Lispe setigena Vikhrev & Pont, 2016

Pont, Adrian C., 2019, Studies on the Australian Muscidae (Diptera). VIII. The genus Lispe Latreille, 1797, Zootaxa 4557 (1), pp. 1-232 : 18-23

Lispe setigena Vikhrev & Pont

Figs 16–27

Lispe setigena Vikhrev & Pont in Vikhrev, 2016: 178 , figs 16 & 19.

Lispa geniseta Stein.—Stein, 1910 : 562 [misidentification].

Chaetolispa geniseta Stein. — Malloch, 1923: 606; Séguy, 1937: 186; Lee, Crust & Sabrosky, 1956: 319 [misidentifications]. Lispe geniseta Stein. — Pont, 1989: 693 [misidentification].

Note. It was recently established ( Vikhrev, 2016) that the palaeotropical Lispe geniseta Stein, 1909 consists of three closely similar species: the Afrotropical L. macfiei Emden, 1941 , the Oriental L. geniseta , and the Australasian L. setigena Vikhrev & Pont. Almost all the Australian material of this species listed below was identified by me earlier as L. geniseta .

Type-material. The holotype ♂ of this recently described species is in ZMUM.

Stein (1909: 256) described his Lispa geniseta from 3♂ 1♀ from Batavia [now Djakarta], Java, now deposited in NBC, and also mentioned further specimens from Brisbane in HNHM. A lectotype was designated by Pont (1970: 89), from Batavia, iv.1908. Since 1970, I have found the Australian syntypes in HNHM, which somehow survived the catastrophe of 1956, and have labelled them as paralectotypes. They belong to Lispe setigena .

Diagnosis. This is the only Australian species with strong setae at the lower end of the parafacial ( Fig. 16 ).

