Poecilosomella kittenbergeri, Papp, 2010

Papp, L., 2010, Seven New Afrotropical Species Of Poecilosomella Duda (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae), Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 56 (1), pp. 9-41 : 19-20

Poecilosomella kittenbergeri sp. n.

( Figs 17–21 , and PAPP 1990: figs 14–17 under P. longecostata (DUDA))

Holotype male ( HNHM): Africa for., Katona [= K. Kittenberger], Kibosho 1600 m [N Tanzania], (on the other side of the label) “ 1904.IX.1–8. ” – [red bordered] Paralectotypus “ Leptocera m (Poecilosomella) longecostata Duda ” [L. PAPP’ s handwriting].

Paratypes ( HNHM) : 6 males 8 females: same as for the holotype. 1 male 1 female: UGANDA: 16 mi. NW. of Bushenyi, XII – 6–57, 1450 m, E. S. Ross & R . E. Leech collectors.(cf. PAPP 1990: 145).

Measurements in mm: body length 2.34 (holotype), 2.20- 2.63 (paratypes), wing length 2.09 (holotype), 2.03–2.62 (paratypes), wing width 0.90 (holotype), 0.84–1.04 (paratypes).

All the body features are mostly resemble P. longecostata .

Facial plate and anterior half of frons reddish. 4 (5) pairs of medium-long interfrontal setae (a majority of P. longecostata specimens with 5 pairs but since there are specimens with 4 pairs only, this does not properly separate them). Anterior katepisternal pair much thinner and only 2/3 as long as posterior pair (like in P. longecostata ).

Second costal section of the holotype 0.515, third section 0.505 mm, ratio 1.02 (holotype), curvature angled with a minute vein appendage. Another 2 males and 2 females of the paratypes are with minute appendages, i.e. most of the specimens are without it. Costal ratio may be more than 1.0, but never much more. Apical section of R 2 +3 of P. longecostata less angled and curvature never with appendage but of course, this is not sufficient to separate the two species. Similarly, intra-crossvein section of M slightly shorter or equal to hind crossvein .

Figures on male genitalia in PAPP’ s (1990) paper were made on a Kibosho paralectotype male, i.e. they actually showed the genitalia of P. kittenbergeri sp. n. Ventral (cercal) area of the epandrialcercal complex without any processes; ridges are so slight that they are not discernible at low magnification. Medial part bare, sub-laterally with a few long setae ( PAPP 1990: fig. 14). Lateral view figure of surstylus ( PAPP 1990: fig. 16) is not sufficient for comparison, although the figure is otherwise correct. Surstylus in its broadest view ( Fig. 17 ) clearly in 3 lobes: apical thorn on caudal process rather short, cranial lobe with numerous wavy setae. Medial lobe small, with fine hairs. Proximal half of surstylus with numerous very long and thick setae. Caudal surface of surstylus convex or straight ( Fig. 18 , best seen in ventral view). Postgonite of the Kibosho paratypes ( Fig. 19 ) and that of an Ugandan paratype ( Fig. 20 ) are slightly different but this is clearly within the intra-specific variance. Apical half of postgonite otherwise shaped as in P. longecostata (cf. Fig. 25 ), proximal half shorter and broader. Postgonite without longer hairs. Caudal part of basiphallus more down-curved ( Fig. 21 , PAPP 1990: fig. 15), its pegs (thornlets) are short and blunt, in contrast to those of P. longecostata (cf. Fig. 26 ).

Female cerci blackish like in P. longecostata (DUDA) . Cercus with a pair of long apical and a pair of long medial subapical hairs; unfortunately they are the same as in P. longecostata .

Poecilosomella kittenbergeri sp. n. is very closely related to P. longecostata (DUDA) , its distinctness was not appreciated by me in 1990. In addition, other species of this species group are to be separated by an analysis of the male genitalia. In P. kittenbergeri the numerous long setae on proximal part of surstylus are the most characteristic feature. Hitherto this is the only species in the group, where the emerging ridges of the cercal part is so low (slight), that they are not discernible at low magnification ( PAPP 1990: fig. 14).

Etymology. I name this new species P. kittenbergeri , to honour KÁLMÁN KITTENBERGER, the collector of its type series. As in many other instances, “Katona” was written on the labels to designate the collector. Dr GÉZA HORVÁTH, the Director General of the Natural History Museum in those years, “magyarized” Kittenberger’s name to “Katona”. It was made without consultation with KITTENBERGER, and although he objected to it repeatedly, the labels were not changed (cf. FEKETE 1962).

Based on a letter, which KITTENBERGER sent to ARZÉN DAMASZKIN on the 3rd of September 1904 ( FEKETE 1962 ), we may be sure, that during those days, which are written on the collection label, KITTENBERGER was convalescent on Mr. MEIMARIDIS’ s plantation at Kibosho (near Moshi , North Tanzania), after his “lion calamity”, as he said (a lion almost killed him in June) .

Figures

Figs 15–21. Poecilosomella spp., male genitalia. 15–16 = P. capensis L. PAPP, paratype: 15 = epandrium with cerci and subepandrial sclerite, caudal view, 16 = postgonite, in broadest (sublateral) view. 17–21 = P. kittenbergeri sp. n., paratypes: 17 = surstylus, broadest view, 18 = same, ventral (!) view, most of the setae on proximal part omitted, 19 = postgonite of a Kibosho specimen, in broadest (a slightly sublateral) view, 20 = the same, a specimen from Uganda, 21 = basiphallus, lateral view. Scales: 0.2 mm for Figs 15, 17–18, 0.1 mm for Figs 16, 19–21

Figs 22–26. Poecilosomella longecostata (DUDA), paralectotype male. 22 = epandrium with cerci and subepandrial sclerite, caudal view (outset: ventral-most part in higher magnification), 23 = surstylus, broadest (a sublateral) view, 24 = same, ventral (!) view, 25 = postgonite in broadest view, 26 = basiphallus, lateral view. Scales: 0.2 mm for Figs 22–24, 0.1 mm for Figs 25–26