Argolepida schlingeri, Irwin & Winterton, 2021

Irwin, Michael E. & Winterton, Shaun L., 2021, Revision of South American stiletto fly genus Argolepida Metz & Irwin (Diptera: Therevidae: Therevinae), Zootaxa 5068 (2), pp. 151-185 : 173-175

Argolepida schlingeri sp. n.

Zoobank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:D137E223-593B-4C61-B996-10447536E588

( Figs 25–28 ; 32M, N ; 34C ; 36G ; 37 )

Diagnosis. Male frons with small and elongate medial glabrous area, female with ‘shield’-like glabrous area across frons; wing hyaline; abdominal tergites 1–6 with white scale-like adpressed setae; femora mostly brown.

Description. Body length: 5.5–7.0 mm. Head with male frons flat, uniform greyish silver pubescence with small elongate glabrous area centrally ( Fig. 32M ), female frons slightly raised, light brown dorsally, greyish silver ventrally, ‘shield’-like domed glabrous area medially ( Fig. 32N ), few short pale setae below ocellar tubercle; postocular setae pale, occiput pubescence grey, white scale-like setae abundant medially; antennal scape and flagellum brown, overlain with grey pubescence. Thorax with scutal pubescence dark brown, short erect filiform setae admixed with adpressed white scale-like setae, denser anteriorly; pleuron with dense silver-grey pubescence, extensive semi-erect white scale-like setae, katatergite with admixed strong filiform and scale-like setae; coxae dark, overlain with silvergrey pubescence, setae white, mid coxa without setae on posterior surface; femora dark grey-brown, apices yellow, densely covered with white scale-like adpressed setae; tibiae yellow, dark grey-brown apically; tarsi brown, yellow basally; wing hyaline, infuscate along wing veins, basally in radial cells; venation pale; haltere stem dark with knob pale. Abdomen base colour mostly dark brown, adpressed white scale-like setae on segments 1–6, black on rest remaining segments; terminalia brown. Male and female genitalia as per genus description except ejaculatory apodeme slightly spatulate anteriorly, lateral ejaculatory apodeme relatively small.

Etymology. We are honoured to name this species after the Late Dr Evert I. Schlinger, mentor and collector of many specimens belonging to the genus Argolepida .

Comments. Argolepida schlingeri sp. n. is extensively covered in adpressed scale-like setae and is similar to A. patagonia sp. n., differing mostly in having hyaline wings and the shield-like shape of the female frontal glabrous patch. This species is distributed along the Western slopes of the Andes in Northern Argentina; it overlaps in distribution with P. rivulosa and P. telteca sp. n.

Type material. Holotype male, ARGENTINA: Tucumán Province: Casa del Campo, Hwy 40 at km 992 [- 26.5473, -66.0230], 5,920 ft., white sand area, 18.X.1997, M.E. Irwin, F.D. Parker, S. Roig (MEI107007; MNBR) . Paratypes: ARGENTINA: Tucumán Province: 23 males, 6 females, same data as holotype (MEI106546–52, 106999–7006, 107008, 106991–6, 106998–9, 107014–9; CSCA, CASC, UCCS) .

Other material examined. ARGENTINA: Catamarca Province: 10 males, 28 km SE. Tinogasta [-28.2443, -67.4587], 1100 m, Malaise in dunes, 15–19.X.1997, M.E. Irwin, F.D. Parker, S. Roig (MEI106481–90; CSCA) ; 9 females, Los Corales, 46 km S. Santa Maria [approximated as -26.9923, -66.1617], 1100 m, Malaise in white dunes, 17–19.X.1997, M.E. Irwin, F.D. Parker, S. Roig (MEI106494–5, 106498–500, 107970–1; CSCA) ; 5 females, San Fernando, N. Belen [approximated as -27.3305, -66.8975], 1650 m, hand netted in large wash, 8.IX.1999, M.E. Irwin, F.D. Parker (MEI134839–43; CSCA) ; 6 females, 6 km N. Santa Maria [-26.6654, -66.0214], 1900 m, 19.II.1967, sand dune, M.E. Irwin (MEI00006–10, 00062; CSCA) . La Rioja Province: 7 males, 2 km N. Villa Castelli [-28.9977, -68.2027], 4240 ft., Malaise , 14.X.1997, M.E. Irwin, F.D. Parker, S. Roig (MEI107010–13, 134849, 106797–8) ; 17 males, Termas de Santa Teresita [-28.5971, -66.5493], 610 m, Malaise in yard, 14.IX.1999, M.E. Irwin, F.D. Parker (MEI134844, 134886–7, 134832–5, 134837, 134852–9, 134894–5; CSCA) . Salta Province: 6 males, 1 female, 5 km NE. Cafayate [-26.0496, -65.8996], 1620 m, 11.X.2003, S.M. Blank, C. Kutzscher (MEI157409–10, 157412–15; CSCA) .

Figures

FIGURE 25. Argolepida schlingeri sp. n.: male, oblique view.

FIGURE 26. Argolepida schlingeri sp. n.: male, lateral view.

FIGURE 27. Argolepida schlingeri sp. n.: female, oblique view.

FIGURE 28. Argolepida schlingeri sp. n.: female, lateral view.

FIGURE 32. Argolepida spp. heads, anterior view. A. Argolepida atacama sp. n., male; B. Argolepida atacama sp. n., female; C. A. camposi sp. n., male; D. A. camposi sp. n., female; E. A. jama sp. n., male; F. A. jama sp. n., female; G. A. oasis sp. n., male; H. A. oasis sp. n., female; I. A. patagonia sp. n., male; J. A. patagonia sp. n., female; K. A. rivulosa (Kröber, 1928), male; L. A. rivulosa (Kröber, 1928), female; M. A. schlingeri sp. n., male; N. A. schlingeri sp. n., female; O. A. telteca sp. n., male; P. A. telteca sp. n., female.

FIGURE 34. Argolepida spp. wings. A. Argolepida patagonia sp. n.; B. A. rivulosa (Kröber, 1928); C. A. schlingeri sp. n.; D. A. telteca sp. n.

FIGURE 36. Argolepida spp. male aedeagi, dorsal view (upper) and lateral view (lower). A. Argolepida atacama sp. n.; B. A. camposi sp. n.; C. A. jama sp. n.; D. A. oasis sp. n.; E. A. patagonia sp. n.; F. A. rivulosa (Kröber, 1928); G. A. schlingeri sp. n.; H. A. telteca sp. n.

FIGURE 37. Distribution of Argolepida species in Southern South America.