Chelipoda brevipennis, Published, 2007

Published, First, 2007, The Hemerodromiinae (Diptera: Empididae) of New Zealand II. Chelipoda Macquart, Zootaxa 1537 (1), pp. 1-88 : 28

14. Chelipoda brevipennis sp. n.

[ Fig. 18 ]

Type material. Holotype ♂: New Zealand, South Is. , CO, Rock and Pillar Ra., McPhee’s Rock, 1280m, yellow pan trap in tussock, 9–12/xi/1986, JWE [ NZAC].

Paratypes: Same data as holotype ; 1♂, 3♀ in alcohol [ NZAC] ; 1♂, 3♀ in alcohol, 1♂, 3♀ dried from alcohol NMWC .

Additional material. South. Is. , MC, 4♀ , Mt Hutt , 27/xi/1981, RAM, CAM, JWE [ LUNZ]; 1♂ , Mt Cheeseman , around Bottom Hut, 28/i/1969, Ento Staff Field Trip [ LUNZ]; 1♀, FD , Homer V ., 900m, 6/ii/ 1980, KEJ [ LUNZ]; 1♂, FD , Moraine Ck. , 880m, below moraine wall, beating sub-alpine scrub, 11/ii/1980, RME [ LUNZ]; 7♀, FD , Darran Mts , Tutoko Bench, 945–1158m, sweeping and Malaise trap, 9–14/i/1977, JSD [ NZAC] .

Etymology: from the Latin brevis (short) and penna (wing).

Description. Male: length 2.5–3.0 mm. Very similar to C. dominatrix but differing as follows.

Head: antenna with postpedicel 2X as long as wide, arista 1.5X as long and slightly thickened; lpo short fine and inconspicuous.

Thorax: with ph weaker <0.5X length of pprn and more hair-like.

Legs: brownish yellow, C 2, C 3 and F 1 dorsally slightly darker; C 1 not contrastingly paler; F 1 longer, almost 4X as long as broad; femoral formula 4(3–4)/13.5(12–15)/10(8–11)/4(4–4); basal ventral bristle similarly situated 0.1 from base.

Wing: of variable length, sometimes slightly abbreviated, not extending beyond tip of abdomen; veins rather thickened, brown, clearly delimited and contrasting with clearer membrane; A 1 absent with only extremely faint trace near end of CuA 2.

Abdomen: Genitalia very similar to C. dominatrix , cercus narrower than C. dominatrix ( Fig. 18 ) but broader than in C. ferocitrix .

Description. Female: length 3.0 mm; wings appearing shorter than in male and usually clearly shorter than abdomen (which is rather longer than in male). Femoral formula 4(4–4)/15(12–17)/10(9–12)/4(3–4).

Comments. This species belongs in the C. consignata -group and is distinguished by pleura all dark, dorsocentrals equally sized, legs yellowish, postpedicel rather short and slightly shortened wings with thickened veins. C. brevipennis is very similar to C. dominatrix and C. ferocitrix (see discussion under C. dominatrix ). C. brevipennis has been found from November to February and all records are from subalpine scrub or tussock in the Southern Alps. There are small differences between the type series and specimens from other localities (e.g. wing length and strength of vein A 1) and it is possible that the latter represent separate microspecies or merely reflect intra-specific variation. It seems clear that C. brevipennis , C. ferocitrix and C. dominatrix are closely related members of a montane species assemblage which is actively radiating in the alpine regions of South Island. It is unwise to attempt further splitting of these taxa until such time as more material is available from little collected upland areas.

Figures

FIGURES 16–22. Male genitalia of Chelipoda spp. 16. C. digressa Collin, posterior view. 17. C. dominatrix sp. n. lateral view. 18. C. brevipennis sp. n. cercus. 19. C. ferocitrix sp. n cercus. 20. C. dominatrix sp. n. cercus. 21. C. ferocitrix sp. n. anterior view. 22. C. atrocitas sp. n. lateral view.