Diplonevra meridafricana, Disney, 2012

Disney, R. H. L., 2012, Five new species of scuttle fly (Diptera: Phoridae) from southern Africa, African Invertebrates 53 (1), pp. 113-113 : 115-117

Diplonevra meridafricana sp. n.

Figs 4–7

Etymology: The name refers to its occurrence in southern Africa.

Description:

Male.

Frons brown, about 1.3× as broad as midline length, with minute microtrichia and two dozen small hairs. Antials closer to anterolaterals than to supra­antennals and very slightly higher on frons than anterolaterals. Mediolaterals slightly lower on frons than pre­ocellar bristles. Cheeks with single bristle and jowls with 2 stronger and longer bristles. Pedicel and postpedicel of antenna as in Fig. 6 , pedicel being brown and postpedicel mainly orange, but brown around base of arista, which is also brown. Palps yellow, but basal segment in part brown, and as in Fig. 5 . Labrum brown and at most only 0.75× as wide as palps. Labella pale apart from narrow yellowish brown band towards each side dorsally. Thorax brown, being darkest on top. Notopleuron with 3 bristles. Scutellum with two pairs of strong bristles, posterior pair being longer than anterior pair. Abdominal tergites brown, T6 being longest, and with short fine hairs. Venter brownish grey and almost devoid of hairs. Hypopygium brown, including greyish brown anal tube, and as in Fig. 4 . Legs with coxae, femora (except tips of front femora), mid tibiae, front and mid tarsal segments 5 and all of hind legs brown. Rest of legs dusky yellow to yellow. Front tibia lacking near­dorsal spine or differentiated hairs. Front tarsus with posterodorsal hair palisade on all five segments and segment 5 longer than 4. Mid tibia with single, very small, anterodorsal bristle in basal quarter and single dorsal hair palisade, but a vestige of anterodorsal palisade evident just below bristle. Tip of hind trochanter and base of femur as in Fig. 7 . Hind tibia with anterodorsal bristle near end of first quarter and another near halfway point. Wing 3.5–3.6 mm long. Costal index 0.55–0.56. Costal ratios 5.3:2.7:1.0. Costal cilia 0.09–0.10 mm long. Sc obscure and only evident near base. No hair at base of vein 3. With 6 axillary bristles, all clearly longer than costal cilia. All veins brown, except 7 more pale grey. Membrane grey (evident to naked eye when viewed against a white background). Haltere brown.

Holotype: ♂ SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape: Saasveld [33.95°S 22.53°E], near George , indigenous forest, 17 xii.1986 – 17.i.1987, V. Nicolai, pitfall trap ( UCMZ, 20–39).

Figures

Figs 4–7. Diplonevra meridafricana sp. n., ♂: (4) left face of hypopygium; (5) inner face of left palp; (6) left antenna; (7) posterior face of tip of hind trochanter and base of femur. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.