Apiocera rieki Yeates

Yeates, David K. & Oberprieler, Stefanie K., 2013, Review of the Australian Apiocera minor Norris species-group (Diptera: Apioceridae) with a revised key to species, Zootaxa 3680 (1), pp. 195-209 : 204-205

Apiocera rieki Yeates sp. n.

( Figs. 9 , 21 )

Material examined. Holotype: male, Western Australia, 15 [miles, 24 km] W Southern Cross, 30 Oct. 1958, E F Riek ( ANIC, database no. 29029531). Condition good.

Measurements (holotype): 15 mm long (tip of antennae to tip of abdomen), head 2.7 mm wide.

Paratypes: 2 males and 5 females, same data as holotype ( ANIC, database nos. 29029533, 29029534, 29029536, 29029537, 29029539, 29029540, 29029541).

Other material. Western Australia: W of Norseman, 36.6108ºS., 141.0858ºE, 1 male ( ANIC, database no. 29029565); Boorabbin Rock (31.12S, 120.17E), 4–9 October 1981, T.F. Houston 408, 1 Female ( WAM no. 83062).

Diagnosis. A small, elongate, brown species, similar to A. evansi sp. n. in many ways. Proboscis 1.0 x length of fore tibia, flagellum 3 x longer than maximum width, costa ending at M veins, vein M3+CuA1 absent, M2 present, becoming pale towards wing margin. Abdomen with a prominent median dark brown stripe and two mediolateral light brown stripes, similar to A. evansi sp. n.

Description. Head. Pruinescence silver except yellow on vertex. Hairs white except on vertex yellow, and some dark brown hairs admixed on postcranium. Scape and pedicel with ground colour black and with erect black hairs, some white hairs ventrally at base of scape. Palps 2-segmented, elongate with spatulate apex and admixed black and white hairs. Flagellum dark brown, elongate, length 3 x greatest width (at base). Proboscis (excluding labellum) 1.0 x length of fore tibia.

Thorax. Integument dark brown-black, pruinescence and hairs white on pleurae, except for a group of strong black hairs on proepisternum, admixed with the white hairs. Scutum and scutellum with dark brown ground colour, very large dark brown macrosetae around margins. Group of thick dark brown hairs on postpronotal lobes, admixed with longer white hairs. Scutum and scutellum with short light brown hairs. Scutum pruinescence with indistinct pattern of silver-light grey with a pair of longitudinal bands of brown pruinescence on either side of midline, one band in line with the postpronotal lobes, the other pair either side of the midline. The outer darker stripe of pruinescence is broken twice, once on the supra alar area, the other just behind the postpronotal lobes. The scutellum has silver pruinescence around the margin, brown centrally. Legs with dark brown integumental colour, white pruinescence, and indistinct rows of large dark brown spines on femur and tibia, white hairs on femora.

Wings. Fig. 9 . Costa ending at the M veins, M3+CuA1 absent. Cell m3 present, small.

Abdomen. Short black hairs on all segments, a tuft of longer black and white hairs admixed on the sides of tergite 1. Pruinescence on abdomen giving a pronounced longitudinal light brown and dark brown striping. A central dark brown pruinescent stripe, and a lateral stripe on each side, similar to A. evansi sp. n. Venter with short dark brown hairs and silver pruinescence.

Genitalia. Fig. 21 . Male, with divided epandrium, hypandrium very large, elongate with rounded apex free and not fused to gonocoxae. Gonocoxites not fused in midline. Aedeagal sheath short and blunt, gonostyli with apex hooked and curved ventrally, apex with 3–4 short, thick spines. Gonocoxa with additional sclerotized and articulated lobe at the level of the apex of the aedeagus.

Etymology. The specific epithet honours Edgar Riek, who collected the holotype specimen and a number of other specimens used in this revision.

Distribution. Western Australia: Western Southern Cross and West of Norseman ( Fig. 25 ); October, November.

Figures

FIGURES 7 – 12. Right wings of some Apiocera spp. 7, A. newmani; 8, A. evansi sp. n.; 9, A. rieki sp. n.; 10, A. collessi sp. n.; 11, A. mullewa sp. n.; 12, A. microeremia sp. n..

FIGURES 18 – 23. Male genitalia of some Apiocera spp. 18, A. cerata; 19, A. minor; 20, A. evansi sp. n.; 21, A. rieki sp. n.; 22, A. collessi sp. n.; 23, A. microeremia sp. n.

FIGURES 24 – 25. Known distributions of some Apiocera spp: 24, A. minor, A. mackerrasi, A. evansi sp. n., A. collessi sp. n., A. mullewa sp. n., A. microeremia sp. n.; 25, A. australis, A. cerata, A. newmani, A. macrocerata sp. n., A. rieki sp. n., A. vespera.