Evertomyia helenae, Gaimari, Stephen D., 2004

Gaimari, Stephen D., 2004, A new genus of Lauxaniidae (Diptera) from New Caledonia, Zootaxa 449, pp. 1-39 : 19-23

Evertomyia helenae , sp. nov.

( Figs. 2 , 3 C, 8A–D, 9A–E)

Etymology. Named for my wife, Helen Greeley Gaimari, for all her love and support over the years.

Diagnosis. Like E. albeto , E. irwini , and E. matilei , this species has strong, proclinate, parallel­sided ocellar setae, at least a partially silvery grey pruinose fronto­orbital plate (for this species only anteriorly, forward of anterior orbital seta), and paired spots on the ventral part of the face. Like E. albeto and E. irwini , dorsocentral vittae are present, but in this species they are light bronzy pruinose. Like E. matilei and E. irwini , the ptilinial suture is dark brown to black pruinose only along the dorsal part terminating above the level of paired facial spots, and the antennal groove is distinctly marked from the dorsal part of the suture extending medially. Like E. matilei , the anepisternum has a dark brown spot at the base of the anepisternal seta, but in this species the remainder of the anepisterum is not fully greyish pruinose. Like E. matilei , E. irwini , and E. webbi , the anterior orbital seta is closer to the lunule edge than to the posterior seta. Like E. irwini and E. webbi , the arista is short plumose. Like all species except E. frankadelia , the orbital setae are strong with the posterior seta slightly stronger than the anterior seta, and the anterior dorsocentral seta is closer to the transverse suture than to the middle seta. Like all species except E. albeto , the face lacks a median spot and the midtibia has 1 strong spur. Unlike any other species, this species has a distinct dark stripe extending from the proepisternum through the posterior katepisternal seta. In the male: the surstylus is thick, setose, lacks pile, and the tip is bare and curves to a sharp medially hooked point; the aedeagus has its lateral edges bulging through its length, the ventral surface has a median longitudinal furrow; the hypandrium has a pair of very small posteriorly­directed median lobes; the paramere is absent.

Adults, ɗ, Ψ. Body length 5.6–6.2 mm.

Head ( Fig. 3 C). 1.2–1.3 X higher than long, 1.4–1.5 X wider than high; eye as high as long. Vertex with light dusting of silvery grey pruinescence; outer vertical seta as strong as posterior orbital seta, inner seta 1.3–1.5 X longer. Ocellar triangle with darkened pruinescence relative to remainder of frons. Ocellar and postocellar setae strong; ocellar setae proclinate, parallel­sided. Occiput and median occipital sclerite yellowish, with light dusting of silvery grey pruinescence. Frons with anterolateral part with distinct black pruinose spot visible in profile below fronto­orbital plate. Fronto­orbital plate with silvery grey pruinescence only in anterior part, from anterior orbital seta forward; remainder of fronto­orbital plate light bronzy pruinose. Orbital setae strong; posterior seta 1.1–1.2 X longer than anterior; anterior seta arising slightly closer to edge of lunule than to posterior seta; distance between anterior setae subequal to that of posterior setae. Scape, facial carina, and area lateral to antennal base pale yellow, with light dusting of silver pruinescence. Antennal pedicel orange; 1st flagellomere dark brown, orange basally, 1.5–1.7 X longer than high; arista short plumose, with longest rays 0.8 mm and 0.4 X height of 1st flagellomere. Face yellowish orange, with light dusting of silver pruinescence; antennal grooves with black pruinose area below antenna and along dorsal part of ptilinial suture; ventral part of face with paired dark brown pruinose spots. Parafacial, gena, and postgena pale yellow with light covering of silver pruinescence; dark brown spot below eye. Clypeus brownish. Maxillary palpus dark brown, nearly black; subcylindrical; with black setulae.

Thorax. Scutum ( Fig. 2 ) 1.2–1.4 X longer than wide; scutellum ( Fig. 2 ) with width at base 1.1–1.4 X greater than length; scutum and scutellum orange; narrow light bronzy pruinose dorsocentral vittae present (width of vitta = quarter width of area between vittae); some specimens with thin, slightly lighter median longitudinal line; scutellum with silvery grey pruinescence along lateral edge, with posterior edge pale yellow from posterior view; dorsal part of postpronotal lobe through notopleuron to wing base yellow pruinose, ventral part of postpronotal lobe dark brown pruinose. Anepisternum mostly pale, with dark brown spot at base of anepisternal seta and in anterodorsal part; distinct dark brown stripe from anterior part of proepisternum through posterior katepisternal seta. Distance between dorsocentral setae subequal, with anterior seta closer to transverse suture than to middle seta. Legs. Yellowish orange, except as noted. Coxae yellow, with light dusting of silvery white pruinescence. Forefemur with patch of silvery brown pruinescence on anterodorsal surface; ctenidium as evenly spaced (each 0.23–0.27 mm apart) row of 10–11 setulae; posterior surface with short row of small setae. Foretibia with brown bands basally and apically, with lighter band sub­basally. Midfemur with brown spot at midpoint on ventral surface. Midtibia with brown bands basally, sub­basally, and apically. Hindfemur with brown pruinose band on anterior and anteroventral surfaces beyond middle and apically. Hindtibia with silvery brown bands sub­basally (corresponding in position with band on femur) and apically; with 1 strong spur. Wing. Length 5.1–6.1 mm; 2.5–2.7 X longer than high. Discal medial cell 3.3–3.6 X longer than crossvein dm­cu. Halter yellow.

