Soeliella, Kvifte, Gunnar Mikalsen, 2015

Kvifte, Gunnar Mikalsen, 2015, The Afrotropical genera of Psychodini: Redefinition of the tribe, first Afrotropical record of Perithreticus Vaillant, 1973 and description of Soeliella gen. nov. (Diptera: Psychodidae: Psychodinae), Zootaxa 3986 (1), pp. 115-126 : 120-121

Soeliella , gen.nov.

Type species: Soeliella platypenis , sp.nov., by present designation

Diagnosis. Eyebridge of four facet rows; labellum bulbous, setose; antennal flagellomeres nodiform with Yshaped ascoids; flagellomeres 12–14 without internodes, diminutive ( Fig. 2 B); clypeus margin anteriorly with a Ushaped median concavity ( Fig. 2 A); ocular setae uniseriate, densely spaced ( Fig. 2 A); wing membrane setose; aedeagus symmetrical with two subtriangular parameres; distiphallus expanded and platelike, not extending beyond apices of parameres; gonocoxal condyles pointed, almost meeting at median ( Fig. 2 D); hypoproct broad, finely pilose; anterior margin straight ( Fig. 2 E); surstyli with 3 tenacula arranged in one transverse row.

Etymology. Named for Geir Søli, presently at the Natural History Museum of Oslo, for taking part in collecting the type series of all species described herein.

Discussion. The new species described below as Soeliella platypenis , sp. nov. is characterized by a unique combination of characters which makes its systematic placement difficult. Most of its character states are either likely plesiomorphies (labellum bulbous, parameres triangular), autapomorphies (the broad plate-like fusion of the distal phallomeres) or homoplastic characters within Psychodini (ocular setae numerous and densely clustered, clypeus with U-shaped concavity in anterior margin, wing membrane setose, surstylus with three tenacula). Since the species does not share any probable synapomorphies with any described genus, the erection of the monotypic taxon Soeliella gen. nov. is here considered the preferable option to a generic placement violating phylogenetic principles.

Soeliella platypenis , sp. nov. ( Fig. 2 )

Type material: Holotype ♂. TANZANIA: Tanga region, W. Usambara mountains, Gologolo, Lushoto, 25.xi.1990, G. Søli & T. Andersen leg.

Diagnosis. As for genus.

Description. Male (n=1). Head ( Fig. 2 A) slightly broader than long; vertex about a quarter of total head length; single row of 10 ocular setae present; eyebridge of four facet rows; interocular suture triangular, pointing caudally; interocular distance equal to 1.3 facet diameters; frontal scar patch trilobate at posterior end, reaching anterior end of eyebridge; length of palpomeres: 78: 124: 134: 122; clypeus with complete dorsal suture; labellae bulbous; antennae 16-segmented; scape stout, cylindrical, pedicel globular; flagellomeres 1–11 carrying a pair of Y-shaped ascoids; branches of ascoids narrow digitiform; other sensillae possibly present, but only attachment points preserved in specimen; F11 with short neck, F12–14 without necks (fig 2B); Length of antennomeres: 70: 54: 132: 126: 122: 120: 122: 120: 120: 118: 112: 110: 64: 24: 24: 28; thorax without specialized allurement organs; anepisternum with scar patch droplet-shaped, pointed dorsally; anepimeron triangular with convex lower margin, ventral suture about as long as breadth of anepimeron; legs without special features; wing ( Fig. 2 C) incomplete, broad, at least 2.34 mm long, 0.88 mm wide; membrane setose, area between C and R1 infuscated; radial fork distal to CuA2, CuA2 distal to medial fork; R1, R5 and CuA1 thickened; terminalia symmetrical ( Fig. 2 D); hypandrium narrowly band-like; gonocoxite narrow, curved; slightly longer than gonostylus, with muscular attachment to aedeagal complex on the posterior mesal side; gonostylus curved, evenly tapering, with scattered sensillae on mesal surface; basiphallus laterally compressed, narrow in dorsal aspect, with large aperture; distiphallus expanded into a large plate with median suture; parameres shaped like the number 9, about as long as gonocoxites and distiphallus; epandrium ( Fig. 2 E) slightly broader than long with short lateroanterior processes pointing anteriorly; ventral epandrial plate spatular, anteriorly expanding into two rectangular protuberances, presumably connected to aedeagal complex; Surstyli ( Fig. 2 E) slightly curved with one terminal row of three tenacula; hypoproct broadly hemicircular, finely pilose; epiproct small, oval, finely pilose.

Etymology. From latin platys, flat, and penis, penis. Refers to the shape of the aedeagus. The name is to be treated as a noun in apposition.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Soeliella platypenis, gen. et sp. nov. A. Head, B. Terminal flagellomeres, C. Wing, D. Aedeagus and gonopods, E. Epandrium, proctiger and surstyli. Length of scale bars in µm: 40 (A), 20 (B, D), 200 (C), 50 (E).