Usia syriaca Paramonov, 1950

Gibbs, David, 2011, 2960, Zootaxa 2960, pp. 1-77 : 65-68

Usia syriaca Paramonov, 1950

(Plate XIX)

Usia syriaca Paramonov, 1950: 365 .

Usia sp. no. 4: Theodor, 1983: 63, Figs. 171–174. PLATE XIX. Usia syriaca Paramonov, 1950 ; a epiphallic complex ventral, b epiphallic complex lateral, c gonocoxite ventral, d gonocoxite lateral, e epandrium dorsal, f female genitalia ventral, g female sternite 8 ventral.

Type material examined. Not seen but photographs examined. LECTOTYPE here designated: Syria, Damaskus, 45219. IV/ versic,/ Usia syriaca , n. sp. ♀ Typus, Paramonov det. [♀ specimen nearest the pin, on same mount as paralectotype, in SIZK]. PARALECTOTYPE: Syria, Data as lectotype. [♀ specimen furthest from the pin, on same mount as lectotype, in SIZK] .

Other material examined. Israel, A546/ Dagania, 15 March [19]40/ Holotype, Usia daganiae, Theodor , det. O. Theodor 1985 [♂ in TAU]; Shoval, 5 March 1968, leg. Kugler/ Paratype, Usia daganiae, Theodor , det. O. Theodor 1985 [5♂ 3♀ in TAU]; A3025/ Kineret, 17 March [19]42 [♂ in TAU]; 9 March [19[42 [♂ in TAU]; Dagenia, Jorden Valley, Palestine, 27 March [19]50, O. Theodor [♂ in TAU]; Dagenia, 27 February [19]39 [3♀ in TAU]; 20 February [19]39 [♀ in TAU]; A2998/ Brtania, 17 March [19]42 [♂ in TAU]; Palestine, Wadi Sonar, Judaean highlands, 15 February 1922, P.A. Buxton [♀ in TAU]; Wadi Nafkh, 8 April [19]65, M. Weichselfish [♀ in TAU]; Tel el Kasr, Jordan Valley, Palestine, 28 March [19]50, O. Theodor [♀ in TAU];A503/ Tiberias, 14 March [19]40 [2♀ in TAU]; Kineret, Jordon Valley, Palestine, 29 March [19]50, O. Theodor [♀ in TAU]; Southern Palestine, O. Theodor, Ashkalon, 18 March [19]55 [♀ in TAU]; Bet Jerah, 14 March [19]39 [♀ in TAU]; Negba, 21 March 1977, D. Simon [♀ in TAU]; Mavqi’im, N31º27' E34º34', 18 February 2004, L. Friedman [♂ in TAU]; I. Zonstein [4♂ in TAU]; Herzliyya, hill, N32º11' E34º49', 7 March 2008, A. Freidberg [8♂ 2♀ in TAU]; Ramat Hovav, 7 March 2007, A. Freidberg [♂ in TAU]; Nahal Perat, north-facing slope, Kefar Adummim, 27 February 2007, A. Freidberg [3♀ in TAU]; Kefar Adummim, southern slope, 28 February 2007, L. Friedman [3♂ 4♀ in TAU]; Nofe Perat, Kefar Adummim, north-facing slope of Nahal Perat, 27 February 2007, L. Friedman [♀ in TAU]; south-facingslope of Nahal Perat, 28 February 2007, L. Friedman [♂ in TAU]; Bet Guvrin, 10 March 2004, A. Freidberg [♂ in TAU]; Har Horesha, N30º36' E34º32' 11 April 2002, A. Freidberg [♂ in TAU]; Ruhama 3km NW, 11 March 2000, A. Freidberg [♂ in TAU]; Golan, Qusbiye, 15 April [19]82, S. Foltyn [♀ in TAU]; N. Dishon, 14 April [19]83 I. Zvik [♀ in TAU]; Nahal Yeelim, 6 April 1988, F. Faplan [♀ in TAU]; Lahav, 31 March 1997, L. Friedman [♀ in TAU]; Har-Gilo, 850m 30 & 31 March 1988, R. Kasher [2♀ in TAU]; 20km N Beer-Sheva, [leg.] Shulov [♀ in TAU]; Ruhama 3km NW, 11 March 2000, A. Freidberg [3♀ in TAU]; Wadi Ahmar, nr. Yarden, N32º01' E35º30', 15 March 2005, I. Zonstein [♀ in TAU]; Ma’agar Yeroham, 7 March 2007, A. Freidberg [♀ in TAU]; Matta’, 18 March 2007, L. Friedman [♀ in TAU]; Nofe Perat, 28 February 2007, W. Kuslitzky [♀ in TAU]; Shoham, N32º00' E34º57', 23 March 2007, N. Greenman, S, Chaviv [♀ in TAU]; Har Ramon 1000m 17 March 1995, leg. B. Merz [♀ in MHNG]; Herzliyya, N32º11' E34º48' 15 March 2008, leg. A. Nir [1♂ 2♀ in PCDG]. Jordan, Dayr Alla, Al Balqa Gov. N31º42' E35º37' 27 March 2002 [♂ in BMNH]. Turkey, Ufra 550m, 15 April 1972, [leg.] P. DuMerle [6♂ 6♀ listed as U. ignorata in Zaitzev 2007, in MNHN].

