Molophilus (Molophilus) carbonis, Starý, Jaroslav, 2011

Starý, Jaroslav, 2011, Descriptions and records of the Palaearctic Molophilus Curtis (Diptera, Limoniidae), Zootaxa 2999, pp. 45-62 : 48-49

Molophilus (Molophilus) carbonis sp. n.

Figures 7–9

Diagnosis. Small species within Molophilus . Body deep dark brown, almost blackish, restrictedly patterned with yellow, mostly shiny, locally suffused with greyish pruinosity. Gonocoxite of male terminalia without dorsal and lateral lobe. Outer (dorsal) gonostylus shorter than inner (ventral) gonostylus, slender, pointed at tip. Inner gonostylus somewhat stouter, shortly bifurcate at apex. Wing length 3.4–3.8 mm.

Description. Male. Head. Antenna short, not reaching wing base, dark brown throughout. Flagellomeres ovoid, with longest verticils subequal in length to their respective segments.

Thorax deep dark brown, almost blackish, restrictedly patterned with yellow, mostly shiny, locally suffused with sparse greyish pruinosity. Prescutum and scutum deep dark greyish brown, more shiny laterally, with yellow area lateral to prescutal pit, including adjacent part of paratergite; scutal lobe yellowish brown posterolaterally. Scutellum mostly dark brown, sometimes paler, yellowish brown, medially. Postscutellum deep dark greyish brown. Pleuron deep dark brown, mostly shiny, dorsopleural membrane and basalare paler, obscure yellow. Wing membrane infuscated; venation generally as for genus. Stem of halter infuscated, knob pale yellow. Legs with coxae, trochanters and bases of femora brown, rest of legs darker.

Abdomen deep dark brown. Male terminalia ( Figs 7–9 ) deep dark brown. Dorsal portion of gonocoxite rather short, without dorsal and lateral lobe, subquadrangular in lateral view, somewhat expanded posterodorsally, broadly rounded at apex, without noticeable process at posteroventral edge. Lateral excision comparatively deep and moderately wide. Ventral lobe of gonocoxite generally slender and long, its somewhat truncate tip level with apex of dorsal portion of gonocoxite. Both gonostyli smooth and pale. Outer gonostylus slender, generally straight, pointed at tip, reaching to about three fourths length of inner gonostylus. The latter exceeding ventral lobe by about one third its length, bent ventrally and tapered to slender, gradually narrowing, slightly upturned distal part with shortly bifurcate apex. Aedeagus of moderate length and breadth, widely and evenly arched at mid-length, with both ends nearly aligned and distal part gradually tapered to slightly upturned tip. Aedeagal plate moderate in size, generally triangular in ventral/ventrocaudal aspect, with rounded apex and barely distinct tooth anterolaterally.

Female resembling male in general appearance.

Material examined. Holotype 3: Portugal, Algarve, Serra de Monchique Mts, Alcaria do Peso (450–500 m), 3.iv.2009 (J. Starý leg.) ( SMOC). Paratypes: 1 3, 1 Ƥ, same data as for holotype ( JSO).

Etymology. The name of the new species, carbonis , refers to its blackish body colouration (Latin carbo = coal). A noun in genitive singular.

Discussion. M. (M.) carbonis sp. n. is closest to M. (M.) nigrescens Lackschewitz, 1940 , described from Spain. Whereas the two species only slightly differ in the shape of the gonocoxite (dorsal portion subquadrangular in carbonis sp. n., broadly rounded in nigrescens , cf. Figs 7 and 10 ) and the curvature of the gonostyli, the difference in the shape of the aedeagus is quite profound. In M. (M.) carbonis sp. n., the aedeagus is widely and evenly arched at mid-length, with both ends approximately in alignment ( Fig. 8 ). In M. (M.) nigrescens , the aedeagus is markedly modified, being unevenly curved and expanded at mid-length, with an erect, even retrorse tooth at the distal bend ventrally, and the apical part quite straight ( Fig. 11 ). This peculiar shape of the aedeagus clearly separates M. (M.) nigrescens from M. (M.) carbonis sp. n. The aedeagus of M. (M.) nigrescens was described by Lackschewitz (1940a) as being bayonet-shaped, but has not been adequately illustrated. M. (M.) carbonis sp. n. and M. (M.) nigrescens appear to be much similar in external characters, including colouration, although the examined types of M. (M.) nigrescens are now somewhat faded. The only possible external difference between the two species is in size; M. (M.) carbonis sp. n. appears to be smaller.

Distribution. Portugal.

Figures

FIGURES 7 – 12. Male terminalia. 7 – 9 — M. (M.) carbonis sp. n. (paratype), general view, lateral (7), aedeagal complex, lateral (8), and aedeagal plate, ventral (9). 10 – 12 — M. (M.) nigrescens (lectotype), general view, lateral (10), aedeagal complex, lateral (11), and aedeagal plate, ventral (12). Scale bar 0.5 mm.