Ptecticus shirakii

Rozkošný, Rudolf & Hauser, Martin, 2009, Species groups of Oriental Ptecticus Loew including descriptions of ten new species with a revised identification key to the Oriental species (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), Zootaxa 2034, pp. 1-30 : 23-24

6. P. shirakii group

Species: Only P. shirakii (syn. P. minimus Rozkošný & Kovac, 1997 , syn. nov.)

Characteristics: (1) Upper frons, vertex and median occipital sclerite black; (2) Scutum uniformly yellowish brown; (3) Wings hyaline, stronger radial veins with elongate ciliae, wing membrane with relatively long microtrichia; (4) R2+3 arising well before anterior crossvein, very short and suddenly merging with R1, radial triangle (r2+3) virtually absent, only base of M1 pigmented, crossvein M-Cu distinct ( Figs 44–45 ); (5) M3 straight, parallel to M2 and markedly shortened, postcubitus (CuP) unpigmented, hyaline, virtualy indistinct; (6) male epandrium with surstyli, genital capsule rounded, deeply notched ventrally, with long, slender and bipartite medial process; aedeagal complex slender and flat, gonocoxal apodeme not extending anterior of proximal margin of genital capsule.

Remarks: This small and very isolated, highly apomorphic species with the only arched inner margin of the pedicel, the partly reduced wing venation and the species-specific male terminalia was described in detail by Rozkošný & Kovac (1997) as P. minimus . The description of P. shirakii is accompanied by a photograph of wing venation which is quite unique and identical with P. minimus . The synonymy proposed here seems to be certain apart from it that P. shirakii is based only on the female holotype with a partly reduced dark pattern (broadly isolated paired spots) on abdominal tergites. Recently some females were examined with partly or completely reduced dark bands or spots on the abdomen. The shape of the epandrium with surstyli indicates some relationships with several species of the australis group. The genital capsule resembles that in P. longipennis but this similarity barely confirms a closer relationship.

Figures

FIGURES 42 – 49. 42 – 43. Ptecticus longipennis (Wiedemann), right wing (42) and medial part of costal margin (43). Scale: 5 mm (42); 0.5 mm (43). 44 – 45. Ptecticus shirakii Nagatomi, right wing (44) and medial part of costal margin (45). Scale: 2 mm (44); 0.5 mm (45). 46 – 47. Ptecticus japonicus (Thunberg), right wing (46) and medial part of costal margin (47). Scale: 5 mm (46); 1 mm (47). 48 – 49. Ptecticus tricolor van der Wulp, right wing (48) and medial part of costal margin (49). Scale: 5 mm (48); 1 mm (49).