Botanophila saliciphila, Michelsen, Verner, 2009

Michelsen, Verner, 2009, Revision of the Botanophila helviana species group (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) in Europe, Zootaxa 2108, pp. 45-61 : 59

6. Botanophila saliciphila sp. nov.

Figs. 2 , 8–10 , 29–31 .

Etymology. The specific epithet ‘saliciphila’ is a Latin adjective combining the words ‘salix’ (willow) and ‘philus’ (loving, having an affinity for).

Description. Size. Small, wing length 3.6–4.1mm (n=6).

Male. Frons at narrowest point no wider than distance between inner margins of posterior ocelli; frontal vitta at this point about same width as combined width of parafrontals. Parafacial at narrowest point distinctly wider than postpedicel. Gena in lateral aspect also a little wider than postpedicel; genal setae and setulae in two rows. Arista a little longer than antenna measured from base of scape to tip of postpedicel; aristomere 3 thickened on basal sixth. Palp distinctly shorter than fore tarsomere 1; prementum slightly longer than fore tarsomere 1, strongly blackish subshining through thin dusting on lateral parts. Thorax covered in relatively dense, ash-grey dusting; three dark brown mesonotal stripes well indicated in front of scutellum. Presutural acrostichal rows in front no farther apart than their distance to dorsocentral rows; middle pair of acrostichals distinctly enlarged; a few setulae present between rows. Notopleuron with 0–1 accessory setula besides two notopleural setae. Wing base and calyptrae ochreous-brown infuscated; knob of halter ochreous-yellow. Abdomen with dense greyish dusting delimiting a black mid-dorsal stripe and narrower anterior bands on tergites II–V. Terminalia ( Figs. 29, 30 ): Cerci distally with robust median and submedian prongs almost in line with lateral angles; surstylus in lateral aspect with postero-distal process strongly developed, comparable to the situation in B. miniatura ( Fig. 6 ) and B. nigra ( Fig. 22 ).

Female. Parafacial at narrowest point a little wider than postpedicel. Gena in lateral aspect also a little wider than postpedicel; genal setae and setulae in two rows. Arista a little longer than antenna measured from base of scape to tip of postpedicel; aristomere 3 thickened on basal sixth. Palp distinctly shorter than fore tarsomere 1; prementum slightly longer than fore tarsomere 1, with thin dusting but strongly blackish subshining on lateral parts. Thorax covered in dense light-grey dusting, on mesonotum with faint pattern of three brown stripes. Presutural acrostichal rows in front no farther apart than their distance to dorsocentral rows; middle pair of acrostichals distinctly enlarged; 1–2 setulae present between rows. Notopleuron without accessory setula. Proepimerals 2 setae and setulae. Wing base and calyptrae lightly ochreous-brown tinged; knob of halter ochreous-yellow. Abdomen with a distinct matt-black subshine through thin grey dusting. Oviscapt ( Fig. 31 ): Almost as in B. peristeriana ( Fig. 28 ) except cerci along outer margin less angular subbasally but concave subdistally.

Egg. Uterine egg ( Fig. 2 ) smooth, 0.90 x 0.27mm.

Material examined. Type material [ ZMUC]: SPAIN: Alicante: Alcoy, Parque Natural Font Roja (38.40N / 00.30W), 800m, 3 males [including holotype] 3 females, 16.iii.2007 (V. Michelsen).

Biology. The type specimens were taken in early spring on flowering Salix -shrubs growing along a small stream.

Distribution. So far known only from the type material from the Alicante province of Spain.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 7. Botanophila spp. 1. Seed head of Ranunculus repens L. with supposed egg of B. helviana (arrow). 2. Uterine egg, B. saliciphila. 3. Left labellum, B. kitadakeana, female. 4. Male sternite V, B. helviana. 5, 6. Hypopygium in caudal and lateral aspects, B. miniatura. 7. Gonites, phallus (with ejaculatory apodeme) and phallapodeme in lateral aspect, phallus in anterior aspect, B. peristeriana. Scale bar = 1.0 mm (1); 0.25 mm (2); 0.1 mm (3 – 7).

FIGURES 8 – 10. Botanophila saliciphila, oviscapt in dorsal, lateral and ventral aspects. Scale bar = 0.25 mm.

FIGURES 29 – 31. Botanophila saliciphila. 29, 30. Hypopygium in caudal and lateral aspects. 31. Oviscapt, flat mounted. Scale bar = 0.1 mm (29, 30); 0.25 mm (31).

FIGURES 21 – 24. Botanophila nigra. 21, 22. Hypopygium in caudal and lateral aspects. 23. Oviscapt, flat mounted. 24. Spermathecae. Scale bar = 0.1 mm (21, 22); 0.25 mm (23, 24).

FIGURES 25 – 28. Botanophila peristeriana. 25, 26. Hypopygium in caudal and lateral aspects. 27. Oviscapt, flat mounted. 28. Spermathecae. Scale bar = 0.1 mm (25, 26); 0.25 mm (27, 28).