Elaphropeza modesta, Published, 2007

SHAMSHEV, IGOR V. & GROOTAERT, PATRICK, 2007, Revision of the genus Elaphropeza Macquart (Diptera: Hybotidae) from the Oriental Region, with a special attention to the fauna of Singapore, Zootaxa 1488 (1), pp. 1-164 : 105-106

Elaphropeza modesta sp. nov.

( Fig. 179 )

Diagnosis. Occiput black, antenna entirely yellow with postpedicel about 2.5 times longer than wide; thorax with scutum and metanotum dark brown; legs with tarsomere 5 black, hind tibia with 1 anterodorsal bristle.

Description. Female. Body length 3.1–3.0 mm, wing length 2.1–2.2 mm. Occiput black. Eye slightly concave on posterior margin. Anterior ocellars long, proclinate; posterior ocellars minute. Inner verticals long, outer ones shorter. Antenna ( Fig. 179 ) wholly yellow. Pedicel with circlet of subequally short setulae. Postpedicel about 2.5 times longer than wide. Style normally pubescent, brown, about 2.0 times longer than postpedicel and nearly (1.2 times) as long as scape, pedicel and postpedicel combined. Palpus yellow, small, rounded.

Thorax almost entirely yellow, only scutellum and metanotum dark brown. Prothoracic episterna lacking long upturned bristle just above fore coxa, with 1 very short bristle in upper part. Postpronotal bristle not prominent. Mesonotum with usual set of bristles. Acrostichals and dorsocentrals multiserial, extending to base of scutellum.

Legs almost entirely yellow, only tarsomere 5 of all legs black. Fore and mid femur with unmodified armature. Fore tibia lacking prominent bristles. Mid tibia lacking ventral spinules and prominent bristles (except subapicals). Hind femur with ordinary setation. Hind tibia bearing 1 anterodorsal bristle, with hardly prominent rounded apical projection. Tarsi of all legs unmodified.

Wing uniformly finely infuscate. Costal index: 54/37/36/17. Veins R4+5 and M1+2 somewhat divergent near wing apex, both straight. Crossvein bm-cu transverse. Crossvein r-m near middle of cell bm. Halter pale yellow.

Abdomen. Tergite 1 entirely pale yellow. Tergites 2 and 3 brownish, of subequal width viewed dorsally, deeply concave anteriorly and divided along midline; with unmodified setation. Tergite 4 broadest, dark brown, with numerous squamiform setae. Tergite 5 very narrow, concolorous with tergite 4, bearing squamiform setae. Tergites 6 and 7 brownish yellow, with short posteromarginal bristles. Segment 8 narrow, elongate, brownish yellow, with sclerites separated; sternite 8 somewhat folded apically. Sternite 10 and cercus brownish.

Male. Unknown.

Material examined: Holotype female labelled: SINGAPORE, Chek Jawa , 11 December 2003, mangrove, Mal 1 (reg. 23119, leg. PG, E-35).

Paratypes: SINGAPORE, 1 ♀, Chek Jawa , 2 December 2003, mangrove, Mal 1 (reg. 23097, leg. PG) ; 3 ♀♀, Chek Jawa , 26 March 2005, mangrove, sweeping (reg. 25031, leg. PG) .

Derivatio nominis. The name modesta (from Latin modestus: modest) refers to the fact that no males are known.

Distribution. Singapore, mangrove.

Remarks. The relationships of E. modesta sp. nov. are unclear beyond inclusion within the E. ephippiata species group.

Figures

FIGURES 179–181. Female antennae. 179. Elaphropeza modesta sp. nov. 180. E. feminata sp. nov. 181. E. singulata sp. nov.