Cydistomyia missimiensis, Goodwin, 2010

Goodwin, James T., 2010, New species of Cydistomyia Taylor with notes and collection records for other Tabanidae (Diptera) from New Guinea, Insecta Mundi 2010 (117), pp. 1-22 : 3-4

Cydistomyia missimiensis n. sp. ( Figure 1 A-1D)

Material examined. 3 females, all with some damage. Holotype female: Wau , Morobe Province, PNG, taken at 1600m on Mt Missim , 17-X-1978, Thane Pratt ( FSCA; D1456 ); an auxiliary label is printed light trap, but trap is crossed out and what appears to be ‘on’ is handwritten above; paratype female: New Guinea, NE Wau, Morobe distr., 6 X 1974 /on light/ Thane Pratt collector, Wau Ecology Inst. ( BISHOP) ( FSCA; D1457 ); paratype female: in Castanopsis Bamboo Forest, Manki, L.A. rd., Bulolo, M. Prov., 14 XI 1983, J. Dobunaba ( FSCA; D1458 ).

Description. A medium-sized (body and wing lengths 11.5 mm) brownish species, with distinctive grayish-white thoracic and abdominal pattern similar.

Head. Frons ca. 0.5 mm wide basally, relatively narrow, about 4.5-5.0 times as high as wide basally, diverging slightly over upper one-half, grayish pollinose overall except for callus that is drop-shaped basally, shiny yellow-brown and slightly higher than wide, with a slender more brownish median extension that ends near the midpoint of the frons; callus basally narrowly separated from eyes. Subcallus and upper parafacials adjacent to eyes a rich velvety brown that contrasts with white pollinose surface of the remainder of the parafacials and face. Antennae brown with numerous short black hairs on scape, pedicel, and tooth of basal plate; terminal annuli combined (style) a little longer than basal plate. Palpi yellowishbrown pollinose with mostly black hairs.

Thorax. Dorsum of metanotum with rather broad median and sublateral brown stripes that are enclosed on all sides and behind by predominantly grayish-white pollinose areas; scutellum grayish pollinose, less densely so midbasally allowing brown ground color to show through more clearly. Pleural areas grayish pollinose with white hairs. Legs yellowish brown, all coxae and mid and hind femora grayish pollinose with mostly white hairs. Wings predominantly clear except for very faint brownish along the long veins and crossveins and the basal one-third of the costal cell.

Abdomen. Dorsally, brown which a distinct grayish-white pattern as follows: first tergite with a median and rather large lateral pale areas but no pale posterior border; tergite 2 narrowly pale along entire anterior border; tergites 2-6 each with a large median pale triangle and smaller lateral pale areas united by distinct posterior pale borders; venter brown with pale posterior borders on sternites 2-6.

Etymology. The specific epithet is based on the second part of the name of the mountain on which the holotype was collected.

Discussion. This species would be in the albithorax group as recognized by Mackerras (1964, 1971). It has a ground color (brown) that is lighter than typical for those species with which it might be confused ( C. albidosegmentata (Schuurmans Stekhoven) , C. heydoni Oldroyd , and C. perdita Mackerras ). It differs from C. heydoni by having a much narrower frons, a much more elongate callus, and median triangles on all visible tergites. It differs from C. albidosegmentata in that is it larger, lacks an appendix at the fork of R 4+5, paler callus, and narrower frons. It differs from C. perdita in color and shape of callus and overall paler ground color.

Figures

Figure 1. Adult habitus and structures of Cydistomyia missimiensis n. sp. A) Outline drawing of antenna. B) Outline drawing of palp. C) Anterior view of head. D) Dorsal habitus. Scale line 0.1mm.