Limnophora mesolissa Bezzi, 1928

Couri, Marcia S., Pont, Adrian C. & Daugeron, Christophe, 2010, The Muscidae (Diptera) of New Caledonia 2503, Zootaxa 2503 (1), pp. 1-61 : 40-42

26. Limnophora mesolissa Bezzi

Limnophora mesolissa Bezzi, 1928: 175 . Lectotype male, Taviuni, Fiji, in BMNH, des. Pont (1970: 429).

Limnophora plumiseta Stein ; Curran, 1929: 6 [misidentification].

Limnophora mesolissa ; Pont, 1973b: 188; Pont, 1989: 692; Shinonaga et al., 1991: 332.

Diagnosis. Small species, body length 2.4–4.5 mm; male frons broad, about one-third of head-width; frontal triangle shining black; arista subplumose; halter yellow; 4 postsutural dorsocentral setae; scutum dark brown, sometimes, especially in female, with a narrow silver band in front of the suture, interrupted in middle, and another one in front of the scutellum, more developed in female; abdomen dark brown, grey dusted, abdominal tergites 3 and 4 with two broad lateral triangular marks.

Material examined: MNHN: New Caledonia: Col d’Amieu: Sarraméa, 412 m, 21°34.407S 165°45.674E, 5–19.xii.2008 – 11.1.2008 , piège Malaise, 2 ♀ (1 MNRJ, 1 OUMNH), T. Théry. Côte Est au sud de Hienghène: Vaillé de Que , Hava , affluent de La Tinpindjé, 20 m, forêt littorale dégradée à Cyas, vii–ix.1993 , 1 ♀, P. Bouchet. Nouméa : vii.1955 , 1 ♀, J. Rageau, Shinonaga det. Env. [Environs] de Nouméa : ix.1955 , 2 ♀, J. Rageau, Shinonaga det. Rivière Bleue: Parc 4, 164c, 4–20.xii.1985 , 1 ♀, L.B.dL., J.C.; 291a, 01.viii–15.ix.1986, 1 ♂, 3 ♀ L.B.dL., J.C., A.S.T.; 299a, 06–20.ii.1986, 1 ♀, L.B.dL., J.C.; 301b, 13.i–06.ii.1986, 1 ♀, L.B.dL., J.C.; 301c, 23.i–06.ii.1986, 1 ♀, L.B. dL., J.C.; Parc 5, 18–20.ii.1986 , piège Malaise, 1 ♀, L. B. de Larbogne & J. Chazeau, Shinonaga det.166a, 19.xi–04.xii.1985, 3 ♀ L.B.dL., J.C., A.S.T; 166b, 2 ♀ (1 BMNH, 1 OUMNH); 226a, 20.xii.1985 – 08.01.1986 , 1 ♀, L.B.dL., J.C.; 233b, 15–29.ix.1986, 1 ♀, L.B.dL., J.C., A.S.T.; 233c, 4 ♀; 379a, 26.iii–09.iv.1987, 1 ♀ L.B.dL., J.C., A.S.T; 380b, 09–22.iv.1986, 8 ♀ (1 MNRJ, 1 BPBM), L.B. dL., J.C.; 383a, 13–23.vi.1987 , 4 ♀ (1 MNRJ), L.B. dL., J.C., A.S. T.; Parc 6, 253a, 15–29.ix.1986 , 1 ♀, L.B. dL., J.C., A.S. T.; Parc 6, 276b, 23.iv–09.v.1986 , 1 ♀, L.B.dL., J.C.; 276c, 1 ♀ ( BPBM); Parc 7, 212b, 20.vi–04.vii.1986 , 2 ♀, L.B. dL., J.C., A.S.T. River Tiwaka: 7 km, après chutes de Pombei (80 m), 23.xi.1983 , sur crottin de cheval, 1 ♀, Shinonaga det. (Mission D. et L. Matile, xi–xii.1983). Tiwaka (Poindimié) : Gal. Forestière , 20 m, 22– 24.xi.1983 , 2 ♀, L. Matile, Shinonaga det. (Mission D. et L. Matile , xi–xii.1983) .

