Gymnochiromyia spinifera sp. n.

Fig. 24

Etymology: From Latin spinifer (prickly); the name refers to the minute spine-like setulae on the prg.

Diagnosis: An entirely yellow species with only the oc ringed with black, otherwise there are no good external distinguishing features.

Description:

Male.

Head: Yellow; fr with margin moderately converging; at level of antenna 0.6 that at level of anterior oc; oc triangle yellow but oc distinctly ringed with black; about 16 minute pale golden yellow setulae on fr; eye oval lying oblique; gena in profile, below middle of eye, 0.9 height of eye; yellow and with pale setulae; ocp in profile barely visible behind eye, with short postocular setulae in one row; isolated lower post-genal seta long and pale; mouth parts small all yellow; 2 long setulae on oral margin at vibrissal angle; face poorly sclerotised and depressed; antenna all yellow, third segment a little larger than usual for genus and densely pubescent, second segment with brown dorsal seta, third aristal segment black, first two segments yellow; orb setae normal for genus, 1 vti and 1 vte, pvt distinct and crossed, oc long and divergent.

Thorax: msn yellow and unstriped; pleura and mtn yellow, no darker spot at base of haltere. Chaetotaxy: 1 hu with shorter seta and fine setula adjacent, 1 psthu, 2 ntpl, 1 sa, 1 pa, 0+2 dc, acrs in 6 rows at level of transverse suture, prescutellar short; 1 mspl and 1 stpl, each with a few setulae in front.

Wing: Hyaline, veins all pale yellow; distance between R and R 4+5 about 0.7 that between R 4+5 and M 1+2 at costa; distance between crossveins about 0.8 length of apical section of Cu. Haltere pale yellow.

2+3

Legs: All yellow and not modified except for very slightly thicker fore femur; fine yellow setulae scattered on all pairs of legs, in addition to somewhat longer setae on fore femur.

Abdomen: tg entirely yellow; short setulose reaching about half length of tg on sides; st pale yellow.

Postabdomen: ep small; broad basally, ph apd long, ej apd indistinct, surs long, broad at base and slightly dilated and rounded at apex, a little curved inwards, cerci small and finely setulose, prg oval and short spinose on ventral aspect; psg and bac scl not identified, ph asymmetrical more or less globular at apex.

Female. Similar to male but without secondary sexual characters.

Length: ♂ 1.5 mm, wing 1.5 mm; ♀1.8 mm, wing 1.7 mm.

Variation: The distance between the crossveins may be a little less than that given for the holotype.

Holotype: ♂ SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape: 7 km N Steytlerville, Groot R., lucerne field, 30.x.1978, R.M. Miller (NMSA).

Paratypes: SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape: 1 ♂ 1♀same data and depository as holotype; 1 ♂ same data (NMC) . NAMIBIA: Lüderitz District: 1 ♂ 1♀Rooiberg, 27º38'S: 16º28'E, 22–24.ix.1997, Malaise trap, A. Kirk-Spriggs & E. Marais (NMNW) .