Dasyhelea nauta Dominiak

Dominiak, Patrycja & Alwin, Alicja, 2013, Five new species and new records of biting midges of the genus Dasyhelea Kieffer from the Near East (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), Zootaxa 3683 (2), pp. 133-144 : 139

Dasyhelea nauta Dominiak sp. nov.

( Figs 9–12 )

Type material. Holotype: adult male. Ye m e n. Al Mukalla, N 14˚33' E 49˚08', VII–VIII.2003, light trap, leg. A. van Harten (UG). Paratypes: Yemen. Al Mukalla, N 14˚33' E 49˚08', VII–VIII.2003, light trap, 3 males, leg. A. van Harten ( BMNH & UG).

Diagnosis. Adult male of Dasyhelea nauta has unique eight-shaped median projections of aedeagus and symmetrical parameres. It is also distinct in having short distal flagellomeres.

Description. Male. Head. Flagellum length 0.45–0.51 mm, AR 0.58–0.66 (n=4). Four distal flagellomeres short, with one row of long setae ( Fig. 9 ). Last flagellomere without apical prolongation. Clypeus composed of two sclerites, with 5–6 strong setae. Maxillary palp ( Fig. 10 ) with third palpal segment cylindrical, 43–54 μm long, PR III 2.74–3.19 (n=4). Thorax. Transverse suture absent, number of supraalar setae vary from 6 to 7. Scutellum dark, with 6 strong setae. Wing with one nearly obliterated radial cell. Wing length 0.80–0.86 mm, CR 0.48–0.50 (n=4). Legs uniform in coloration, TR I 2.5–2.6 (n=4), TR II 2.6–3.0 (n=4), TR III 2.3–2.4 (n=4). Genitalia ( Fig. 11 ). Posterior margin of tergite 9 rounded, with a pair of short apicolateral processes. Sternite 9 slightly expanded. Gonostylus long and slender, gently arched. Parameres symmetrical, stout basally and very thin in apical part, fused ( Fig. 12 ). Median projections of aedeagus strongly sclerotized, eight-shaped, with short and sharp apical tooth.

Female and immatures. Unknown.

Derivation of the name. The Latin word nauta ,- ae means sailor or shipowner. The species is named after the type locality, Al Mukalla, an important sea port in the province of Hadhramaut.

Distribution. Yemen.

Comments. The characteristic armature of male genitalia, including the shape of both aedeagus and parameres, distinguishes this species from all other Dasyhelea . The built of antenna, with very short distal flagellomeres, is also distinctive.

Figures

FIGURES 9 – 15. Dasyhelea nauta Dominiak sp. nov. (9 – 12), holotype male: 9. flagellomeres 9 – 13, 10. palpus, 11. ventral view of genitalia, 12. parameres; Dasyhelea sandrageorgei Dominiak sp. nov. (13 – 15), holotype male: 13. distal flagellomeres, 14. palpus, 15. ventral view of genitalia.