Asteia vanuaensis, Grimaldi, 2009

Grimaldi, David A., 2009, The Asteioinea of Fiji (Insecta: Diptera: Periscelididae, Asteiidae, Xenasteiidae), American Museum Novitates 3671, pp. 1-60 : 45-47

Asteia vanuaensis , new species

Figure 28

DIAGNOSIS: Externally virtually identical to Asteia vitiensis , exceptions being a thinner inner vertical seta and a dark (vs. light) palp. Best distinguished from vitiensis on basis of male terminalia (as figured): epandrium slightly asymmetrical (right side slightly thicker), aedeagus long, usually extensively protruding in undissected specimens, mostly sclerotized, with about 6 twists; apices of surstyli acute, left surstylus with apical tooth.

DESCRIPTION: ThL 5 0.51 mm. As for vitiensis , with exceptions as noted above in diagnosis.

TYPES: Holotype, male: FIJI: Vanua Levu : VII.7.08, Road up Mt. Ndulaikoro, 1000 m, in rolled leaves of wild ginger, D. Grimaldi. Not dissected . Paratypes: Same data, 3 males (2 dissected: nos. 42, 44), 2 females. In AMNH. Other specimens: Vanua Levu , VII. 2.08, 16 ° 329210S, 179 ° 329500E, 402 m, D. Grimaldi, in rolled banana leaves (3 females, 2 males: in AMNH) .

ETYMOLOGY: Species epithet from Vanua [Levu], in reference to the distribution.

COMMENTS: There is little question about the close relationships of A. vitiensis and vanuaensis , based on the apomorphic features listed in the diagnosis of the former. They seem to be endemic to each of the two big islands. The thickened stigmata at the end of Sc and R 1 occurs sporadically throughout Asteiidae and Asteia : in two species from Costa Rica ( Asteia spinosa Sabrosky , Asteimyia antennata Sabrosky ), in Asteia nudiseta Sabrosky from Hawaii, in Asteia atrifacies Sabrosky from Guam, in an undescribed species from Australia, and in Bryania bipunctata Aldrich from the Hawaiian Islands. The species that most closely resemble the new Fijian species in most other features are Asteia atrifacies and the new species from Australia, though neither of these has the greatly expanded face of the Fiji species.

Figures

Fig. 28. Male terminalia of Asteia vanuaensis. A. Epandrial complex with aedeagus, in posterior view. B. Aedeagus, lateral view. Not to same scale.