Manestella canities, Winterton, Shaun L. & Lambkin, Christine L., 2012

Winterton, Shaun L. & Lambkin, Christine L., 2012, New Australian stiletto flies: revision of Manestella Metz and description of Medomega gen. n. (Diptera, Therevidae, Agapophytinae), ZooKeys 240, pp. 1-119 : 8-9

Manestella canities sp. n. Figs 6 A–E 1718192021

Type material.

Holotype male, AUSTRALIA: Western Australia, Stirling Range National Park, Stirling Range, Gold Holes [-34.433, 118.067], 20.xi.1987, M. E. Irwin. (MEI_023077, WAM).

Paratypes.

8 males, 6 females, same data as holotype (MEI_023070, 023071, 023073, 023076, 023078, 023089, 023092, 023094, 023849, ANIC; MEI_023079, 023080, 023088, 023097, 023099, CAS); 5 males, Stirling Ranges NP, Chester Pass Road: Eucalyptus open woodland 230m, C. Lambkin, J. Recsei, 3-15.xi.2003: Malaise ANIC Bulk Sample 2191, 34°26.033'S, 118°04.386'E (GPS) (ANIC_29:017918, 017919, 017920, 017921, 017922 ANIC).

Other material examined.

AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: 2 males, female, Stirling Ranges NP, Chester Pass Road: dry creek, sandy soil, 270m, C. Lambkin, J. Recsei, 3-15.xi.2003, Malaise ANIC Bulk Sample 2193, 34°23.684'S, 117°52.962'E (GPS) (ANIC_29:018342, 018343, 018344, ANIC).

Diagnosis.

Wing mottled; male frontal and scape setae similar length; male frons protruding slightly; two rows of postocular setae in male; femora black; tibiae dark yellow to brown; male abdomen with silver velutum; ventromedial projection absent on gonocoxites.

Description.

Body length= 3.0-3.5 mm (male), 4.0-4.5 mm (female). Head. Frontal pubescence silver-grey with dark brown markings, profile with lower frons raised as rounded tubercle around antennal base, lower frontal markings brown medial stripe and spot above antennal base (male) or brown quadrangle medially, brown mark laterally above antennal base (female) (highly variable and irregular in female); male frontal vestiture with patch of short setae above antenna, shorter than setae on scape; female frontal vestiture with more extensive short to moderate length setae (longer dorsally), setae dark; male frons width at narrowest point narrower than anterior ocellus but not contiguous; postocular setae black, in male as two or more rows immediately laterad of ocellar tubercle, or as a single row, with additional setae irregularly arranged medially; occipital pubescence grey, narrow triangular marking medially; genal setae white, elongate, dense and curved anteriorly; antennal scape equal length to flagellum, densely covered with large, dark setae (longer than scape setae); flagellum brown (with grey pubescence). Thorax. Scutal pubescence grey with brown markings; vestiture as scattered dark setae, denser anteriorly; scutal markings as two dark medial stripes anteriorly, joining posteriorly, lateral markings irregularly tessellate; macrosetae dark; pleuron with silver-grey pubescence; katatergite setae uniformly pale, rarely with admixed pale and dark setae; coxae dark, overlain with silver-grey pubescence, coxal setae mostly pale; femora dark brown, vestiture as uniform short dark setae (female), or short dark setae, admixed with longer pale setae (male); tibiae yellow, dark grey-brown apically; tarsi dark yellow with apices brown, distal segments completely brown; wingmottled infuscate (as irregular bands); scutal chaetotaxy(pairs): np, 3-4; sa, 1; pa, 1-2; dc, 6-8; sc, 1. Abdomen. Male abdomen base colour brown-black, with silver velutum on tergites 2-7, vestiture mostly elongate pale setae, denser laterally; terminalia brown; female abdominal markings with tergites dark brown dorsally, pale grey laterally on anterior segments; female intersegmental membrane distinctly pale, well delineated. Male genitalia. Gonocoxite without triangular ventromedial process, gonocoxite with extensive velutum, longer posteriorly; outer gonocoxal process relatively elongate, narrow distally.

Comments.

Manestella canities sp. n. is known from southwestern Western Australia and is easily diagnosed by the mottled wing, male with protruding frons with dark setae and two rows of postocular macrosetae, and the gonocoxite with extensive velutum but triangular ventromedial process absent.

Etymology.

The specific epithet is derived from the Latin canus, grey to white; referring to the grey pubescent body colour.