Euphylidorea (Neophylidorea) vannimwegeni Petersen

Petersen, Jessica D., Petersen, Matthew J. & Courtney, Gregory W., 2012, Description of a new subgenus Neophylidorea (Diptera: Tipulidae) and a new species, Zootaxa 3555, pp. 40-54 : 50-52

Euphylidorea (Neophylidorea) vannimwegeni Petersen , sp. nov.

( Fig 2 F)

Holotype. Male, collected by J. Speed Rogers on VI- 2-1948 in Iosco County, Michigan ( UMMZ). Slide mounted genitalia and wing in Canada balsam. Slide indicates study specimen #4146, but the remainder of the specimen was not located. Also noted on the slide is #23 which may indicate a study site, but this information was not recovered. Originally identified as Limnophila (P.) neadusta Alexander by Rogers.

Paratype. Same data as the holotype, except collected on VI-3-1948. Slide specimen includes only male genitalia and indicated as study specimen #3917 and as above regarding a potential study site, but #25. Originally identified as Limnophila (P.) caudifera Alexander by Rogers.

Diagnosis. Euphylidorea (Neophylidorea) vannimwegeni has unique genitalia, and is clearly distinguished from the other species in the genus based on characters of the ventral parameres: heavily sclerotized with a flat, toothed aspect distal to the large, strongly hooked terminal.

Description. Larva. Unknown.

Pupa. Unknown.

Adult. MALE. Genitalia ( Fig 2 F): Median lobe on 9th tergite equal width to length as in adusta , pubescent, dorsal process more reduced. Dorsal gonostylus angled strongly, slightly anterior to mid-length, base wide. Ejaculatory apodeme smaller than in other species. Medial aedeagal sheath bent apically at 90 degrees (similar to tepida ), moderately sclerotized. Ventral parameres broad laterally,terminating in large, sickleshaped process, with teeth along margin of plate just prior to sickle, heavily sclerotized.

FEMALE. Unknown.

Distribution. This species has been collected only from Iosco County, Michigan. Joseph Speed Rogers took meticulous collection notes that are stored at UMMZ. Using collection information from the label we were able to identify more specific localities. Both the holotype and paratype were collected at Gordon Creek, 2.5 mi south of Lumberman’s Monument in Huron National Forest. The senior author collected Euphylidorea (Neophylidorea) from Michigan, including in Iosco County in 2009, but was unable to locate additional specimens of E. (N.) vannimwegeni .

Habitat. Rogers described the habitat as “alder, spruce, tamarack grown low valley of trout brook with numerous mossy seepage areas”. He also noted the co-occurring crane flies Tipula (Trichotipula) oropezoides Johnson , Dicranota Zetterstedt and Eloeophila .

Etymology. The species name is a noun in the genitive case, in remembrance of Ron VanNimwegen, a dear friend of the senior author and a great naturalist and scientist.

Remarks. Many features of the head, thorax and abdomen of Neophylidorea species are morphologically similar at the macroscopic level and some aspects of the male genitalia (e.g., dorsal parameres) can be difficult to discern from limited series of specimens. Despite this, and although new specimens of vannimwegeni were not discovered, we have decided to base this description solely on male genitalia. The newly described species is most similar to neadusta (see Figure 46F in Alexander 1942 for a genitalic sketch), both characterized by heavily sclerotized ventral parameres, the median filament to the aedeagus strongly curved apically with a long extension after the curve, and the ventral gonostylus with a wide base. These species differ in the shape of the ventral parameres with vannimwegeni having a strongly hooked terminal and neadusta being only slightly curved apically. Euphylidorea (Neophylidorea) neadusta also bears a lateral spine on the ventral paramere, whereas vannimwegeni has teeth along margin of plate just prior to sickle-shaped terminal.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Euphylidorea (Neophylidorea) adusta male hypopygium, dorsal view (A), E. (N.) adusta aedeagal complex, dorsal view (B), E. (N.) adusta male hypopygium, ventral view (C), E. (N.) adusta aedeagal complex, ventral view (D), E. (N.) adusta male hypopygium lateral view (E), E. (N.) vannimwegeni sp. nov. male hypopygium, dorsal view (F). Abbreviations: 9 s = ninth sternite, 9 t = ninth tergite, aed = aedeagus, d gonst = dorsal gonostylus, dpa = dorsal paramere, dpr = dorsal process, ej ap = ejaculatory apodeme, goncx = gonocoxite, ib = interbase, ml = median lobe, sp = sperm pump, v gonst = ventral gonostylus, vpa = ventral paramere.