Neurolyga simillima, Jaschhof & Jaschhof, 2020

Jaschhof, Mathias & Jaschhof, Catrin, 2020, An update of Micromyinae (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) taxonomy, with descriptions of a new genus and 13 new species from Northern Europe, Zootaxa 4750 (3), pp. 349-369 : 361-362

Neurolyga simillima sp. nov.

Figs 19–21

Diagnosis. Neurolyga simillima , a species represented in our material by a single male, differs from the largely similar N. denningi (Pritchard) in North America as follows. The best distinction is the tegmen, which in N. simillima is entire apically ( Fig. 21 , ↓ 1), not deeply incised as in N. denningi ( Jaschhof 1998: fig. 64c), and whose processes are smaller and differently arranged compared with the North American species. As another detail, the median pair of tegminal processes, which is finely serrate in N. denningi , is smooth in N. simillima . Further differences concern the gonostylus, which in N. simillima appears to be shorter and less strongly bent ( Fig. 20 , ↓ 2), and the gonocoxal apodeme, whose posterior portion is straight in N. simillima but angled in N. denningi ( Jaschhof 1998: fig. 64a). Among Neurolyga in the Palearctic, N. simillima is absolutely distinctive by the structure of the tegmen ( Fig. 21 ). Females and larvae of this new species are unknown.

Other male characters. Body size 1.8 mm. Head. Eye bridge with a few, widely spaced ommatidia laterally, 3–4 ommatidia long dorsally. No postocular bristles. Antenna markedly longer than body. Neck of fourth flagellomere longer than node; node with 1 complete and 2 incomplete crenulate whorls of sensory hairs and, in apical half, numerous hair-shaped translucent sensilla ( Fig. 19 ). Palpus shorter than head height, 4-segmented, apical segment longest of all. Wing. R 1 6 times as long as Rs. Legs. Claws with about 3–4 teeth. Genitalia ( Figs 20–21 ). Ninth tergite subtrapezoid. Gonocoxal synsclerite nearly as long as broad, setose ventrally except for a narrow, non-setose stripe medially and a rather long, non-setose portion basally; ventral emargination small, rounded, conspicuously sclerotized basally ( Fig. 20 , ↓ 3); dorsal bridge subrectangular with slightly sinuous anterior edge, ending before ventrobasal gonocoxal edge. Gonostylus compact, wedge-shaped apically; setae near the apex shorter than those elsewhere, no bristles. Aedeagal apodeme thin, shorter than gonocoxae, with large, membranous cap apically. Ducts of accessory glands well discernible.

Etymology. The species epithet, simillima , is a Latin adjective meaning ̒very similar’, which emphasizes the close resemblance of this species to its North American sister.

Type material. Holotype. Male , Sweden, Småland , Nybro , Bäckebo , Grytsjön Nature Reserve, old-growth mixed boreal forest predominated by aspen trees, 16 March–27 April 2006, Malaise trap, Swedish Malaise Trap Project (trap 1000, collecting event 1431) (spn. CEC 2686 in NHRS).

Figures

FIGURES 19–23. Male morphology of Neurolyga simillima (19–21) and Neurolyga taigensis (22–23), holotypes. 19: Fourth flagellomere, lateral. 20: Genitalia, ventral. 21: Tegmen and aedeagal apodeme, ventral. 22: Fourth flagellomere, lateral. 23: Genitalia, ventral. Scales 0.05 mm. Arrows refer to characters described in the diagnoses.