Notorisa mcalpinei, Mathis & Zatwarnicki AM, 2023

Mathis, Wayne N. & Zatwarnicki, Tadeusz, 2023, Phylogeny and Taxonomy of the Risa Genus-group (Diptera: Ephydridae), with Description of a New Genus from Australia, Records of the Australian Museum (Rec. Aust. Mus.) 75 (1), pp. 1-23 : 7-10

Notorisa mcalpinei sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C788889A-2C58-4113-9279-8B67B518114A

Figs 2–8 , 10–14 , 16–20

Diagnosis. As in generic description with the following details. Small to moderately small shore flies, body length 1.90–2.75 mm.

Head ( Figs 4–7 ): Structure: Frons about as high as wide; ocellar triangle narrow, extended to anterior margin of frons, entirely shiny; fronto-orbits shiny like ocellar triangle; parafrons appearing matt, opaque to subshiny, from some angles whitish gray. Antennal ratio about 0.4; basal flagellomere ratio 2–2.5; aristal hairs short, length of longest hairs subequal to aristal width at base. Face as high as frons, with prominent carina, carina most prominent at ventral ⅓ of face ( Figs 5 , 7 ); face entirely sparsely whitish microtomentose, face shinier ventrally; parafacial densely whitish microtomentose, microtomentum extended dorsally to near base of large fronto-orbital setae and continued posteroventrally with microtomentum on gena and postgena; dorsal portion of occiput sparsely microtomentose, appearing grayish brown. Gena-to-eye ratio 0.09. Labellum usually open, appearing fleshy except for sclerotized base. Labellar ratio 0.8–1.0 in specimens with closed labellum. Coloration: Generally bronzish black to black, somewhat shiny ( Figs 2–6 ). Antennal coloration variable, from predominantly brownish yellow to mostly brown, frequently lighter on pedicel and base of basal flagellomere; scape and basal flagellomere mostly brown with some reddish coloration, especially basoventrally; pedicel mostly reddish, somewhat brownish dorsally; palpus black. Chaetotaxy: Setae generally well developed; medial-to-lateral vertical setal ratio about 1.0; fronto-orbital setae 3, proclinate setae 2, anterior proclinate seta and reclinate setae well developed, posterior proclinate seta reduced, length about ⅓ larger proclinate seta; 5–6 setulae along anterior margin of frons ( Figs 3, 4 , 6 , 20 ); face bearing 1 large seta and 2–3 shorter setae usually posteroventrally; gena bearing 1 large seta and several smaller setae ( Fig. 7 ).

Thorax: Coloration: Scutum sparsely microtomentose, mostly subshiny, bronzish to golden bronze; halter yellowish white; prescutellar acrostichal setae well developed. Chaetotaxy: 2 anepisternal setae; scutellar disc bearing sparse and scattered setulae ( Figs 3 , 6 ). Wing: costal setulae numerous and dense (more than 40 on distalmost section of costa); wing length 2.15–2.35 mm; costal vein ratio 0.53– 0.59; vein M ratio 0.60–0.62. Legs: as in generic description.

Abdomen: Structure: Sternite 3 rectangular with rounded corners; sternite 4 mostly rectangular, anterior corners flat, making anterior margin trapezoidal; Coloration: Strongly and generally bronzish black to black. Male sternites 3–5 longer than wide, sternites 3–4 mostly rectangular, parallel sided; sternite 5 with width of posterior margin twice that of anterior margin, posterior margin shallowly concave, closely associated with anterior margin of hypandrium. Male terminalia ( Figs 16–19 ) as in generic description with these details: Epandrium well developed, in lateral view ( Fig. 17 ) higher than wide, widest at midheight, anterior margin angulate, posterior margin shallowly curved, ventral margin narrowly rounded, in posterior view ( Fig. 16 ) U-shaped; cercus ( Fig. 17 ) in lateral view long and narrow, at least 4 times higher than wide, shallowly curved, in posterior view ( Fig. 16 ) dorsal margin slightly recurved, pointed medially, ventral margin truncate, medial margin with dorsal ⅔ shallowly concave; gonostylus (these paired structures could be terminal portion of epandrium that is now separated by an unsclerotized gap) free at ventral margin of epandrium, in lateral view ( Fig. 17 ) slender, shallowly curved, bearing 5–7 setulae, in posterior view ( Fig. 18 ) longer than wide, apical ⅔ tapered to narrowed apex; pregonite a well sclerotized structure, in lateral view ( Fig. 19 ) with basal and apical position both evenly tapered to acute point, both slightly curved, apical half recurved, bearing a few setulae in recurved margin, apical ⅓ digitiform, bearing tiny setulae along shallow concavity, in ventral view ( Fig. 18 ) with medioapical margin truncate, thereafter toward base somewhat rectangular, basal portion narrowed to acute, basal apex; subepandrial plate in lateral view ( Fig. 19 ) narrow, basal ⅔ nearly straight, apical third angled posteriorly, in ventral view ( Fig. 18 ) irregularly quadrate, lateral sides narrow, angulate, posterior margin with lateral angles produced laterally as short, tapered, acutely pointed; anterior margin widely and evenly truncate; secondary process attached to latero-anterior margin of subepandrial plate robustly digitiform, longer than wide, bearing 9–11 short setulae; aedeagus and phallapodeme fused, aedeagal portion in lateral view ( Fig. 19 ) irregularly triangular, tapered to point, phallapodemal portion gently arched posteriorly, broadly rounded apically, with a short, digitiform projection at midheight, in ventral view ( Fig. 18 ) aedeagus broadly oval, apical margin broadly rounded, posterior narrowed, phallapodemal portion dagger-like; postgonites ovate, bearing 4–6 setulae; hypandrium in lateral view ( Fig. 19 ) with length over twice width, anterior margin rounded, posterior margin irregularly linear with angulate depressions. Female: tergites 6–7 bearing several setulae along posterior margin, but not fringe-like; tergite 8 less sclerotized dorsolaterally; sternite 8 more or less pentagonal (length/width ca 0.7) with obtusely pointed apex directed anteriorly ( Fig. 13 ), more strongly sclerotized along anterior margin, with anteromedial protrusion that bears 12–13 short, stout, black, sometimes knob-like setulae; posterior margin very shallowly concave; posterior and laterad of protrusion bearing numerous setulae with 1 larger, submarginal pair; subanal plate present, shallowly V-shaped, bearing some setulae; ventral receptacle with a helmet-shaped operculum and curved stalk, not bearing ventral appendages ( Fig. 14 ); cerci short, rounded, bearing several setulae and 1 large pair of setulae inserted anteriorly (adjacent to a structure that appears like a double setal base without a seta); medial margin of cerci sharply defined.

