Phalacrotophora (Omapanta) petersoni, 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 : 120-122

Phalacrotophora (Omapanta) petersoni sp. n.

Fig. 13

Etymology: It is named after B.V. Peterson, who donated the specimen.

Description:

Male.

Frons brown, midline length about 1.5× greater than maximum breadth, without microtrichia, with about 30 hairs largely restricted to sides and the vicinity of supra­antennal bristles, which are only a little lower on frons than antials. Anterolaterals closer to eye margins than antials and almost as distant from the latter as from mediolaterals, which are clearly lower on frons than pre­ocellars. One or two small bristles on cheek plus 2 or 3 extending onto back of head, and with 2 longer more robust bristles on jowl. Pedicels brown but postpedicels yellow and slightly longer than greatest breadth, and with about 10 SPS vesicles. Palps yellow, with greatest breadth about 0.8× that of postpedicels, with 4 or 5 bristles, of which only apical long (0.08–0.09 mm) and with as many hairs. Labrum very pale and only about 0.6× as broad as postpedicel. Width of two labella combined almost twice that of postpedicel and both faces densely covered in microtrichia, which are more scale­like on lower faces. Thorax brown and dark brown on top. Anterior spiracles clearly longer than high. No humeral bristles and, associated with the rearward extension of the mesothorax, most posterior of 3 bristles on each notopleuron well behind other two bristles. Mesopleuron bare. Scutellum with 4 bristles, with anterior pair at most only three quarters as long as those behind.Abdominal tergites brown with hairs that a little longer at rear of T6 ( Fig. 13 ). Venter brownish grey and lacking hairs. Hypopygium mainly brown, but with pale yellow anal tube and as in Fig. 13 . Legs yellow apart from brown on outer third of hind femur and patch on mid coxa. Front tibia with 10–13 near­dorsal spines and half as many at tip. Front tarsus with posterodorsal hair palisade on all five segments and segment 5 longer than 4. Mid tibia with dorsal hair palisade and with 5 posterodorsal spine­like bristles, with 4 in basal half and one pre­apical, and 3 anterodorsals in basal half. Hairs below basal half of hind femur about as long as those of anteroventral row of outer half. Hind tibia with strong anterodorsal and posterodorsal spine­like bristles. Wing 2.1–2.2 mm long. Costal index 0.46. Costal ratios 4.6:1.8:1.0. Costal cilia 0.07–0.08 mm long. Space between two arms of vein 3 fork narrow. Vein Sc pale and fading before reaching vein 1. Minute hair at base of vein 3. Seven bristles on axillary ridge, all clearly longer than costal cilia. Costa yellowish brown and rest of thick veins brown and thin veins yellowish brown.

Membrane almost colourless with microtrichia absent from much of middle of wing. Haltere with whitish yellow knob.

Holotype: ♂ BOTSWANA: Serowe [22.42°S 26.73°E], Farmer’s Brigade, iii.1986, coll. Forchhammer, leg. B. V. Peterson, Malaise trap ( UCMZ, 7–24).

Figures

Figs 13, 14. Phalacrotophora species: (13) P. petersoni sp. n., ♂, left face of hypopygium; (14) P. stuckenbergi sp. n., ♀, abdominal tergites 4–6. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.