Dacus (Didacus) albiseta, White, Ian M. & Goodger, Kim F. M., 2009

White, Ian M. & Goodger, Kim F. M., 2009, African Dacus (Diptera: Tephritidae); New Species and Data, with Particular Reference to the Tel Aviv University Collection, Zootaxa 2127, pp. 1-49 : 16

Dacus (Didacus) albiseta sp.n.

Figures 27 – 32 .

Diagnosis. As D. mulgens Munro, 1932 , except: Thorax. Lateroterga with a single xanthine across both anatergite and katatergite (fig. 30). Wing. Costal band complete; shallow, slightly extending below vein R2+3 before wing apex; expanded into a spot at apex (fig. 32).

Description. Size. Small, wing length, 5.8 – 6 mm. Head (fig. 29). Pedicel+first flagellomere not longer than ptilinal suture. Face, antennal furrow with a dark spot, barely taller than broad and about two-thirds width of furrow. Frons, frontal setae 2, orbital setae 1. Thorax (figs 27, 30). Scutum uniformly red-brown; postpronotal lobe orange-yellow; notopleural callus orange-yellow; notopleural xanthine wedge shaped (connected to notopleural callus); lateral and medial postsutural vitta absent. Scutellum without any dark patterning (except for basal dark margin which may be deep). Anepisternum with a stripe from notopleural callus, slightly narrowing, to katepisternum; extended onto katepisternum. Lateroterga with a single xanthine across both anatergite and katatergite. Thoracic setae. Anterior notopleural seta present but reduced (thin and white); anterior supra-alar seta absent. Wing (fig. 32). Basal cells bc and c without an almost complete covering of microtrichia; cell bm without microtrichia. Narrow subbasal raised section of cell br with extensive covering of microtrichia. Crossvein R-M beyond middle of cell dm. Costal band complete; shallow, slightly extending below vein R2+3 before wing apex; expanded into a spot at apex. Anal streak present (colour extending beyond cell bcu). Cells bc and c hyaline. Without any crossbanding. Legs (fig. 30, 31). Fore- and midfemur red-brown; hindfemora bicoloured (pale basally, red-brown apical third). Abdomen (fig. 28). Redbrown except for yellowish apical band across apex of tergite II; shape similar to D. adenionis Munro, 1984 . Tergites I – V all fused. Male. Tergite III with pecten, dense microtrichia adjacent end A1+Cu2, and hindtibia preapical pad. Female. Unknown.

Etymology. Descriptive name for the thin white (alba) anterior notopleural seta (a common feature in the Mulgens group).

Material. Holotype male, BENIN: Korobourou (L.A.), 14.iii.2005, cue lure, J.F. Vayssieres (RVA1709) ( BMNH); paratype male, Ina ( INRAB), 10.v.2005, cue lure, J.F. Vayssieres (RVA1708) ( MRAC).

Remarks. Without a female from which to confirm the form of the aculeus it is not possible to confirm the group placement of this species; the reduced anterior notopleural seta and general appearance suggests the Mulgens group. However, it differs from all known Mulgens group spp. in having the laterotergite xanthine across both katatergite and anatergite, rather than restricted to the katatergite.

Figures

FIGURES 27 – 32. Dacus (Didacus) albiseta sp. n., holotype male. 27. Mesonotum, dorsal view. 28. Abdomen, dorsal view. 29. Head, anterior view. 30. Thorax and fore-leg, left lateral view. 31. Legs, left lateral view; mid, hind. 32. Wing, dorsal view. Scale lines = 1 mm.