Poecilosomella pallidimana ( DUDA, 1925 )

Papp, L., 2010, Seven New Afrotropical Species Of Poecilosomella Duda (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae), Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 56 (1), pp. 9-41 : 14

Poecilosomella pallidimana ( DUDA, 1925)

( Figs 9–14)

Material studied: Holotype male (HNHM): Marako Abyssinia (Ethiopia), see Papp (1990); 6 males 3 females: as given in Papp (1990: 147); 1 male (HNHM): S. AFR.: Forest mega, dung trap, 31. xii. 1979, S. Peck; Republic of South Africa, 2007, leg. L. PAPP & M. FÖLDVÁRI (all HNHM): 2 males 2 females: Eastern Cape Prov., Bloukrans Pass, in a side valley, Jan 14–16, GPS16, S33°57’09.6” E23°37’59.4”, 70 m, No. 23; 1 male: RSA: Eastern Cape Prov., beside Bloukrans River, Jan 14, GPS17, S33°57’20.9” E23° 38’18.8”, 28 m, No. 24; 1 male 3 females: ibid., in a forest nr R102, Jan 15–16, GPS19, S33°56’57.3” E23°36’20.8”, 224 m, No. 25; 1 female: KwaZulu Natal, N Drakensberg, over and along iMpofane River, Jan 29, GPS32, S29°03’12.7” E29°23’06.2”, 1531 m, No. 42; 1 female (HNHM): SOUTH AFRICA, Limpopo Prov., Magde Blaskloof, 13. 12. 2003, leg. Mikó I. & Melika G. 1 male (NMSA): Port St. Johns, South Africa, B. & P. Stuckenberg, 20–25. Nov. 1961; 1 male (NMSA): Cape Prov., 3 km E Grahamstown, 3326BC 2& 5. i. 1986, J. & B. Londt, Belmont Valley, Malaise; 1 female (NMSA): Cape Prov., 8 km S. Alexandria, 3. XI. 1978, 3326 CD, R. Miller & J. Londt, road & forest margin.

Abdominal tergites 1 and 2 with a large broad desclerotised area. Lateral setae on tergite 4 and tergite 5 only moderately long. Male sternite 5 ( Fig. 9) strongly asymmetrical, with a larger than semicircular medio-caudal black setulose process; its most caudal medial setae thick with hairlike apices ( Fig. 9). Sternite 6 with a large bilobed medial plate almost perpendicular to body axis (i.e. almost horizontal). Sternite 8 part comparatively long. Epandrium strongly asymmetrical, right half much larger (longer). Medial part of hypandrium comparatively large, as long as phallapodeme. Cerci large, protruding in lateral view ( Fig. 3). Cerci protruding along the sagittal line, with fine hairs there, otherwise bare medially, strongly emerging from the caudal contour ( Fig. 10). Consequently a sagittal high process visible in caudal view ( Fig. 10, cf. Fig. 4). Subepandrial sclerite high with rather long dorsal processes. Apical half of surstylus in 2 lobes ( Figs 10–12), cranial process well-sclerotised with numerous setae longer than those of P. additionalis ; caudal lobe (process) long and rather thin in caudal view ( Figs 4–6) with a comparatively small apical thorn. Also setae of caudal lobe longer. Inner (medial) plate of surstylus rather large (covered in lateral view, Fig. 11). Postgonite long, broadened at its middle ( Fig. 13), apical third with minute hairs. Basiphallus curved ( Fig. 14), ventral caudal part with short thornlets.

Female epiproct setal pair thin and at least 0.09 mm long. Female cercus with a 0.15 mm long wavy setal pair.

Distribution. Hitherto reported from Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zaire, Zimbabwe, Republic of

South Africa, and Madagascar. The latter record seems doubtful.