Sidarena yallingup, Irwin, Michael E. & Winterton, Shaun L., 2016

Irwin, Michael E. & Winterton, Shaun L., 2016, New genera of Australian stiletto flies (Diptera, Therevidae), ZooKeys 618, pp. 97-128 : 112-113

Taxon classification Animalia Diptera Therevidae

Sidarena yallingup sp. n. Figs 17, 18, 19, 20

Type material.

Holotype male, AUSTRALIA: Western Australia, 37 km N Augusta, [-34.333, 115.167], 1.x.1975, hand netted, K. A. Spencer. (WAM872079) (WAM).

Paratypes. AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: male, 2 females, Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park, Yallingup portion, 14.ix.1983, hand netted, E. I. Schlinger, M. E. Irwin; limestone caves and Acacia-Eucalyptus forest, cycads (CSCA) (MEI028771, 028772, 028773); 2 females, Hamelin Bay, [-34.2, 115.017], 1.x.1975, hand netted, K. A. Spencer. (WAM872077, 872078) (WAM); female, Hamelin Bay, [-34.2, 115.017], 2m, 26.ix.1962, hand netted, E. S. Ross, D. Q. Cavagnaro (CASC) (MEI028774).

Diagnosis.

Wing dark mottled infuscate; scutal macrosetae elongate, legs dark brown; abdomen dark brown; genal pile uniformly dark.

Description.

Body length. 7.5 mm (male), 8.5 mm (female). Head (Fig. 17-18). Grey-silver (male) or yellow-silver (female) pubescent; male occiput convex with silver-grey and matte black pubescence (depending on angle viewed); postocular setae not arranged in rows, setae variable in length, some elongate; frons flat with elongate black, scattered setae, at midpoint of the frons is a small dark patch of dark brown pubescence set against eye margin; gena with dark setae; face golden (female), silver (male) pubescent, without setae; antennae light yellowish-brown; palpus brown with dark setae; antenna light yellow-orange, scape wider than pedicel and flagellum, with dark setae on outer lateral surface, longer than pedicel and flagellum combined; flagellum orange, tapered to a dark brown arista. Thorax. Scutum with distinct matte black (gold when viewed laterally) stripes laterally, broad medial stripe greyish in male, yellowish-grey in female, narrow dark brown suffused stripe along axis in male; postpronotal lobe orange; scutal macrosetae elongate, black, sparse thin scutal pile other wise; pleuron dark yellow, darker ventrally and on coxae, with sparse covering of grey pubescence; sparse elongate, thin black setae on anepisternum and katatergite; scutellum pale yellow-orange with grey pubescence; chaetotaxy: np, 3; sa, 2; pa, 1; dc, 6-7; sc 2; wing dark mottled infuscate; coxae dark brown with grey pubescence; femora dark brown; rest of legs light brown. Abdomen. Dark brown, dorsally black with silver velutum on tergites 2-5 (more extensive in male), velutum pattern not unidirectional and silver pattern changes depending on angle viewed; anterolaterally on tergite 1 is a small patch of orange. Male (Fig. 19) and female (Fig. 20) terminalia. Similar to other members of the genus.

Comments.

The mottled wing of Sidarena yallingup sp. n. is highly distinctive and easily identifies it among the other species with the metallic grey stripe on the scutum. There is more sexual dimorphism in this than in other species. This species appears to be closely related to Sidarena geraldton sp. n. based on overall body colouration and wing pattern.

Etymology.

The specific epithet is the unaltered place name Yallingup (which is an Aboriginal word meaning 'Place of Love’) for a location in southwestern Western Australia where this species was collected; a noun in apposition.