Elaphropeza singulata, Published, 2007

SHAMSHEV, IGOR V. & GROOTAERT, PATRICK, 2007, Revision of the genus Elaphropeza Macquart (Diptera: Hybotidae) from the Oriental Region, with a special attention to the fauna of Singapore, Zootaxa 1488 (1), pp. 1-164 : 107-108

Elaphropeza singulata sp. nov.

( Fig. 181 )

Diagnosis. Occiput black; antenna entirely yellow, with postpedicel about 2.5 times longer than wide; scutellum, metanotum, hypopleuron and partly metapleuron brown; legs with tarsomere 5 brown, hind tibia with 1 anterodorsal bristle.

Description. Female. Body length 2.0– 2.1 mm, wing length 1.7–1.8 mm. Occiput black. Anterior ocellars long, proclinate; posterior ocellars minute. Inner verticals long, outer ones shorter. Antenna ( Fig. 181 ) wholly yellow. Pedicel with circlet of subequally short setulae. Postpedicel about 2.5 times longer than wide. Style normally pubescent, brownish yellow, about 3.5 times longer than postpedicel and nearly 2.0 times as long scape, pedicel and postpedicel combined. Palpus yellow, small, rounded.

Thorax yellow, with markings; scutellum, metanotum (except lateral corners), hypopleuron (except lower margin) and metapleuron in lower half brown. Prothoracic episterna lacking long upturned bristle just above fore coxa, with 1 short bristle in upper part. Postpronotal bristle minute. Mesonotum with usual set of bristles. Acrostichal bristles 2-serial, lacking on prescutellar depression, dorsocentral bristles 1-serial, extending to base of scutellum, prescutellars long.

Legs almost wholly yellow, tarsomere 5 of all legs brown. Fore and mid femur with unmodified armature. Fore tibia lacking prominent bristles. Mid tibia lacking ventral spinules and prominent bristles (except subapicals). Hind femur with ordinary setation. Hind tibia with hardly prominent rounded apical projection, bearing 1 anterodorsal bristle. Tarsi of all legs unmodified.

Wing uniformly finely brownish infuscate. Costal index: 40/24/38/16. Veins R4+5 and M1+2 slightly divergent near wing apex, both straight. Crossvein bm-cu transverse. Crossvein r-m near middle of cell bm. Halter with dark knob.

Abdomen. Tergite 1 wholly yellow. Tergites 2 and 3 subequal, brownish, about half of normal tergal width, broadly concave on anterior margin and narrowly separated along midline; with unmodified setation. Tergite 4 broadest, dark brown, with squamiform setae. Tergite 5 dark brown, nearly as broad as tergites 2 and 3 viewed laterally, divided along midline, with squamiform setae. Tergites 6 and 7 unmodified, brownish yellow; tergite 7 with rather long posteromarginal bristles. Segment 8 brownish yellow, elongate, with sclerites separated; sternite 8 folded apically. Cercus brownish yellow.

Male. Unknown.

Material examined: Holotype female labelled: SINGAPORE, Sime forest , 22 July 2005, forest, Mal 1 (reg. 25270, leg. PG, E-47).

Paratypes: SINGAPORE, 1 ♀, Bukit Timah , 19 August 2005, rain forest, Mal (reg. 25301, leg. PG) ; 1 ♀, Nee Soon , 16 March 2005, swamp forest, Mal 3 (reg. 25017, leg. PG) ; 1 ♀, Nee Soon , 8 July 2005, swamp forest, Mal 2 (reg. 25206, leg. PG) ; 1 ♀, Nee Soon , 18 November 2005, swamp forest, Mal 2 (reg. 25423, leg. PG) .

Derivatio nominis. The name singulata refers to the fact that only females were found.

Distribution. Singapore, forest.

Remarks. The relationships of E. singulata sp. nov. are unclear beyond inclusion within the E. ephippiata species group.

Figures

FIGURES 179–181. Female antennae. 179. Elaphropeza modesta sp. nov. 180. E. feminata sp. nov. 181. E. singulata sp. nov.