Etymology. Named for Syria, the type location.

Diagnosis. A small to mid-sized shining black species of the eastern Mediterranean. Relatively long-haired with long ventral hairs on hind femora, marginal scutellar hairs as long as scutellum medially, readily distinguished from all other black-haired Usia by the presence of mesonotal dust stripes (along acrostichal and dorsocentral lines), clearly visible in nearly all specimens. Additionally males have a very conspicuous medial horn directed posteriorly at the tip of the gonocoxites, easily seen in lateral view even in most pinned specimens.

Redescription. Measurements. Body length. 2.3–4.8mm Wing length. 2.5–5.0mm.

Male. Head. Frons relatively narrow, about a sixth head width, at narrowest point decidedly narrower than length of third antennal segment, eye margins convex for hind three fifths, widening quite abruptly, then parallel in front. Rather matt, finely longitudinally striated medially, anterolateral grey dust spots distinct, varying from narrow to occupying much of front of frons. Mouth margin very narrow, shining, linear vanishing above and below. Ocellar tubercle shining, ocelli equilateral, lateral ocelli separated from the eye by half their diameter or less. Longest hairs on ocellar tubercle about as long as width of frons in front, longer than width across vertex at lateral ocelli. Occiput covered with grey dust obscuring ground colour, this dusting slightly thinner on triangular area behind vertex. Black hairs on occiput short above, longer below, those on ventral side of head as long as those on ocellar tubercle. Antennae black, relatively elongate, third segment rather variable but usually elongate, straight dorsally before sulcus, undulating ventrally with convex base and slightly constricted subapically, about twice as long as scape and pedicel combined. A few very short dark setae on dorsum of third segment immediately before apical sulcus, sensilla dark brown. Proboscis black, naked, about as long as mesonotum. Palps very small, black to brown, subclavate with a tuft of apical setae as long as the palp. Thorax. Entirely black, mesonotum shining, mostly smooth to inconspicuously wrinkled with hair insertions not strongly marked, but quite conspicuous where dusted. Differs from all other Micrusia in the three conspicuous grey dust stripes along acrostichal and dorsocentral lines. Dorsocentral stripe widened laterally on front slope of mesonotum to cover postpronotal lobe, much of notopleuron and more or less above wing base, sometimes contiguous with dusting on hind part of mesonotum. Behind the level of the wings these dust stripes merge and continue as a broad stripe to the scutellum visible from behind but usually invisible if viewed from front. Mesonotum with longish, perpendicular black hairs averaging a little sparser than many species, acrostichals largely biserial, paramedian lines bare undusted and shining, extending back to above wing bases, laterally hairs generally distributed, longest on notopleuron. Scutellum shining, dulled by thin dusting, surface transversely wrinkled, disc with scattered long black hairs, hind margin with a rather regular row of longer, black hairs as long as the scutellum is long, angled up at about 45º. Pleura mostly dusted, anepisternum largely shining in anterior third as is katepisternum ventrally. Posterodorsal half of anepisternum with dark hairs like those on notopleuron. Wing. Clear to tinged brownish, the veins brownish yellow. Anal lobe convex, about equal in width to anal cell. Haltere. Pale yellowish knob, stem slightly infuscated basally. Legs. Black, coxa dusted in front, femora shining but with rough texture to cuticle, with short to mid-length semi-erect hairs dorsally. Fore-femora with rather longer more erect posterior hairs, up to depth of tibia. Mid-femora with long antero- and posteroventral hairs as long as femora are deep. Hind-femora with similar hairs but only on anteroventral face. Tibia densely covered with short, black adpressed hairs. Abdomen. Black, short with very broad tergites, shining with no more than faint dusting on tergites 1 and 2 on lateral reflexed margins, surface sculpture of short transverse welts at hair insertions. Disc of tergites covered with mid-length, dense black reclinate hairs, much longer hairs laterally and apically. Sternites grey-dusted with long black hairs along apical margins. Genitalia. Very large, subglobular, almost as large as the remainder of the abdomen, especially in small specimens, relatively smaller in large specimens. Epandrium apically with broad lobes that encompass the cerci their tips often touching, relatively thinly haired on disc, shining and almost bare apically and laterally. Gonocoxite basally bilobed with long erect black hairs, at point where it curves inward is a prominent pair of median “horns”, very conspicuous in lateral view. Gonostyli usually obscured by enclosing epandrium but positioned apically, relatively small and simple. Tip of epiphallus diagnostic.

Female. Very similar to the male. The frons of the female averages a little broader than in the male, between a sixth to fifth head width, more evenly divergent anteriorly, ocellar triangle more obtuse, hind ocellus separated from eye margin by about the diameter of that ocellus. The mouth margin is very slightly broader but still narrow and linear. Hairs generally a little shorter, quite conspicuously so on the discs of the tergites. Apical sternite rather oblong, widest medially, evenly convex without a distinct domed boss. An apical median projection within the apical notch.

Discussion. A very distinctive taxon not obviously closely related to any other species.

Distribution. Israel, Jordan, Syria, Turkey. A very frequent species in Israel, especially in the vicinity of the Jordon Valley. Likely to occur in Lebanon and more widely in Syria and Jordan than records currently suggest. Just gets into southeast Turkey but this area rarely visited by entomologists so its status here unknown.