NSMT: New Caledonia: Col d’Amieu: 20 km SW of Canara , 24.ii.1978, S. Shinonaga, 1 ♀; 20.ii.1978, H. Kurahashi, 1 ♀; 25.ii.1978, S. Shinonaga, 1 ♂, 2 ♀. Col de Pétchécara : 15 km W of Thio , 10.ii.1978, 1 ♀, S. Shinonaga ; 19.ii.1978, 11 ♀. Hienghène : 21–22.ii.1978, 2 ♀, S. Shinonaga. Thio : 50 km E of Nouméa , 18.ii.1978, 8 ♂, 17 ♀, S. Shinonaga .

BMNH: New Caledonia: Bourail , xii.1930, 1 ♀; L.E. Cheesman; 24.v.1928, 1 ♀, W.P. Cockerell (named as plumiseta Stein by Curran). Col de Pétchécara , 15 km W of Thio, 1 ♀, 10.ii.1978, S. Shinonaga. Nouméa, 2.viii.1949, 2 ♂, 7♀, L.E. Cheesman. Puebo, coast– 1500 ft, various dates ix–x.1949, 3 ♂, 13 ♀, some on horse droppings, some on rotten fruit, L.E.Cheesman. Thio, 50 km E of Nouméa, 18.ii.1978, 1 ♀, S. Shinonaga. Tontouta, 4.vi.1925, 2 ♀, P.A. Buxton .

