Bengalia aliena Malloch, 1927

Rognes, Knut, 2012, 3553, Zootaxa 3553, pp. 1-79 : 61-65

9. Bengalia aliena Malloch, 1927

Figs. 193–216.

Bengalia (Ochromyia) aliena Malloch, 1927: 407 . Holotype female (MNHN, examined), by original designation. Type locality: Gabon (N’Djolé).

Note. Malloch’s statements “[t]he only data upon the specimen is a written label …” … “Type in Paris Museum” show that he described the species on the basis of a single specimen. By employing the term “Type” he fixed the holotype by original designation (Article 73.1.1 of ICZN 1999). There is only one specimen under Bengalia aliena in MNHN .

Bengalia aliena: Zumpt 1956: 167 . Democratic Republic of Congo (4 females from Bambesa, Libenge, Ubangi), Liberia (1 female from Robertsport).

Bengalia aliena: Zumpt 1962b: 240 , figs. 4a–c. Nigeria (Lagos).

Note. Zumpt here described the male for the first time on the basis of a specimen from Nigeria, and illustrated the ST5 flap, cerci and surstyli and the aedeagus in lateral view.

Bengalia aliena: Pont 1980: 791 . Catalogue entry.

Tsunamia yorubana Lehrer, 2005: 84 . Holotype male (BMNH, not examined), by original designation. Type locality: Nigeria (Jericho, Ibadan). Syn. nov.

Note. Lehrer gave figures of the male genitalia, but it is unclear why he decided to redescribe this striking taxon under a new name. Both the specimens he examined (the holotype and paratype males, both from Nigeria) had already been identified as B. aliena by van Emden and Crosskey, respectively. Possibly, he may not have been aware of Zumpt’s (1962b) paper where Zumpt described the male sex; at least this work is absent from Lehrer’s bibliography. Whatever the case, Lehrer gives no arguments for why he is not accepting Zumpt’s association of the male with the female holotype in MNHN .

Diagnosis. Male. Length: 12–15mm (n=2). Frons at vertex / head width ratio: 0.29–0.29 (mean 0.29, n=2). Recognisable in both sexes on the regular absence of discal setae on T5.

Anepimeron with a group about 3–7 black rather short setae near upper margin, usually quite strong and curved at tip (thicker at base than meral setae, but thinner at base than anepisternal setae, only half as long as meral setae), other setulae below this group yellow. Fore tibia with a regular row of strong spines in proximal half, lowermost spine strongest and about as long as width of tibia, those above becoming gradually shorter, fringe of long slender setae in lower third. Fore femur with 4–5 pv spinous setae and long, slender and densely set setae on a and av surfaces. Hind tibia with weak fringe of 2–3 long and several weaker setae in distal half.

T5 usually without a pair of discal setae.

ST5 flap in male a very short and broad “crossbar”.

Distiphallus with antlers and upper lip. The dorsolateral wing is reduced to a narrow laterally directed horizontal process (h.p.) middorsally on each side. The upper lip (u.l.) is narrow and flat. The antlers are rather long, distally with two lobes. The lateral finger (l.f.) ( Figs. 203, 205, 208) is a broad, flat, triangular and pointed structure. Internal hypophallic lobes (i.) clearly separable from the external hypophallic lobes ( Fig. 205 i. and e.). The distal part of the external hypophallic lobe with three distal folds, posterior (e1), middle (e2) and apical (e3) folds, each with numerous denticles. The apical folds (e3) almost meet in the midline at the apex of the distiphallus and are flanking the opening of the ejaculatory duct at the sides. Above and on the sides of the ejaculatory opening is the dorsal shield (d.s.), a roof-like curved unpaired structure.

Female. Length: 11–15mm (n=4). Frons at vertex / head width ratio: 0.29–0.29 (mean 0.29, n=5). All females I have seen, like the males, lack discal setae on T5, except for a female specimen from Gabon in MNHN which has a single weak discal seta on T5 (the right one). ST2–5 each with a pair of rather strong marginals; on ST5 they are rather wide apart. Ovipositor sclerites short. T6 a large sclerite, confined on each side to area around the two spiracles. T6 with marginal setae, but no marginal setae invading the area between the T6 sclerotisations. T7 short, broad and paired sclerites with 2–3 marginal setae on each side. The distance between the sclerites less than the width of each sclerite. No marginal setae invading area between the T7 sclerotisations. T8 short triangular paired pieces with a few marginals. ST6 a large undivided half-moon shaped sclerite with marginal setae. ST7 also entire, longer than ST6 and encloses the entire ventral and lateral sides of the ovipositor. ST7 with marginal setae along the entire hind edge, but setae longest laterally. ST8 entire, with a very short proximal part, and a longer vertical part with a few setae which border the opening of the vagina. Epiproct, cerci and hypoproct with long thin marginal setae. Spermathecae elongate. Uterus with two small proximal sclerotisations of unknown significance. [1 ovipositor dissected.]

Discussion. The frons at vertex / head width ratio is remarkably constant, all the seven measured specimens having a ratio of 0.29. Lehrer (2005: 84) claims in the generic diagnosis that the internal hypophallic lobes (“lobes hypophalliques proximaux”) are absent. That is an error (cf. Fig. 205, i.). He failed to mention the absence of discal setae on T5, but mentions the strong setae on the upper part of the anepimeron. Lehrer (2005: 18) counted, unjustifiably, B. aliena among nominal taxa “à descriptions très sommaires des femelles, avec les types disparus et avec mâles ignorès … désignées, sans base scientifique, comme espèces valides”, thus listed the female as unknown. The female is easily identified on the structure of the ovipositor sclerites, especially the characteristic ST6 and ST7, in combination with the absence of discal setae on T5, strong black setae on the upper part of the anepimeron, and yellow setulae elsewhere.

