Chelipoda ferocitrix, Published, 2007

Published, First, 2007, The Hemerodromiinae (Diptera: Empididae) of New Zealand II. Chelipoda Macquart, Zootaxa 1537 (1), pp. 1-88 : 30

16. Chelipoda ferocitrix sp. n.

[ Figs. 19, 21 ]

Type material. Holotype ♂: New Zealand, North Is. , TO, Whakapapaiti Bush, Malaise trap in Nothofagus forest, 31/xii/1986 – 3/i/1987, ARP, in alcohol [ NZAC].

Paratypes: Same data as holotype ; 1♂, 1♀ in alcohol [ NZAC] ; 2♂, 3♀ in alcohol, 1♂ 2♀ dried from alcohol [ NMWC] .

Additional material: North Is. 1♂, 1♀, TO, Mt Ruapehu, upper Whakapapaiti Val., swept from subalpine scrub, 1500m, ARP [ NMWC]; 1♀, WN, Tararua Ra., Dundas Hut, ridge, 990m, 7–10/ii/1985, Malaise trap, GH [ NZAC] .

Etymology: the specific epithet derives from ferocitas (Latin) meaning ‘aggressiveness’’.

Description. Male: Length 3.5–4.0 mm (wet material). Differing from C. dominatrix as follows.

Head: lower occiput with a few dark hairs amongst lpo.

Legs: blackish brown with tibiae slightly paler; C 1 not contrastingly paler although sometimes somewhat yellowish in front. F 1 anteroventrally rather yellowish, about as long as C 1, 3.4–3.8X as long as wide; femoral formula 4(4–4)/15.5(14–17)/10.5(9–12)/4(4–5); basal ventral bristle slightly more distal than in dominatrix , about 0.15 from base; at2 about 0.5X as long as at3.

Wing: extending to tip of abdomen. Vein A 1 absent except for a short section about end of CuA 2 where faint but clearly traceable.

Abdomen: blackish brown, tergites with rather broad pale margins posteriorly. Genitalia ( Fig. 21 ) very similar to C. dominatrix but hypandrium with shorter setae behind and cercus apically narrower ( Fig. 19 ) with 2 apical setae.

Description. Female: Very similar to male but slightly larger (3.5–4.5 mm). Femora slightly more spinose (femoral formula 4(4–5)/16(15–18)/11.5(9–14)/4(4–5)). Terminal papillae brown with pale hairs.

Comments. C. ferocitrix is a part of the C. consignata -group having pleura all dark and dorsocentrals equally sized. It is similar to C. dominatrix and C. brevipennis with which it might easily be confused, but has dark legs, postpedicel moderately long and A 1 present about the end of CuA 2 (see comments under C. domina- trix). It is known from montane Nothofagus forest and sub-alpine scrub on North Island’s central volcanic plateau and Tararua ranges. Capture dates are from December to February.

Figures

FIGURES 16–22. Male genitalia of Chelipoda spp. 16. C. digressa Collin, posterior view. 17. C. dominatrix sp. n. lateral view. 18. C. brevipennis sp. n. cercus. 19. C. ferocitrix sp. n cercus. 20. C. dominatrix sp. n. cercus. 21. C. ferocitrix sp. n. anterior view. 22. C. atrocitas sp. n. lateral view.