Type material. The holotype male of Notorisa mcalpinei is labelled “VIC:nr Lake Hindmarsh[,] Big Desert Nat[ional; Wilderness] P[ar]k[, 35°42.6'S 141°03.7'E] 29–30 Nov. 1992 /Moulds, [D. K.] McAlpine, McEvey/ HOLOTYPE ♂ Notorisa mcalpinei Mathis & Zatwarnicki AM [red].” The holotype is double mounted (minuten in rectangular block of polyporus), is in excellent condition, and is deposited in the Australian Museum (K.612148). Eleven other paratypes (3♂, 8♀; 6 in AM, K.612149–K.612154, and 5 in USNM) bear the same locality label as the holotype. Other paratypes are as follows: AUSTRALIA. Australian Capital Territory: Black Mountain (Light Trap; 35°16.7'S 149°06.5'E), 11 Sep 1963, I. F. B. Common (1♀; ANIC) . Canberra (35°16.9'S 149°01.7'E), 18 Oct 1955, I. F. B. Common (2♀; ANIC) .

Other material examined. — New South Wales: Broken Hill (40 km SE, 32°11'S 142°03'E), 28 Sep 1975, Z. Liepa (1♂, 1♀; ANIC) . Goonoo S. F. ( 6 km SW Mendooran [31°51'55"S 149°05'49"E]; light), 6 Apr 1979, B. J. Day, D. K. McAlpine (1♀; AM) . Hazel Dell Station via Menindee (32°43.2'S 143°18.3'E), 21 Sep 2004, G. Curran (4♀; ANIC) . Lachlan River (15 km SW of Euabalong; 33°13.6'S 146°22.2'E), 28 Dec 1976, Z. Liepa (1♂; ANIC) . Menindee Lakes (32°17.5'S 142°22.3'E), 26 Sep 1975, Z. Liepa (2♂, 5♀; ANIC) . Trangie (32°02'S 147°58.9'E), 21 Oct 1949, S. J. Paramonov (1♀; ANIC) . Wanaaring (96 km W; 29°43.4'S 143°05.2'E), 30 Oct 1949, S. J. Paramonov (1♀; ANIC) . Wilcannia (64 km E; 31°35.7'S 144°54.8'E), 23 Nov 1949, S. J. Paramonov (1♀; ANIC) .

Northern Territory: Brunette Downs (40 km S; 18°53.3'S 136°04.2'E), 11 Apr 1976, D. H. Colless (1♀; ANIC) .