Material Examined. AUSTRALIA: Northern Territory: Batten Creek, 31 km WSW of Borroloola, Malaise trap, 16.iv.1976, D.H. Colless, 1♀ ( ANIC); Bing Bong HS, 49 km N by E of Borroloola, 20.iv.1976, D.H. Colless, 1♂ ( ANIC) ; 1 km N of Cahills Crossing (E Alligator River ), at light, 31.x.1972, D.H. Colless, 1♂ ( ANIC) ; Casuarina Beach, Darwin , 22.x.1972, D.H. Colless, 1♂ 1♀ ( ANIC) ; Jim Jim Creek , 20 km WSW of Mt Cahill, 20.xi.1972, D.H. Colless, 1♀ ( ANIC) . Queensland: Ayr, Swan Lagoon , on Leersia hexandra , 11.iii.1986, J.den Hollander, 3♀ ( NMWC) ; Ayr, Swan Lagoon , Malaise trap, 15–17.iii.1986, J.den Hollander, 7♂ 1♀ ( NMWC) ; Beaudesert , 22.ii.1978, J.H.Barrett, 3♀ ( QDPC) ; Biloela Rs, Lucerne , 28.viii.1969, F.D.Page, 1♂ ( QDPC) ; Bingera, near Bundaberg , vii.1971, H. Frauca, 1♂ ( ANIC) ; Bluff Range, near Biggenden , 4.viii.1971, H. Frauca, 1♀ ( ANIC) ; Bohle River, Bruce Highway, Townsville , on vegetation at edge of lagoon, 10.iii.1969, P. Ferrar, 1♂ 3♀ ( ANIC, BMNH) ; Bohle River, Bruce Highway, Townsville , 7 miles W, edge of lagoon, 30.xi & 21.xii.1969, P. Ferrar, 3♂ 1♀ ( ANIC, BMNH) ; 16 km N of Boonah , 30.v.1987, C. Burwell, 1♀ ( QMBA) ; Brisbane , 1900, L. Biró, 1♂ 3♀ paralectotypes of Lispa geniseta ( HNHM) ; Brisbane , 8.ix.1955, F.A. Perkins, 1♂ ( QMBA) ; Brisbane , 4.viii.1955, F.A. Perkins, 1♀ ( QMBA) ; Brisbane , iii.1965, J.E. Dunwoody, 1♀ ( QMBA) ; Brisbane , 25.x.1976, B.K.Cantrell, 1♂ ( QDPC) ; Brisbane, DPI Indooroopilly site, Malaise trap, viii.1977, J. Grimshaw, 2♂ ( QDPC) ; same locality, vi.1978, 1 ♂ 3♀ ( QDPC) ; Brisbane , 12.iv.1957, P. Ranby, 1♂ ( QMBA) ; Brisbane, Kenmore , 10.iii.1984, G.M. Schneider, 1♂ ( QMBA) ; Broadbeach , 3.v.1970, Z. Liepa, 1♂ ( ANIC) ; Bundaberg , vi–vii.1971, H. Frauca, 5♂ 4♀ ( ANIC, BMNH) ; Bundaberg , vii.1972, H. Frauca, 1♀ ( ANIC) ; Burnett River, Bundaberg , 7.vi.1972, H. Frauca, 1♀ ( ANIC) ; Burnett River at Trurick Ck , W of Childers, m. v. light , 3.ix.1982, O. Griffiths, 1♂ ( AMS) ; Cardwell Gap , 10 miles N of Ingham, on garbage, 15.ii.1970, P. Ferrar, 1♂ ( ANIC) ; Einasleigh River Crossing, E Georgetown , 21.vi.1976, J.F. Donaldson, 1♀ ( QDPC) ; Emu Park , NE of Rockhampton, 7.v.1970, Z. Liepa, 1♀ ( ANIC) ; Gregory River , 24 miles S of Bundaberg, vi.1971, H. Frauca, 1♂ ( ANIC) ; Indooroopilly , Malaise trap, xii.1976, Z. Boucek, 1♂ 1♀ ( QDPC) ; Lake Broadwater , 25 km SW of Dalby, 18–19.ii.1985, D.K. Yeates, 1♀ ( QMBA) ; Lake Broadwater , 25 km SW of Dalby, 27.21S 151.06E, site E, 23.iii.1986, D.K. Yeates, 1♀ ( QMBA) ; Lake Broadwater near Dalby , 27.21S 151.06E, 30.i.1987, G. & A. Daniels, 1♂ 1♀ ( QMBA) & 1♀ ( OUMNH) ; Lawes , ix.1965, J.G. Dunwoody, 1♂ ( QMBA) ; Miles , 17.i.1939, N. Geary, 1♀ ( AMS) ; Redlynch , 10– 17.viii.1938, R.G. Wind, 1♂ 1♀ ( BMNH) ; Townsville, F.P. Dodd, 1♂ ( BMNH) ; Townsville, F.H. Taylor, 3♂ ( ANIC) & 1♂ ( USNM) ; Townsville , 4 & 6.iv.1968, P. Ferrar, 1♂ 1♀ ( ANIC) ; Yeppoon , 14.xii.1964, I.F.B. Common, 1♂ ( ANIC) . New South Wales: Bronte, near Sydney , 21.iv.1956, D.K. McAlpine, 1♂ ( AMS) ; Byron Bay , viii.1936, A. Musgrave & E.LeG. Troughton, 1♂ ( AMS) ; Kurnell , 24.xi.1956, R. Dobson, 1♂ ( AMS) ; 5 miles S of Mendooran , m. v. lamp , 15.iv.1974, G. Daniels, 1♂ ( AMS) ; Narrabri , on weeds, 27.i.1960, M. Nikitin, 1♀ ( BMNH) ; National Park , 13.xii.1956, D.K. McAlpine, 1♀ ( AMS) ; 8 km N of Parkes , 24.viii.1974, K.R. Norris, 1♀ ( ANIC) ; 40 km N of Walgett , 19.vi.1976, Z. Liepa, 5♂ 6♀ ( ANIC, BMNH) ; Waraba Nat. Park , 40 km E of Manilla, 24.ii.1985, K.C. Khoo, 1♂ ( AMS) ; Wee Waa Road , 40 km Narrabri, 16.x.1984, K.C. Khoo, 1♀ ( AMS) ; Woy Woy , 5.x.1924, Nicholson, 1♀ ( ANIC) .

