Machimus leleji Sakhvon, 2023

Sakhvon, V. V., 2023, A new species of the genus Machimus Loew, 1849 (Diptera: Asilidae) from the Russian Far East, Far Eastern Entomologist 491, pp. 18-23 : 19-21

Machimus leleji Sakhvon , sp. n.

https://zoobank.org/NomenclaturalActs/ 7E4B6BA8-6737-477E-A12E-BAB632064DE5

Figs 1–9

TYPE MATERIAL. Holotype: ♂, Russia, Primorski Krai, Khasanski district, Gamov Peninsula, Vityaz settl., 42º35'28"N, 131º12'0"E, 12–14.IX 2019, leg. V . Sakhvon (BSU) . Paratypes: Russia, 6♀, same place, 12–14.IX 2019, leg. V . Sakhvon [ BSU]; 2♀, same place, 21–26.VIII 2021, leg. M. Sergeev [ IBSS] .

DIAGNOSIS. MALE. Body length 19.0–24.0 (holotype 20.5) mm. Mystax golden with black macrosetae and setae in upper margin. Orbital macrosetae and setae, ocellar setae, 12– 16 postocular macrosetae black (Fig. 2). Antenna black. Postpedicel equal or shorter than length of scape and pedicel combined; style equal to postpedicel length (Fig. 2). Thorax black. Scutum with short black setae. Scutellum with 6–8 black or yellow apical setae; disk with dense long yellow setae. 1 posthumeral, 2 notopleural, 3–4 supraalar, 3 postalar macrosetae black. 3–6 dorsocentral macrosetae black, not reaching transverse suture (Figs 1, 3, 4). Wings slightly darkened. Legs black. Tergites and sternites black, golden tomentose, with short and long golden setae (Figs 1, 3, 4). Hypopygium black with black setae. Posterior margin of epandrium with an indentation forming two projections ( Fig. 5 ). Aedeagus elongated and 3-pronged ( Figs 7–8 ). Female. Similar to the male but almost without silvery tomentum on the thorax, therefore appears completely golden.

DESCRIPTION. MALE. Head black. Face and vertex golden, frons with mixed silvery and bronze tomentose. Black stripe from antennal socket to ocellar tubercle. Facial gibbosity large. Length from upper margin of mystax to antennal socket shorter than length of scape and pedicel combined. Mystax in length reaching apex of proboscis. Long macrosetae and setae of mystax mostly golden, shorter macrosetae and setae of mystax black in upper part. Palpus black with few golden setae. Proboscis black with few yellow proboscial and labial setae. Orbital macrosetae and setae dense and black, some of them in length equal to length of scape. Ocellar setae black. 12–16 postocular macrosetae black, numerous setae yellow. Occipital and lower occipital setae golden. Antenna black. Scape and pedicel with black macrosetae and setae, some of them yellowish. Postpedicel below with few short black setae. Postpedicel equal or shorter than length of scape and pedicel combined. Style equal to postpedicel length (Fig. 2).

Figs 1–4. Machimus leleji sp. n.: 1–2 – holotype, ♂; 3–4 – paratype, ♀. 1, 3, 4 – habitus;

2 – head. Scale bar 1.0 mm for 2; 2.0 mm for 1, and 3.0 mm for 3–4.

Thorax black. Scutum with silvery tomentum forming clear pattern. This silvery tomentum area separates distinct paramedian and median stripes, presutural and postsutural spots, covered with dark brown tomentum. Postpronotal lobe with silvery tomentum and short black setae. Wide stripe of silvery and bronze tomentum extends from anterior margin to scutellum in lateral view. Pleuron with silvery tomentum, but anepisternum with golden tomentum and long yellow setae; row of long setae in dorsal margin is black. Katepisternum and anepimeron with golden tomentum and long yellow setae. Scutum with short black setae. Scutellum with silvery tomentum and 6 (6–8 in different specimens) black or yellow apical setae; disk with long dense yellow setae; 1 posthumeral, 2 notopleural, 3–4 supraalar, 3 postalar macrosetae black; 3–6 dorsocentral macrosetae black, not reaching transverse suture (Figs 1, 3, 4).

Wings darkened by yellowish microtrichia along veins, especially dense on basal costal, costal and subcostal cells; veins brownish (Fig. 4).

Legs black. Coxae with silvery and golden tomentum and dense long yellow setae. Fore femur with short mostly black setae and long yellow setae, especially dense ventrally; some of long setae black. Mid femora with short black and yellow setae and long yellow setae, especially dense ventrally; ventroproximally with few yellow macrosetae. Hind femur with short yellow setae and few black and yellow macrosetae. Fore and mid tibiae with short black and yellow setae and long yellow setae and few black and yellow macrosetae. Hind tibia and tarsomere I with dense golden setae. Tarsi with mostly short black setae and macrosetae. Claws black, brownish basally. Pulvillus well developed, reddish (Figs 1, 3).

Abdomen. Tergites and sternites black, with golden tomentum and short golden setae, which longer on sternites. All tergites with row of long golden setae on posterior margin (Figs 1, 3).

Genitalia. Hypopygium black with black setae. Posterior margin of epandrium with indentation forming two projections. Gonocoxite elongated and widened posteriorly. Aedeagus elongated and 3-pronged. Apodeme of ejaculator small ( Figs 5–8 ).

FEMALE. Similar to the male but almost without silvery tomentum on the thorax, therefore appears completely golden.

DISTRIBUTION. Russian Far East (Primorski Krai).

NATURAL HISTORY. This species occurring in the edges of deciduous forests ( Fig. 9 ). The specimens are usually sitting on fallen tree trunks, branches and leaves of trees on sunny side. One female was with prey – Formicidae , 6 mm ( Hymenoptera ).

ETYMOLOGY. I am proud to name this species in honor Arkady S. Lelej, who supported me and helped in the study of Palaearctic Asilidae .

Figures

Figs 5–8. Machimus leleji sp. n., holotype, ♂: 5 – epandrium, external view; 6 – gonocoxite, external view; 7 – aedeagus, dorsal view; 8 – aedeagus, lateral view.

Fig. 9. Habitat of Machimus leleji sp.n. on Gamov Peninsula, Primorsky Krai.