This magnificent little fly looks like an Atherigona in the male but has remarkably modified and coloured mid tarsus. It was identified by Dr. A.C. Pont.

Limnophora bipunctata (Stein in Becker, 1908) ( Fig. 52 ) Calliophrys bipunctata Stein in Becker, 1908: 103 .

Specimens examined. 1f, Asir, Abha, Hay Al-Nusub ( Abha Farm Centre), 1–25.v.2013, Malaise trap, H.A. Dawah ( CERS); 1f , Asir, Abha, Madenate Al-Ameer Sultan , 18.vi.–9.vii.2013, Malaise trap, H.A. Dawah ( CERS) .

Distribution. New to Saudi Arabia. It was described from Tenerife, La Palma, and Gran Canaria (Canary Islands). In the Middle East it has been recorded from Iran, Israel, Oman and the United Arab Emirates ( Deeming 2008).

Biological remarks. Species of this genus are usually found associated with water ( Deeming 2008).

Figures

FIGURE. 51–54. Muscidae species habitus: 51) Limnophora albitarsis Stein, 1915, Male; 52) Limnophora bipunctata (Stein in Becker, 1908), Female; 53) Limnophora obsignata (Rondani, 1866), Male; 54) Limnophora quaterna (Loew, 1852), Male.