Diplonevra ctenophora, DISNEY, 2003

DISNEY, R. H. L., 2003, Tasmanian Phoridae (Diptera) and some additional Australasian species, Journal of Natural History 37 (5), pp. 505-639 : 523-525

Diplonevra ctenophora sp. nov.

(figure 9)

Material

H  : male, Tasmania, Mount Field National Park, Russell Falls , 26 December 1991 ( R. H. L. Disney —25-5) ( TMH).

P    : male—as holotype except ( UMZC).

Etymology The name refers to the transverse combs of the dorsal face of the hind tibia.

Diagnosis

Hind tibia without isolated pre-apical bristles; scutum, scutellum and abdominal tergites dark brown; femora brown; mid and hind tibiae brown, front tibia yellowish brown; knob of haltere brown; length of male anal tube subequal to length of epandrium; tip of vein 1 ( R) not unusually expanded; left surstylus of male small 1

and not protruding; posterior face of base of hind femur with relatively simple hair patch and protuberances; hind tibial longitudinal hair palisades linked by conspicuous transverse combs. In the key covering Australian species (Disney, 1990) D. ctenophora runs to couplet 7.

Male

Frons dark brown, but a little paler in vicinity of supra-antennal bristles. Antials about midway between SAs and anterolaterals and slightly lower on frons than ALs. Pre-ocellars closer to each other than either is to mediolateral, which is lower on frons. Third antennal segment brown, about 1.5× as wide as greatest width of palp, and with numerous SPS vesicles. The latter are mostly at least as large as sockets of SA bristles and appear brown all over due to an inwardly directed pile of microsetae. Palps brown, but paler than antennae, and with six to seven short to medium bristles. Labrum a little paler than palps and only about 0.5× as wide as third antennal segment. Labella with pale brown patches above and well-developed pseudotracheae below. Each side of scutum with a humeral, three notopleurals, an intra-alar, a postalar and a prescutellar dorsocentral bristle. Posterior scutellars 1.2–1.4× as long as anterior pair of bristles. Abdominal tergites brown with sparse minute hairs, which are longer and denser on T 6, which is longer than other tergites. Venter brown with fine hairs below on segments 4–6. Hypopygium mainly dark brown, including anal tube. A small, dark, pointed surstylus on left side. Legs entirely brown, but front tibia and tarsus more yellowish brown. Front tibia with a spine-like anterodorsal bristle at end of second fifth and seven to nine anterodorsal spinules below it. Anterodorsal hair palisade of mid tibia extends almost two-thirds of length. Posterodorsals of hind tibia short and fine. Hind femur relatively broad, with hairs below basal half not differentiated from adjacent hairs of anterior face. Basal region of posterior face as figure 9. Wing 2.4–2.8 mm long. Costal index 0.42–0.44. Costal ratios 6.2–7.7: 0.7–1.3: 1. Costal cilia 0.08–0.09 mm long. Veins brown. Membrane tinged brownish grey. A strong hair at base of vein 3. With four or five long axillary bristles. Vein Sc obscure, being short and closely adjacent to base of R.

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