Cowanomyia Jaschhof & Jaschhof

Jaschhof, Mathias & Jaschhof, Catrin, 2009, Cowanomyia hillaryi gen. et sp. n., a remarkable new gnoristine (Diptera: Mycetophilidae: Sciophilinae) from New Zealand, Zootaxa 2117, pp. 43-48 : 44-45

Cowanomyia Jaschhof & Jaschhof new genus

Type species. Cowanomyia hillaryi Jaschhof & Jaschhof new species, by monotypy.

Diagnosis. This new genus includes a single species of which males are only 1.5 mm long and of dark brown color, the legs being somewhat lighter than thorax and abdomen. Wing venation is characterized by presence of only 1 medial branch in combination with a furcate cubitus ( Fig. 3 ), which is an unusual pattern among Gnoristini and other Mycetophilidae . Further characters in combination add to the generic distinctiveness: the presence of 3 ocelli; the enlarged proepimeron; the faint, free-ending Sc; the short R1; and the absence of setae on the wing membrane. Females and preimaginal stages are unknown.

Description (based on males). Head. Figs 1–2 . In lateral view head capsule higher than long, slightly flattened on top. Foramen situated above midheight of head. Median convexities of postgenae membranous. Frons asetose, in lateral profile strongly protruding. Frontal tubercle 2-pointed. Antennae inserted above midheight of head. Scape smaller than pedicel, both setose. Fourteen flagellomeres ( Fig. 4 ), subcylindrical, with short stalks, nodes darker than stalks, slightly longer than wide, covered densely with trichia arising from large, circular basal pores, longest trichia little shorter than width of node, setae absent. Interommatidial setae numerous. Three ocelli in line, the laterals remote from eye margins. Postocular bristles about 8. Face setose, subrectangular, much larger than clypeus. Clypeus narrow, with 2 or so setae. Labrum subtriangular, asetose. Maxillary palpus short, 5-segmented, 2 segments present proximally to presumed third, third segment thickest of all, with sharply delimited mesal pit of sensilla. Premental apodemes fused mesally, with 2 posterior processes. Labellum small.

Thorax. Fig. 5 . Proepimeron comparatively large, extending posteriad of proepisternum. Basisternite 1 setose. Scutum with lateral and dorsocentral setae of various sizes. Scutellum with 2 large lateral setae and several smaller setae elsewhere. Mediotergite and laterotergite asetose. Anapleural suture declining posteriorly. Mesopreepisternum setose ventromesally. Anepimeron short, ending far before ventral margin of laterotergite. Mid-pleural pit well developed. Metepisternum finely setose posteroventrally. Wing. Fig. 3 . Membrane transparent, with dense, irregular microtrichia on both sides, setae absent. C extending much beyond apex of R5 and up to apex of wing. Sc very weak, ending free. R1 short, ending in proximal half of wing. Rs oblique, about as long as r-m, situated in proximal half of wing. R-m oblique. Bm-cu comparatively weak throughout. R5 almost straight. M simple, wide, not sharply delimited from membrane which applies also to CuA. CuA furcate, stem and fork subequal in length. CuP weak, wide, extending to point of furcation of CuA. Both A1 and A2 weak, wide, comparatively long, A2 curved slightly anteriorly. Dorsal setae on R, R1 and R5 proximally. Legs. Fore and mid coxae setose, hind coxa with 1–2 setae in upper third and 3–4 setae apically. Femora with setae and microtrichia. Tibiae covered with large microtrichia sparsely intermingled with setae including 2 sparse rows of strong, semi-erect setae, longest setae shorter than tibial diameter. Fore tibial organ with semicircular rim and regular comb of some 15 trichia. Tibial spurs 1:2:2, with serrated rims, on mid and hind tibiae unequal in length. Mid and hind tarsi with sole of semi-erect setae. Empodia slightly shorter than pretarsal claws. Claws each with 1 large tooth, thus seemingly split in 2 tines.

Abdomen. Segments 1–6 evenly setose, segment 1 short, segments 2–6 longer, subequal in length, only sternites of segments 7–8 visible, setose. Presence of foldlines uncertain. Tergal plaques absent.

Male terminalia. See under C. hillaryi .

Etymology. We name this new genus to honour Pat and Arthur B. Cowan of Otorohanga, North Island, New Zealand, for their contribution to forest conservation and restoration in the Waikato region and many other parts of New Zealand. Among manifold other capacities, Arthur was a founding member of the New Zealand Native Forests Restoration Trust and, in spite of being in his nineties now, is still actively involved in pest control and native tree planting.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 4. Cowanomyia hillaryi gen. et sp. n., male. 1: Head, lateral view. 2: Head, frontal view. 3: Wing, dorsal view, alar microtrichia and marginal setae drawn only partially. 4: Antennal flagellomeres 3 – 5, lateral view. Length of scale bar = 0.1 mm (for 1 and 2), 0.5 mm (for 3) and 0.05 mm (for 4).

FIGURES 5 – 7. Cowanomyia hillaryi gen. et sp. n., male. 5: Thorax, lateral view. 6: Terminalia, ventral view. 7: Terminalia, dorsal view. Length of scale bar = 0.1 mm (for 5) and 0.05 mm (for 6 and 7).