Dasyhelea alonensis (Strobl)

Dominiak, Patrycja & Szadziewski, Ryszard, 2010, Distribution and new synonymy in European biting midges of the genus Dasyhelea Kieffer (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), Zootaxa 2437, pp. 1-37 : 3-4

Dasyhelea alonensis (Strobl)

( Figs. 1 A–E, 2A–G)

Ceratopogon alonensis Strobl, 1906: 396 (male, female; Spain). Dasyhelea alonensis: Kieffer 1919: 64 (combination; male).

Type material. Male lectotype, and one male paralectotype, by present designation, labeled as follows: Alicante 3, Südspanien PROF. G. STROBL, SYNTYPEN, Ceratopogon alonensis Str. , coll. 124/4, 302/1-2, 124/4. Two female paralectotypes, labeled as follows: Alicante Ƥ, Südspanien PROF. G. STROBL, SYNTYPEN, Ceratopogon alonensis Str. , coll. 124/4, 302/3-4, 124/4, ( NMBA).

New country records. Algeria. Ain Ouarka n. Ain Sefra, 1600 m, April 1981, 4 males, leg. W. Krzemiński. Iran. Area near by the R. Inst., 14.6.67, 1 male. Valadabad, light trap, 6.7.66, 1 male ( USNM).

Diagnosis. Sternite 9 of male genitalia armed with two very long and evenly pointed submedian projections. Apicolateral processes of tergite 9 very short. Aedeagus H-shaped, with singular broad apicolateral projections. Parameres asymmetrical. Gonostylus short, slender on distal half. Female subgenital plate triangular, weakly sclerotized distally.

Description. Male. Flagellomeres 10–12 gradually decreasing in size ( Fig. 1 B). Antennal ratio AR 0.83– 0.93 (n=2). Frontal sclerite elliptical ( Fig. 1 C). Clypeus short, as in female. Third palpal segment cylindrical, short ( Fig. 1 D), PR 2.15–2.95 (n=4). Scutellum bearing 13 setae. Wing with first radial cell obliterated, wing membrane entirely covered with macrotrichia ( Fig. 1 A). Wing length 0.82–1.17 mm (n=4); costal ratio CR 0.44–0.45 (n=3). Hind tibial comb with 7 strong spines. Tarsal ratios: TR (I) 2.71 (n=1), TR (II) 2.36–2.50 (n=2), TR (III) 2.11 (n=1). Genitalia ( Fig. 1 E). Tergite 9 with small apicolateral processes. Sternite 9 armed with two very long and evenly pointed submedian projections.Gonostylus short and stout, singular, slightly bent in lateral aspect, evidently slender on distal half. Aedeagus H-shaped, with singular broad apicolateral projections. Parameres asymmetrical; left portion short, right portion with long, pointed caudomedian prolongation.

Female. Flagellomeres ( Fig. 2 B) 2–13 gradually increasing in size and from subcylindrical to slightly cylindrical; reticulations readily visible on distal flagellomeres and proximal 3(4) – 8 flagellomeres. AR 0.67– 0.68 (n=2). Frontal sclerite elliptical ( Fig. 2 D). Clypeus short, bearing 6 – 7 setae ( Fig. 2 C). Maxillary palpus as in Fig. 2 E. Palpal ratio PR 2.07–2.33 (n=2). Scutellum with 13 setae. Wing length 1.09–1.21 mm (n=2), CR 0.45–0.47 (n=2). Only second radial cell present ( Fig. 2 A). Hind tibial comb with 7 spines. Tarsal ratios: TR (I) 2.41–2.44 (n=2), TR (II) 2.47–2.51 (n=2), TR (III) 2.17–2.31 (n=2). Subgenital plate ( Fig. 2 F) with triangular notum distinct only on proximal portion. Rami with one pair of well sclerotized caudomedian projections. Spermatheca ( Fig. 2 G) slightly elongate, with short neck, dimensions 0.092 X 0.048 mm (n=1).

Distribution. Spain, Iran, Algeria.

Discussion. The species is in the subgenus Prokempia Kieffer and is most similar to D. (P.) flaviventris ( Goetghebuer, 1910) . Males of both species differ in the shape of the lateral lobes of their aedeagi and gonostyli. In D. flaviventris the lateral lobes are much slender and the apex of the gonostylus is slightly bifid ( Remm 1962). Dasyhelea alonensis is a valid species which is removed here from synonymy with D. flavoscutellata (Zetterstedt, 1950) ( Borkent & Wirth 1997) . This species represents a Mediterranean faunal element.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Dasyhelea alonensis (Strobl, 1906), male: A—wing, B—antennal flagellum, C—frontal sclerite, Dpalpus, E—genitalia.

FIGURE 2. Dasyhelea alonensis (Strobl, 1906), female: A—wing, B—antennal flagellum, C—clypeus, D—frontal sclerite, E—palpus, F—subgenital plate, G—spermatheca.