Biology. The dates of capture in material I have examined are in April, July–October and December. Zumpt’s (1956, 1962b) material is from April, May, August and September. Lehrer’s (2005) material is from the months of January and October.

Distribution. * Cameroon, * Congo, * Democratic Republic of Congo, * Equatorial Guinea ( Fernando Po), * Gabon, * Ghana, * Ivory Coast, * Liberia, Nigeria.

Material examined. Type material. Bengalia aliena Malloch, 1927 . Holotype female, in MNHN, labelled (1) Gabon / N’Djolé [handwritten] [misspelt by Malloch as “N’Djoli”]; (2) MUSEUM PARIS [printed on blue label]; (3) HOLO- / TYPE. [printed in black on red label]; (4) Bengalia / aliena / Type / Det. / JRMalloch [handwritten in Malloch’s hand, last two lines printed] ( Fig. 197). Note. The holotype lacks the left antenna and the left palpus. The ST 6 is present but the ST7 has been destroyed by poking with a forceps (?). T4 medial marginals moderately distant.

Other material. IRD: Congo : 1 female labelled (1) M’Vouti [now Mvouti] MC / 16-12-55 [handwritten]; (2) KR’s determination label. Cameroon: 1 female labelled (1) Yaoundé / 8.59 / CAMEROUN / J. MOUCHET rec. [printed, except lines 1 and 2]; (2) BENGALIA / aliena Mall. / A. RICKENBACH ORSTOM dét. [handwritten except printed last line] . MNHN: Ivory Coast : 1 male labelled (1) MUSÉUM PARIS / Côte d’Ivoire / RÉSERVE du BANCO / R. PAULIAN & C. DELAMARE [printed on blue label with black frame]; (2) B. gaillardi [handwritten with pencil]; (3) KR’s determination label. Note. The specimen was placed in the MNHN collection under B. gaillardi . It has been dissected by KR. The dried abdominal tergites T1–5 are glued to card above label; genitalia are in a glass microvial below the labels. Gabon : 1 female labelled (1) MUSÉUM PARIS / GABON / A. VILLIERS [printed on bluish label]; (2) KOMO / Contreforts des / Mts de Cristal 400 m / 1-15 – X – 1969 [printed]. Note. The T5 has a weak median discal seta (the right) . NMSA: Ghana: 1 male labelled (1) Obuasi / Ashanti / W. Africa / 12.vii.1907. / Dr.W.M.Graham. / 1908–245 [printed, except day and month in line 4]; (2) “Caught on leaf / in bush path.” [handwritten]; (3) Bengalia ♀ [sic] / aliena Mall. / det. Zumpt 74 [handwritten by Zumpt]; (4) NMSA-DIP / 17836 [printed on white label, text facing down]; (5) NATAL MUSEUM / Pietermaritzburg / South Africa [printed on green label]; (6) KR’s determination label. Equatorial Guinea: 1 male labelled (1) Fernando Po Id. [now = Bioco] / W.Cooper / B.M.1924–416 [printed]; (2) slide no. 35 [Zumpt’s handwriting]; (3) Bengalia ♂ / aliena Mall. / det. Zumpt 74 [handwritten by Zumpt]; (4) NMSA-DIP / 57882 [printed on white label]; (5) NATAL MUSEUM / Pietermaritzburg / South Africa [printed on green label]; (6) KR’s determination label. Liberia: 1 female labelled (1) Bendu / Robertsport / Liberia [printed]; (2) IV.25.1943 / F.M.Snyder [printed, except day, month and last digit in year, which are handwritten]; (3) Bengalia ♀ / aliena Mall. / det. Zumpt 52 [handwritten by Zumpt]; (4) NMSA-DIP / 57880 [printed on white label]; (5) NATAL MUSEUM / Pietermaritzburg / South Africa [printed on green label]; (6) KR’s determination label. Democratic Republic Of Congo: 1 female labelled (1) MUSÉE DU CONGO / Bambesa / 20 – IX – 1933 / H. J. Bredo [printed, except third line which is handwritten]; (2) Bengalia ♀ / aliena Mall. / det. Zumpt 55 [handwritten by Zumpt]; (3) NMSA- DIP / 57881 [printed on white label, text facing down]; (4) NATAL MUSEUM / Pietermaritzburg / South Africa [printed on green label]. The specimen has been dissected by KR. Dried abdominal tergites T1–5 glued to card above labels; ST1–5 and ovipositor in glycerol in glass microvial below labels; spermathecae in glycerol in separate vial on separate pin labelled “ NMSA- DIP / 57881” in pencil and KR’s determination label. Zumpt (1956: 167) erroneously gives the year of capture as 1953, whereas the label reads 1933 ( Fig. 216). RMNH / ZMAN: Gabon : 1 female labelled (1) GABON, Ogooué-Maritime / RABI, next 1-ha plot / 1°55.7'S 9°52.5'E / 23.IX- 5.X.1994 mal.trap / gap in primary forest / J.J. Wieringa [white printed label]; (2) KR’s determination label. Note. Upper black anepimeral setulae not particularly strong .