Description ♂ ♀. Head ( Figs 16–19 ). Ground-colour black. Frons at broadest point 0.4, at lunula 0.3, of maximum head-width (frontal view). Fronto-orbital plate silvery pruinose, tinged with yellow, dull or brown on upper third, especially in ♀; parafacial, face and gena silvery pruinose, also tinged with yellow, especially in ♀ in which parafacial and face may even be golden; occiput entirely dusted, grey below and usually brownish-grey above. Frontal triangle narrow ( Fig. 18 ), dull brownish-grey. Parafacial broad, broader than postpedicel; setulae in 1-2 (♂) or 3-4 (♀) rows; at lower end with 2-3 conspicuous long setae. Antenna black, except tip of pedicel and base of postpedicel which are orange; pedicel with a striking long setula; postpedicel 3 times as long as broad, falling short of mouth-margin by about half its length. Arista plumose, the hairing at widest point 2.5 times width of postpedicel ( Fig. 17 ). Vibrissa strong, with a well-developed pair of supravibrissals. Gena broad, at most 0.2 of vertical eye-length; genal setae strong. Palpus yellow, moderately swollen at tip ( Fig. 19 ).

Thorax. Ground-colour black. Scutum yellowish-grey dusted, even brownish-grey in ♀, pleura and scutellum more grey. Scutum with a rather diffuse brown median vitta that begins narrowly and broadens posteriorly to occupy most of the space between prsc dc, continuing as far as tip of scutellum; dc and ia with dark bristle-dots, and brown smudges present through prst ia and prst sa, post sa, and just behind suture along ia line. Anterior spiracle brown. Acr setulae in 5–6 irregular rows at suture. Dc 2+3, all well-developed, anterior post seta only half as long as the other post pairs. 2 pprn. 1+1 ia, the post one short and fine. 1+1 sa, both strong. 1 strong and 1 weaker proepisternal setae. 1 strong proepimeral, equal to the strong proepisternal, with 2–3 adjacent setulae. Anepisternum with 1 short seta in upper anterior corner; posterior row with 2 strong and 2–3 weak setae. 3 strong kepst, arranged in an equilateral triangle. Meron bare below spiracle and above hind coxa. Scutellum with disc densely setulose, the setulae extending in several rows on to sides; ventral surface bare.

Legs. Robust, with strong setae and (in ♂) long hairs and setulae. Coxae and trochanters black; femora black, extreme tips (knees) broadly yellow; tibiae yellow; usually basal 1–2 (rarely 1–3) tarsomeres yellow, otherwise black. Fore coxa with some long fine setae on posterior (inner) apical edge. Fore femur with a row of short av setae; pv row complete, the setae much longer than femoral depth and interspersed with shorter setae and setulae, especially dense in ♂; pd row complete, strong. Fore tibia with 1 submedian pv, long and fine; setulae on pd to pv surfaces long and fine in ♂; with d and pv, and, in ♀, also with p and pd, apical setae. Fore tarsomeres without modifications. Mid femur with several setae on av surface, one at middle the strongest; pv surface in ♂ with several setae in basal half and setulae in apical half, reduced to 1–2 setae in basal half in ♀; 1 a at middle; 1 ad before apex, and 2 p preapicals. Mid tibia with 1 ad and 1 p; with strong ad, a, av and pv apicals, and weaker pd and p apicals. Mid tarsosmeres without modifications. Hind coxa without a seta on posterior apical margin. Hind femur in ♂ with a complete row of pv setae, one in basal half longer than femoral depth, these reduced in ♀ to 1 strong and a few weak setae in basal third; av row in ♂ complete but setulose in apical third, reduced in ♀ to fewer and shorter setae; ad row complete; 1 pd preapical. Hind tibia with 1 long ad, 1 av, and 1 short pd; d and ad preapical setae very strong; with a and av apicals, but no pv. Hind tarsomeres not modified.

Wing. Clear, not darkened at base. Tegula and basicosta yellow. Crossvein r-m placed slightly apicad of the point where vein R 1 enters costa; dm-cu straight, longer than apical section of vein CuA 1. Vein M running straight to wing-margin. Calypters white, margins creamy. Haltere yellow.

