Gonempeda mariya, Pilipеnko, 2017

Pilipеnko, Valеntin, 2017, A new Palearctic species of the genus Gonempeda Alexander, 1924 (Diptera: Limoniidae), Zootaxa 4358 (1) : -

Gonempeda mariya sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–9 , 12–13 )

Diagnosis. Еxtremely similar to Gonempeda flava in general appearance. A small light yellow species with contrasting black eyes and black spines of outer gonostylus. Pedicel conspicuously enlarged, scape and pedicel light yellow, flagellum light brown. Wing venation similar to that of Gonempeda flava . Distinguished from other species in the genus by the structure of male genitalia: the outer gonostylus is deeply dissected into a narrow apical projection and two slender spines.

Material examined: Type specimens 5 males, 6 females.

Holotype: male, Russia, Krasnodarskiy kray, Sochi env. 5 km NЕ Salochaul 43.826N, 39.735 Е 2–6. V.2012, coll. Pilipenko & Kashlina ( ZMUM).

Paratypes: 1 male and 2 females, same data and locality as the holotype ( ZMUM) ; 1 male and 3 females, Russia, Krasnodarskiy kray, Sochi env. 11 km W of Krasnaya Polyana N43.41 Е40.04. 400–600 m, 02.V.2014, coll. Pilipenko & Kashlina ; 2 males and 1 female, same locality, 03.V.–15.VI.2014, Malaise trap (PVP).

Description. Male. ( Fig. 1 ). Color characters mostly based on specimens preserved in ethanol. Body length 3.5–4.0 mm, wing length 4.5–5.0 mm, length of antennae 0.7–0.8 mm.

Head. Light yellow with contrasting black eyes and light yellow rostrum and palpus. Antenna ( Fig. 2 ) with pedicel conspicuously enlarged, scape and pedicel light yellow, flagellum light brown. Flagellomeres slender, elongate-oval, with longest verticils about three times as long as respective segments. Pubescence on flagellomeres short, inconspicuous.

Thorax. Pronotum light yellow with indistinct light brown spot over first coxa, scutellum pale yellow. Mesonotum yellow without stripes, mediotergite yellow, laterotergite pale yellow. Coxae 1 and 2 yellow, coxa 3 pale yellow. Legs yellow. Halteres pale yellow, knob infuscated whitish. Wings ( Fig.4 ) subhyaline, with stigma faintly darkened; veins pale brownish yellow. Venation: Sc very long, Sc 2 and R2 poorly visible, Sc 1 ending approximately opposite to midpoint of R2+3+4, R2+3+4 forking into R2 and R3+4, R3 oblique, straight.

Abdomen. Whitish yellow, hypopygium slightly more yellow. Hypopygium ( Fig. 5 ) yellow, typical of genus. Gonocoxite fused basally on sternal side with apex at ventral side produced beyond insertion point of gonostylus into short rounded blade ( Fig. 6 ), two gonostyli subterminal. Outer gonostylus in ventral aspect deeply dissected into apical projection and two spines. Apical projection narrow and long, almost straight, with slightly pigmented, rounded apex. Inner spine long, thin, strongly sclerotized, blackened, with pointed apex and noticeable fracture near its midpoint, slightly shorter than apical projection. Middle spine straight, thin, sclerotized and blackened, with pointed apex, reaching to half length of inner spine. Inner gonostyle pale, slender, almost straight with a curved obtuse apex. Aedeagus ( Figs. 7–8 ) simple, with downcurved apex, laterally without denticles.

Female is similar to the male. Setae on flagellar segments not enlarged ( Fig. 3 ). Ovipositor ( Figs. 12–13 ) as is typical of genus. Cerci yellow, strongly curved toward pointed apices. Hypovalvae narrowly triangular, with pointed apices extending beyond midlength of cercus.

Elevation. Specimens were collected at altitudes from 300 to 600 m.

Period of activity. It is a spring species, flying from early May.

Habitat. Adults on the banks of small streams in beech forest ( Fagus sylvatica ssp. orientalis ) ( Fig. 16 ).

Distribution. Foothills of the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus. Etymology. This species is named in honour of my wife, who accompanies me on all my trips and helps to collect insects.

Figures

FIGURE 16. Habitat of Gonempeda mariya n. sp.: Russia, Krasnodarskiy kray, Sochi env.11 km w. of Krasnaya Polyana.

FIGURES 1–4. Gonempeda mariya n. sp. 1:general view of male; 2: male antenna; 3: female antenna; 4: wing.Scale bars: 1: 1.0 mm; 2: 0.5 mm; 3: 0.5 mm; 4: 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 5–8. Gonempeda mariya n. sp. male terminalia. 5: general dorsal view; 6: outer gonostyle, ventral view; 7: aedeagal complex, dorsal view; 8: aedeagal complex, lateral view. Abbreviations: og, outer gonostylus; ig, inner gonostylus; gx, gonocoxite.Scale bar, 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 12–15. Female terminalia. 12: Gonempeda mariya n. sp., lateral view; 13: G. mariya n. sp., internal structures, ventral view; 14: G. flava, general lateral view; 15: G. flava, internal structures, ventral view. Abbreviations: hvl, hypogynial valve; ce, cercus; st, sternite; tg, tergite. Scale bar, 1.0 mm.