Abdomen. Yellowish orange; slightly shorter than scutum. Transverse rows of long setae along posterior edges of tergites becoming longer and stronger laterally. Lateral portion of tergite 1 (as part of syntergite 1+2) with dark silvery grey pruinose patch; lateral portions of tergites 2–5 each with small brown spot visible from ventral view near tergal edge, and another small brown spot visible from dorsal view (both spots visible from lateral view). Sternites yellow with dusting of silvery white pruinescence; with sparse fine setulae, some along posterior edges slightly stronger; in female, sternites 2–5 2.1 X broader than long, with elongate setae along posterior edge.

Male genitalia. Surstylus articulated with epandrium ( Figs. 8 C–D); thickened, slightly tapering; tip bare, abruptly tapering and curving to sharp medially hooked point ( Fig. 8 D); setose, lacking pile. Aedeagus ( Figs. 8 A–B) with anterior and posterior ends subequal in width, but lateral edges evenly bulging through length; ventral surface with median longitudinal furrow to gonopore; dorsally with large median ridge. Hypandrium ( Fig. 8 A) a thin curved band with pair of very small, posteriorly­directed median lobes. Paramere absent. Aedeagal apodeme minute, thin, branched posteriorly into 2 arms, appearing as “Y”; straight from lateral view. Ejaculatory apodeme larger that aedeagal apodeme.

Female terminalia . Sternite 8 ( Figs. 9 A–B) nearly as long as broad; sides slightly tapering posteriorly; heavily sclerotized along saddle­shaped posterior edge and along paired anterior patches; paired central processes not separated from sternite; dorsally flattened with stiff dorsally directed setae. Paired, heavily sclerotized accessory structures ( Fig. 9 C) at interface between hypoproct and sternite 8 ( Figs. 9 A). Tergite 8 lightly sclerotized, apparently lacking lobes. Spermathecae ( Fig. 9 D) round, small; single spermatheca 0.09 mm diameter, paired 0.075 mm each; paired spermathecae on short stalks after bifurcation.

Immatures. Unknown.

Biology. Specimens of this species have been collected in all months from October through January. Several were attracted to a feces trap, and several were collected using Malaise traps across forest paths.

Type material. Holotype ɗ (glued to paper point, very good condition) deposited in MNHN with the following labels: “N. CALÉDONIE / Mt. Panié; 300m / feces trap; 12­ / xii­1990; Bickel”, “ HOLOTYPUS / Evertomyia / helenae / Gaimari ɗ” (red label). Paratypes. Province Nord. Headwaters of Houailou R[iver]. (C.R. Joyce), 26.X.1958 [1ɗ]. (same collection data as holotype) Mount Panié, 300 m (D. Bickel), feces trap, 12.XII.1990 [5Ψ (dissection 917: SDG 01018)]. Yiambi [Yambé], NE, 500–700 m (J. & M. Sedlacek), 14.X.1967 [1Ψ]. Province Sud. Rivière Bleue Provincial Park: 30 km NW Yaté (M.E. Irwin, D.W. Webb), Malaise trap across forest path, 24–27.XII.1991 [1ɗ]; trail to Vallée de Pourina, 850 m (D.W. Webb), Malaise trap across forest path, 19–28.XI.1992 [2ɗ (dissection 910: SDG 01009)]. Mont Koghi, 450–600 m (J. & M. Sedlacek), 4– 6.X.1967 [1Ψ]. Monts des Koghis, 400–600 m (N.L.H. Krauss), I.1969 [2ɗ]. Paratypes deposited in AMSA, BPBM, INHS, MNHN, and USNM.

Distribution. Known only from the rainforests in the low to middle elevations of the Monts des Koghis and Rivière Bleue Provincial Park in southern New Caledonia, and of Mount Panié, the Yambé vicinity, and along the headwaters of the Houailou River in the north.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Evertomyia helenae, sp. nov. ɗ. Thorax, dorsal view. Scale bar = 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 3. Head, oblique view, right arista removed for clarity. Scale bar = 0.5 mm. A) Evertomyia albeto, sp. nov. ɗ. B) Evertomyia frankadelia, sp. nov. Ψ. C) Evertomyia helenae, sp. nov. Ψ. D) Evertomyia irwini, sp. nov. Ψ. E) Evertomyia matilei, sp. nov. ɗ. F) Evertomyia webbi, sp. nov. Ψ.

FIGURE 8. Evertomyia helenae, sp. nov. ɗ. Male genitalia. Scale bar = 0.2 mm. A) Aedeagal complex, ventral view. B) Aedeagus, lateral view. C) Epandrial complex, lateral view. D) Surstylus, dorsal view.

FIGURE 9. Evertomyia helenae, sp. nov. Ψ. Female genitalia. Scale bar, A – C = 0.2 mm; D = 0.1 mm; E = 0.05 mm. A) Terminalia, lateral view. B) Terminalia, ventral view. C) Terminalia, accessory structures, ventral view. D) Spermathecae. E) Spermatheca (single), cross section, top view looking into spermathecal duct opening.