Helina grancanariae, Michelsen, 2023

Michelsen, Verner, 2023, Macaronesian Muscidae (Diptera). IV. The genus Helina Robineau-Desvoidy, and description of the male of Spilogona maderensis Michelsen, Zootaxa 5293 (2), pp. 251-276 : 257-258

4. Helina grancanariae sp. nov.

( Figs 2D–F , 3D–F )

Helina obscurisquama (Stein) ; Baéz 1983: 180 ff. (p.p., Gran Canaria). Misidentification.

Material examined. CANARY ISLANDS: Type material (holotype ♁, paratypes 5♁, 8♀) [ NHMD]: GRAN CANARIA: Holotype ♁, paratypes 5♁ 1♀, El Valle, 27°54´N 15°32´W, 730‒935m, 19‒24.i.2017 ( V. Michelsen); paratype ♀, 2km W of Soria , 27°54´N 15°40´W, 800m, 28.xi.2014 ( V. Michelsen) ; paratypes 4 ♀, Tasarte , 27°54´N 15°46´W, 270m, 28‒30.xi.2014 ( V. Michelsen) ; paratypes 2♀, Sagrado Corazón , 28°02´N 15°33´W, 700‒825m, 12‒17.i.2017 ( V. Michelsen) . Other material [ MZH]: GRAN CANARIA: Los Lagunetas , 1♀ 26.vi.1931, 2♀ 22.viii.1931 ( R. Storå) .

Description. Medium to large sized, wing length 5.5–8.0 mm. The present species matches in most respects the description of Helina obscurisquama s. str. given above. Accordingly, the following description gives only differences from that species. Male: Abdomen ( Fig. 2E ) with bluish grey abdominal pruinosity even sparser, largely obscuring the usual paired dark marks on tergites III and IV. Eyes more widely separated by frons ( Fig. 2D ), distance at narrowest point 2.5‒3 times diameter of anterior ocellus; frontal vitta at this point 1‒2 times as wide as fronto-orbital plate (in H. obscuriscuama frons at this point with contiguous fronto-orbital plates and distance between eyes equals the diameter of anterior ocellus). Hind tibia ( Fig. 2F ) with 5‒7 long and curved av and 2‒7 similar ad setae supplemented by finer setae and longish setulae in anterior position; preapical dorsal seta erect, often longer than second hind tarsomere. Abdomen ( Fig. 2E ) relatively slender, ovoid; sternite V and hypopygium ( Figs 3D, E ) more prominent due to larger hypopygium. Female: Differs from the very similar female of H. obscurisquama by the bluish rather than brownish tinge of the thorax, making it concolorous with the abdomen.

Distribution. Endemic to Gran Canaria.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Helina obscurisquama obscurisquama (Stein) (A–C), H. grancanariae sp. nov. (D–F), males. Head, frontal (A, D); abdomen (B, E); right femur and tibia (C, F).

FIGURE 3. Helina obscurisquama obscurisquama (Stein) (A–C), H. grancanariae sp. nov. (D–F), male terminalia. Sternite V (A, D); hypopygium, caudal (B, E) and lateral (C, F). Same scale.