Amblypsilopus mufindiensis, Grichanov, 2022

Grichanov, Igor Ya., 2022, Six new species of Amblypsilopus Bigot (Diptera: Dolichopodidae: Sciapodinae) and a key to species of the Afrotropical mainland, European Journal of Taxonomy 789 (1), pp. 49-80 : 68-70

Amblypsilopus mufindiensis sp. nov.

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Fig. 5

Diagnosis

Amblypsilopus mufindiensis sp. nov. is very close to A. martini sp. nov. in habitus, differing distinctly by its mid tarsomeres 3–5 bearing only black elongate setulae ( Fig. 5E ). The male of Amblypsilopus martini sp. nov. has white and black elongate setulae on the mid tarsomeres 3–5 ( Fig. 6F ). The length ratio of the mid tarsomeres is different in the two species.

Etymology

The species is named after the Mufindi Highlands located near the town of Iringa.

Material examined

Holotype TANZANIA • ♂; Iringa Region, Mufindi Highland Lodge ; 8°36ʹ S, 35°17ʹ E; alt. 950 m; 20–22 Nov. 2009; T. Pape and S.A. Marshall leg.; ZMUC.

Description

Male ( Fig. 5A )

MEASUREMENTS. Body length 6 mm; antenna length 1.8 mm; wing length 7 mm; wing width 1.9 mm.

HEAD ( Fig. 5B ). Frons shining bluish green; no anterior vertical seta; 1 strong postvertical bristle; upper postocular setae black, short; lateral postocular setae white, uniserial; ventral postcranium densely covered with long irregular white hairs; face shining blue-green, silvery-white pollinose at clypeus and eye margins, broad, strongly bulging, as wide as high, under antennae 4.5 times as wide as postpedicel; clypeus densely covered with short white hairs, large, wider than high (4/3), separated from eyes; antenna ( Fig. 5C ) black, ⅓ as long as body; scape widened, with inner projection; pedicel rounded, with 4–5 very long dorsal, ventral and outer bristles, with short inner bristles; postpedicel rounded-triangular, as long as high (12/11), with short dense hairs; arista-like stylus dorsal, microscopically haired; length (mm) of scape, pedicel, postpedicel, stylus (segments 1 and 2), 0.10/0.09/0.11/0.06/1.54; proboscis orange; palpus black, with white hairs and 2–3 long black bristles.

THORAX. Mesonotum and scutellum metallic bluish green; pleura bronze-green, weakly pollinose; all major bristles unusually long; 6 dorsocentral bristles gradually decreasing in size anteriorly with strongest posterior pair (ca 1.5 mm in length); acrostichals long, biserial; numerous long setae between major bristles, about as long as acrostichals; scutellum with 1 pair of long and strong bristles, 9–10 marginal and 9–10 dorsal long black setae, somewhat shorter than major bristles.

LEGS. Mostly yellow; mid and hind coxae black; tarsi brownish to black from middle of basitarsi; all coxae with numerous long white hairs; fore coxa with 3 black subapical setae; fore femur ( Fig. 5D ) with anteroventral row of 10–12 long black setae on basal half, with complete posterior and posteroventral rows of long white setae becoming black at apex; all setae about 2 times as long as fore femur height; fore tibia and tarsus without remarkable setae or hairs; mid femur with anterior row of white setae on basal ⅔, as long as femur height, with complete posterior and posteroventral rows of white setae becoming black at apex, about 2 times as long as mid femur height; mid tibia with 3 short anterior setae, without ventral setae; mid tarsus simple, with tarsomeres 2–5 with anterior and posterior rows of elongate black setulae ( Fig. 5E ); hind femur with posterior row of white setae on basal ⅓, about 2 times as long as femur height; hind tibia with 2 anterodorsals, several short posterodorsal and ventral setae; femur, tibia and tarsomere (from first to fifth) length ratio (mm): fore leg: 1.67/1.8/1.94/0.61/0.48/0.3/0.19, mid leg: 2.19/3.18/2.96/ 0.88/0.54/0.48/0.14, hind leg: 2.52/3.63/1.9/0.99/0.62/0.35/0.2.

WING ( Fig. 5F ). Almost hyaline, veins brown; R 4+5 gently curved to M 1 on apical third; M 1+2 straight on basal half, then slightly convex anteriad; M 1 with strong elbow, forming right angle with M 1+2; ratio of parts of costa between R 2+3 and R 4+5 to those between R 4+5 and M 1, 4/1; crossvein dm-m weakly sinuate; ratio of crossvein dm-m to apical part of M 1+2 (fork-handle) to apical part of M 4, 114/84/41; anal vein and lobe distinct; anal angle acute; alula present; lower calypter yellow with black apex, with fan of long white setae; halter yellow.

ABDOMEN. Thin, slightly longer than head and thorax combined, mostly shining dark green, black posteriorly along sutures, with short black hairs and long marginal bristles; segment 1 with long white hairs; hypopygium ( Fig. 5G ) black, with blackish brown appendages; cercus ( Fig. 5I ) black, brown at base, simple, 1.5 times as long as epandrium, broader at base, gradually narrowed towards apex, with long black outer bristles, densely covered with long light hairs along entire length ventrally, covered with hairs at base dorsally; surstylus ( Fig. 5H ) elongate, bilobate, with inner lobe cut apically, bearing 2 strong pedunculate setae dorsally, with outer lobe hooked at apex, with short apical spine and 2 subapical setae ventrally; 2 long pedunculate epandrial setae at base of surstylus.

Female

Unknown.

Ecology

According to the type specimen label, imagos inhabit mountain area at 950 m above sea level between the Ruaha National Park and Udzungwa Mt National Park in central Tanzania.

Figures

Fig. 5. Amblypsilopus mufindiensis sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (ZMUC). A. Habitus. B. Head. C. Antenna. D. Fore femur. E. Mid tarsus. F. Wing. G. Hypopygium after maceration, left lateral view. H. Surstylus, lateral view. I. Cerci, dorsal view.

Fig. 6. Amblypsilopus martini sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (A–G: ZMUC); paratype, ♂ (H–I: ZMUC). A. Habitus. B. Head. C. Antenna.D. Wing. E. Fore femur. F. Mid tarsus. G. Mid femur. H. Hypopygium after maceration, left lateral view. I. Surstylus, lateral view.