Abdomen. Ground-colour black. Syntergite 1+2 and tergites 3–5 not modified in shape; sternites 1–5 without modifications; ♂ sternite 5 simple in outline, oblong ( Fig. 21 ). Dust on tergites grey, tinged with yellow. In ♂ dorsal areas of tergites with a pattern of dark brown spots ( Fig. 20 ), and sides of syntergite 1+2 and of tergites 3–5 also with oblong dark spots that leave only hind-margins dusted; in ♀ this dark pattern rather more extended, the dark tergal spots on dorsum and on sides enlarged and, on tergites 4 and 5, coalescing. ♂ epandrium mainly grey dusted. ♀ ovipositor with exposed tergites dusted grey to brownish-grey, tergite 7 broadly glossy below. Sternites 1–5 grey to brownish-grey dusted. In ♂ tergites 3–5 each with 2 pairs of lateral discal and lateral marginal setae; in ♀ these setae shorter, less erect and usually reduced to 1 except for marginals on tergite 5. ♂ sternites 2 and 3 with sparse setulae; sternite 4 expanded and more densely setulose ( Fig. 21 ).

Ƌ terminalia. Epandrium attached to tergite 5, the intermediate tergite 6 and syntergosternite 8 lost; with 2 spiracles on anterior lower edge ( Fig. 22 ). Sternite 6 vestigial but clearly developed, symmetrical, withdrawn beneath sternite 5. Surstylus absent, i.e. fused to epandrium without trace ( Fig. 22 ). Cercal plate remarkably shaped and very strongly sclerotised ( Fig. 23 ), deeply divided in dorsal view. Hypandrium attached at lower anterior corner of inner side of epandrium. Phallic complex ( Fig. 24 ): hypandrium with vestige of a praegonite, indicated by the presence of sensory pores; postgonite plate-like; phallapodeme enlarged, at posterior end with a pair of laterally-directed, wing-like processes, phallapodeme extended anteriorly over hypandrium and bifid near tip, each fork fusing with anterior edge of hypandrium; phallus simple, tube-like, weakly sclerotised, juxta without spinules.

♀ ovipositor ( Figs 25–27 ). Tergite 6 divided dorsally; tergite 7 complete and very large; tergite 8 reduced to 2 plates, touching epiproct. Sternite 6 reduced to 2 vestigial plates; sternite 7 absent (edges of tergite 7 almost meeting ventrally); sternite 8 consisting of 2 small plates. Epiproct deeply incised, with 1 pair of strong setae. Hypoproct large, heavily spinose. Cercus with few spines. 3 spermathecae.

Measurements. Wing-length, 5.0–6.0 mm (♂), 4.5–5.5 mm (♀). Body-length, 7.0–8.0 mm (♂), 6.0–7.0 mm (♀).

Biology. Nothing is known about the biology of this species. Adults have been collected from coastal lagoons, but appear to be more abundant at inland localities.

Distribution. Known only from Australia (NT, Q, NSW).

Figures

FIGURES 16–20. Lispe setigena Vikhrev & Pont. 16. ♂ head, lateral view. 17. ♂ arista. 18. ♂ head, frontal view. 19. ♀ palpus. 20. ♂ abdomen. (16–18, NSW, 40 km N of Walgett; 19, NT, Jim Jim Creek; 20, Q, Bundaberg.)

FIGURES 21–22. Lispe setigena Vikhrev & Pont. 21. ♂ sternites 1–5. 22. ♂ hypopygium, lateral view (both Q, Bundaberg).

FIGURES 23–24. Lispe setigena Vikhrev & Pont. 23. ♂ cercal plate, dorsal view. 24. Phallic complex, lateral view. hphypandrium, p—phallus, pg—postgonite, ph—phallapodeme, pr—praegonite, eph—dorsal extension of the phallapodeme, w—laterally-directed wing. (23, Q, Townsville; 24, Q, Bundaberg.)

FIGURES 25–27. Lispe setigena Vikhrev & Pont, ♀ ovipositor. 25. Dorsal view. 26. Ventral view. 27. Lateral view. epepiproct, hp—hypoproct, st—sternite, t—tergite. (Q, Bundaberg.)