BPBM: New Caledonia: On heights between Thio & Naketi: 12.xi.1958, 1 ♀ , C.R. Joyce. Canala : 11.xi.1958, 1 ♀ , C.R. Joyce ; 22.xi.1979, 1 ♂ , W. C. Gagné . Col d’Amieu: NE on route 5, slopes of Mt Rembai , 375–675 m, 23.ix.1979, 1 ♀ , W. C. Gagné, G.M. Nishida, G.A. Samuelson ; 750 m, 3.iii.1960, 1 ♀ ( MNRJ) . Couli near La Foa: iii.1959, 2 ♀ , N.L.H. Krauss. Dumbéa River : 28.x.1958, 1 ♂, 4 ♀ , C.R. Joyce. Forêt de Thi : 29.x–1.xi.1967, 5 ♂, 19 ♀ ; 30.x.1967, 4 ♀ , J. & M. Sedlacek ; 4 km N St. Louis, 100–300 m, 7.viii. 1979, 1 ♀ , W. C. Gagné, G.M. Nishida, G.A. Samuelson. Hienghène : 0–50 m, i.1969, 1 ♀; 0–100 m, i.1971, 4 ♀ , N.L.H. Krauss. In Mts up Boulari Rd. [Road]: 3–4.xi.1958, 1 ♀ ( MNRJ) , C.R. Joyce. La Crouen : 31.i.1963, 2 ♀ , C.M. Yoshimoto & N.L.H. Krauss; 16.iii.1961, 3 ♀ , J. Sedlacek ; 150–250 m, 1.ii.1963, 5 ♀ ; iii.1959, 1 ♀ ; ii.1973, 1 ♂ ( MNRJ) , 4 ♀, N.L.H. Krauss ; 20–22.iii.1968, 1 ♂ , J.L. Gressitt & T.C. Maa. Mokoue to Dothio : 150–500 m, 20–22.iii.1968, 5 ♀ , T.C. Maa. Monts Koghis : ii.1962, 1 ♀ , N.L.H. Krauss ; 450–600 m, 4–6.x.1967, 2 ♀ ; 500– 750 m, 25–26.x.1967, 5 ♀ ; 500 m, 27.x.1967, 1 ♀; 23–27.viii.1967, 3 ♀ ; 500–800 m, 23–27.x.1967, 1 ♀, J. & M. Sedlacek ; 100–300 m, i.1985, 1 ♀ , N.L.H. Krauss. Mt W. of Hovailou : 5.ii.1962, 1 ♂, 4 ♀ , N.L.H. Krauss. Nassirah : 10.xi.1958, 4 ♀ , C.R. Joyce ; 100 m, 20.iii.1968, 36 ♀ , T.C. Maa; 4 km NE de Kuenthio, Rte 4 at Koua R., 150–200 m, 22.ix,1979, 1 ♀ , W. C. Gagné, G.M. Nishida, G.A. Samuelson. Nouméa : I.F.O., Anse Vata , 1.iv.1958, 7 ♀ , J. Rageau , xi.1950, 2 ♀ ; v–vi. 1950, 10♂, 5 ♀ , N.L.H. Krauss. ; i. x.1958, 1 ♀ , on grounds and building, C.R. Joyce. On heights between Thio & Naketi: 12.xi.1958, 2 ♀ , C.R. Joyce. Ouano Beach : 13.xi.1958, 1 ♀ , C.R. Joyce. Plaine des Lac : 30.x.1958, 1 ♀ ; 31.x.1958, 1 ♀ ; 5.xi.1958, 1 ♀, C.R. Joyce. Plateau de Dogny : 20.xi.1958, 4 ♀ (1 BMNH) , C.R. Joyce. Plum : iii.1959, 1 ♀ , N.L.H. Krauss. Tao : 8–10.ii.1963, 8 ♀ , C.M. Yoshimoto & N.L.H. Krauss. Pondimie: 26.xi.1958, 6 ♀ , C.R. Joyce. Sarraméa : 12.ii.1963, 5 ♀ ; 10.i.1969, 1 ♀ ; 70–150 m, i.1971, 14 ♀; ii.1971, 2 ♀ , N.L.H. Krauss. Tao : 8–10.ii.1963, 1 ♂ ( BMNH) , Malaise trap, C.M. Yoshimoto & N.L.H. Krauss. Thio: 11.xi.1958, 2 ♀ , C.R. Joyce. Ponerihouen : 7.ii.1962, 1 ♀ , N.L.H. Krauss. Up Boulari rd [road]: 17.xi.1958, 2 ♀ , C.R. Joyce. In Mts up Boulari rd [road]: 3–4.xi.1958, 8 ♀ , C.R. Joyce. In Mts above Ouaco : 20.x.1958, 8 ♀ , C.R. Joyce. Yahoue : ii.1978, 1 ♀ ; ii.1980, 1 ♀ ; 100–200 m, xiii,1983, 1 ♀ ( MNRJ) , N.L.H. Krauss. Yiambi : NE, 1–50 m, 8.x.1967, 3 ♀ ; 15.x.1967, 4 ♂, 25 ♀ , J. & M. Sedlacek. Loyalty Islands: Ouvea: Fayaoue , 0–50 m, xii.1968; i.1969, 3 ♀ , N.L.H. Krauss ; ii.1963, 31 ♀ , N.L.H. Krauss.

Comments. Malloch (1929b) keyed the species together with the other species of Limnophora occurring in the Society Islands ( French Polynesia) and drew attention to the diagnostically important wide frons of the male, which is equally broad in both sexes. According to present knowledge, the species is known only from the Australasian/Oceanian Regions.

The large series shows variation in size, with specimens ranging from 2.5 to 4.5 mm. Males are always much smaller than females.

Distribution. American Samoa, Australia (NT, Qld), Belau, Fiji, French Polynesia (Society Is), Guam, Indonesia (Maluku), Lord Howe I, Micronesia, New Caledonia ( New Caledonia, Loyalty Is), Northern Marianas, PNG (Bismarck Arch., PNG), Rennell I., Solomon Is, Tonga, Vanuatu, Western Samoa.