Leptomorphus mandelai Borkent, 2012

Borkent, Christopher J. & Wheeler, Terry A., 2012, Systematics and Phylogeny of Leptomorphus Curtis (Diptera: Mycetophilidae) 3549, Zootaxa 3549, pp. 1-117 : 43-45

20. Leptomorphus mandelai Borkent , new species

( Figures 23, 61, 87, 109, 134, 150, 153)

DIAGNOSIS: The only extant species of Leptomorphus with the following combination of characters: laterotergite, anepisternum and anepimeron yellow; scutellum yellow; scutum mostly dark brown with yellow restricted to anterior and lateral margins; abdomen with tergite 7 brown ( Fig. 23); male genitalia with tergal evagination bearing ventrally-directed fold along most of posterior margin and small point on apicomedial corner ( Fig. 109).

This species can be distinguished from other Afrotropical species by the yellow scutellum, brown tergite 7 ( Fig. 23), and lack of small setae covering the scutum (except along dorsocentral lines).

DESCRIPTION: Male. ( Fig. 23) Head: yellow, somewhat dorsoventrally compressed in anterior view. Antenna brown; scape yellow, with brown setae in single apical row extending from dorsum laterally into thick patch covering apicoventral process, basal third and entire medial surface bare, anterobasal patch of setulae absent; pedicel yellow, with 2 large bristles, several setae on apicodorsal margin, a few fine setae on apicoventral margin; flagellomere 1 with tapered base light brown remainder brown; flagellomere 6 1.5X as long as broad. Clypeus ivory, slightly laterally compressed oval; bristles on clypeus light brown, 6 strong bristles on ventral margin directed ventrally, remaining setae directed medioventrally, clypeus 2.5X as long as face. Face ivory; shape a slightly wider than tall triangle, with few bristles ventrolaterally. Frons yellow; with few bristles medioventrally, frontal furrow running full distance from dorsal margin towards ventral margin, frontal cleft just anterior of median ocellus. Palpus yellow; segment 1 small but visible below eye, segments increasing in length, segment 5 2X length of segment 4 with central half thinner than base and apex, segment 3 with apicolateral patch of fine yellow setae weakly encircled by strong dark setae. Labellum yellow. Eye with very few, short inter-ommatidial setulae scattered on surface. Occiput yellow with appressed, anteriorly directed setae. Ocelli in a straight line, space between ocelli less than diameter of laterals, lateral ocelli 1.5X their own diameter from eye margin, ocellar triangle dark brown/black. Thorax: Length 1.52 mm (n = 1). Dark brown dorsally, yellow laterally. Scutum dark brown with blue-green specks, anteromedial spot and pair of mediolateral and posterolateral spots yellow; surface of scutum bare; acrostichal setae absent; dorsocentral setae present as complete multiple lines of setae; multiple rows of lateral setae present; patch of setae on scutum at wing base present. Scutellum yellow; with 8 large bristles and many small bristles. Prescutum yellow. Mediotergite yellow with 12 bristles on posterolateral corners, anteromedial patch of small bristles. Laterotergite yellow; anterior margin of laterotergite not reaching katepisternum. Anepimeron yellow. Anepisternum yellow. Katepisternum yellow. Antepronotum and proepisternum yellow. Margin of anterior and posterior spiracles yellow with light brown trichia. Metepisternum yellow. Anapleural suture with anterior portion slightly curved dorsally. Halter yellow. Legs: principally yellow; extreme anteroapical corner dark brown on all femora. Midfemur without apical spine-like process. Tibia with covering of brown macrotrichia, foretibia without comb of short setae along length of anteroventral surface ( Fig. 87), hind tibial spur yellow, remainder brown, foretibial spur length 2X apical thickness of foretibia, midtibia with strong, dorsal, bare patch of even thickness for 3/4 of its length, placed centrally, shortest midtibial spur 0.85X length of longest, longest midtibial spur 4.7X apical thickness of midtibia, shortest hind tibial spur 0.8X length of longest, longest hind tibial spur 4X apical thickness of hind tibia. Foreleg first tarsomere 1.7X length of foretibia. Wing ( Fig. 61): Length 6.5 mm (n = 1). Hyaline; apical macula absent; medial macula absent. Macrotrichia in all cells. Setae on basal posterior margin of wing (along base of cell a) alternating long, short. Calypter with group of macrotrichia. Vein sc-r present, apical end joining R within its own length prior to origin of Rs. R 4 absent. R 5 straight, slight posterior turn near tip. M 1 reaching apex before R 5, apices of M veins thinning towards wing margin. M 4 -CuA fork arising before origin of r-m. A 2 faintly present as crease. Abdomen: Tergites 1 yellow, T2 yellow with posterodorsal triangular brown spot, T3-6 anterior 1/2–3/4 yellow, remainder brown. Sternites yellow. Tergite 8 smaller than all other abdominal sclerites, with ~10 bristles on each apicolateral corner. Genitalia ( Fig. 109): yellow. Sternite 9 sclerotized rounded square, 1/2 the width of genitalia at widest point, just overlapping medial margin of gonoxite. Tergite 9 longer than wide, margins ~parallel except for slight taper at apex, ending apically in lateral squared off dorsoventrally flattened lobe with small ventrally directed fold and short medially placed spine and medial U-shaped indentation, a ventrally extending point at base of posterior lobe. Gonocoxite placed basally on T9, medial margin not reaching medial line, bearing gonostylus apically. Gonostylus with two lobes, dorsal lobe a broad based point, ventral lobe half the width of dorsal but 2.5X length and barely tapering until apex, gonocoxite III fused to dorsolateral margin. Aedeagus 0.9X length of gonocoxite, tapering towards apex (slight central swelling), apodemes 1/5 total length. Parameres a simple taper, apodemes ~3/4 length of parameres.

Female adult. Unknown.

Immatures. Unknown.

BIOLOGY: Unknown.

DISTRIBUTION: South Africa ( Fig. 134), 1325 masl.

ETYMOLOGY: This species is named in honour of former South African President Nelson R. Mandela, in recognition of his role in ending apartheid in South Africa and for his advocacy of peace, reconciliation and social justice.

MATERIAL EXAMINED: Holotype: here designated, adult male, pinned with genitalia in plastic vial on pin, labelled “RSA [ South Africa]: KwaZulu-Natal / Howick district, Karkloof Range / Geekie’s Farm (28.16°S, 30.21°E):/ 29.11–9.111.2000. Malaise trap./ W. BARKEMEYER; HOLOTYPE ♂ / Leptomorphus mandelai / Borkent, new species / Det. C.J. Borkent 2012” [ NMSA].