Empis (Xanthempis) virgulata, Daugeron, Christophe, 2009

Daugeron, Christophe, 2009, Two new species of Xanthempis Bezzi (Diptera, Empididae, Empidinae) endemic to the Pyrenees, Zootaxa 2087, pp. 59-64 : 61-63

Empis (Xanthempis) virgulata , sp. nov.

( Figs. 2 , 3 B)

Diagnosis. A yellow species with blackish antenna, scutum bearing a broad median black stripe and a pair of blackish spots between dorsocentrals and notopleuron.

Description. Male. Head. Occiput blackish, postgena yellowish to brownish along margin of eye. Ocellar triangle not strongly prominent, with pair of distinct setae. Frons more or less horizontal with a few short lateral bristly-hairs. Antenna with scape, pedicel dark brown, postpedicel black; scape, pedicel long (3x and 6x pedicel length, respectively), stylus shorter than pedicel length. Labrum about 2.5x head height, palpus yellow. Eyes dichoptic with frons as wide as face, all ommatidia subequal.

Thorax. Antepronotum bilobed with strong, short spine-like lateral setae. Proepisternum and prosternum with a few short bristly-hairs. Scutum with broad median stripe, 2 black-brownish spots, between dorsocentrals and notopleuron, sometimes fused in a single stripe. Scutellum yellowish to blackish at posterior margin. Mediotergite yellowish to blackish mediodorsally. Acrostichals absent, dorsocentrals uniserial, distinct, ending in 2 strong, long setae. Other strong, long black setae as follows: 1 postpronotal, 1 presutural supraalar, 1 notopleural, 1 postalar, 2 apical scutellars. Laterotergite with 2-3 rather strong anterior setae, a few fine short posteriors.

Legs yellowish, somewhat dark on tarsi. A few distinct setae on tibiae dorsally, on tarsomeres apically. Wing (about 6.5 mm) weakly tinged with brown, with veins brownish, complete (except Sc), well sclerotised.

Abdomen yellow, terga somewhat brownish on the lateral margins, with more or less visible brownish spot dorsally.

Hypopygium. Cercus with wide dorsal projection bearing numerous distinct setae, epandrium subtriangular with strong, long dorsal setae subapically and apically, hypandrium membranous basally with subapical pair of fine, short setae, phallus upcurved, rather long.

Female similar to male except for the usual sexual differences.

Material examined. Holotype 3: France, Haute-Garonne, Gar-Cagire, beech forest, 1250–1350 m, 42°96’N, 0°69’E, 30.V.2008 – 13.VI.2008, Malaise trap ( MNHN).

Paratypes: 48 3, 7 Ƥ with same data ( MNHN); 53 3, 6 Ƥ with same data but 13.VI.2008 – 27.VI.2008 ( MNHN, NHM).

Derivatio nominis. From the Latin word virgulatus, a, um meaning striped on account of the black stripes present on the scutum.

Distribution. France (Pyrenees).

Discussion. This species is found in the beech forests of the Pyrenees in June. It is distinguished from the other species of the subgenus by its characteristic scutal pattern: a broad median black stripe and two blackbrownish spots between dorsocentrals and notopleuron.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Male hypopygium of E. (X.) virgutala, sp. nov., lateral view. Scale: 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 3. Occiput and scutum in dorsal view, A, E. (X.) fagina, sp. nov.; B, E. (X.) virgulata, sp. nov.