Queensland: Barcaldine (30 km S, on road; 23°48.8'S 145°17.5'E), 10 Nov 1981, D. H. Colless (2♀; ANIC) . Boulia (25 km NW by N; at light; 22°45.2'S 139°51.8'E), 8 Apr 1976, D. H. Colless (1♀; ANIC) . Carnarvon National Park, Mt. Moffatt Section (3 km SE headquarters; 25°04.6'S 148°0.5'E; 740 m), 18–19 Nov 1995, M. E. Irwin, S. D. Gaimari (5♂; INHS) . Carnarvon National Park, Mt. Moffatt Section (headquarters; 25°01.3'S 147°57.3'E; 740 m), 18 Nov 1995, M. E. Irwin, S. D. Gaimari (1♂, 6♀; INHS) . Carnarvon National Park, Mt. Moffatt Section (24°58.1'S 147°57.2'E; 760 m), 19–20 Nov 1995, M. E. Irwin, S. D. Gaimari (1♂; INHS) . Carnarvon National Park, Mt. Moffatt Section (near mailboxes; 25°02.1'S 147°54'E; 720 m), 19–20 Nov 1995, M. E. Irwin, S. D. Gaimari (1♂; INHS) . Chillagoe (6 km SE; at light; 17°36'S 144°18'E), 26 Nov 1981, D. H. Colless (2♂, 4♀; ANIC) . Nocundra (near; 27°44.2'S 142°41.3'E), 13 Nov 1949, S. J. Paramonov (1♂, 1♀; ANIC) . Tickalarra (32 km S; 28°38.3'S 142°12.5'E), 15 Nov 1949, S. J. Paramonov (1♀; ANIC) .

South Australia: Blinman (10.5 km NW; 31°05.4'S 138°40.3'E), 4 Oct 1975, Z. Liepa (3♀; ANIC) . Hawker, Torrens Rd. (32 km NW; 31°47.3'S 144°18'E), 2 Oct 1975, Z. Liepa (3♂, 4♀; ANIC) . Mallee, Meningie (35°41.4'S 139°20.2'E), 7 Nov 1988, B. J. Day, D. K. McAlpine (2♂; AM) . Oodnadatta (33 km SE by S; 27°35.9'S 135°27.4'E), 23 Sep 1972, Z. Liepa (1♂, 1♀; ANIC) . River Clayton (50 km NE by N Marree ; 29°16.7'S 138°22.3'E), 16 Sep1972 (1♂; ANIC) . The Coorong (30 km S Meningie; 35°57.2'S 139°31.6'E), 8 Dec 1977, D. K. McAlpine, M. A. Schneider (1♀; AM) .

Victoria: Hattah (2 km E; 34°45.9'S 142°22.2'E), 21 Nov 1975, K. R. Norris (2♀; ANIC) . Lake Hindmarsh (near), Big Desert National Park (36°03.7'S 141°54.8'E), 29–30 Nov 1992, D. K. McAlpine (3♂, 6♀; AM) . Lake Kenyon, Murray-Sunset National Park (35°02.7'S 141°44.4'E), 26 Nov 1992, D. K. McAlpine (1♀; AM) . Melbourne, Mill Park (37°40.2'S 145°04.3'E), Nov 1978, I. R. Bock (1♀; AM) . Mt. Cowra (10 km WNW), Murray-Sunset National Park, Dry Lake (35°02.5'S 141°43.2'E), 26 Nov 1992, D. K. McAlpine (2♀; AM) . Pink Lakes (73 km W Ouyen; 35°02.8'S 141°48.4'E), 13 Oct 1975, Z. Liepa (1♀; ANIC) . Rocket Lake (5 km S; 34°38.4'S 141°48.5'E), Murray-Sunset National Park (34°39'S 141°49'E), 25 Nov 1992, D. K. McAlpine, S. F. McEvey, B. J. Moulds (1♂; AM) .

Western Australia: Broome (101 km SE by E; 18°16.2'S 123°01.8'E), 20 Aug 1976, I. F. B. Common (1♂; ANIC) . Dongara (3.2 km SSW; 29°15.5'S 114°55.3'E), 15 Oct 1970, D. H. Colless (2♀; ANIC) . Dunham River (100 km S Wyndham; 16°15.4'S 128°09.2'E), 3 Jan 1986, M. S. and B. J. Moulds (1♀; AM) . Junana Rock (33°23'S 123°24'E), 27–29 Oct 1977, D. H. Colless (Melaleuca blossom (2♂; ANIC) . Mount Ragged (at light; 33°27.1'S 123°28.4'E), 30 Oct 1977, D. H. Colless (1♂, 1♀; ANIC) . Murchison River (25°52.7'S 118°50.3'E), 27 Mar 1971, Upton & Mitchell (3♂, 3♀; ANIC) . Thomas River estuary, Esperance District (24°49.8'S 113°47.2'E), 4 Nov 1977, D. H. Colless (1♀; ANIC) , H. Colless (1♂, 3♀; ANIC) . Watheroo (30°18'S 116°03.4'E), 15 Oct 1970, D. H. Colless (1♂, 3♀; ANIC) .

Type locality. Australia. Victoria. Big Desert Wilderness Park, near Lake Hindmarsh (36°03.7'S 141°54.8'E) .

Distribution.Australasian/Oceanian: Australia (ACT, NSW, QLD, SA, VIC, WA).

Etymology. The species epithet, mcalpinei , is a genitive patronym to honor David K. McAlpine, collector of most of the type series. We take great pleasure in recognizing David’s many contributions to the study of Diptera , especially families within Schizophora.

Remarks. As with Risa , we suggest the possibility that this species may be associated with plants of the family Amaranthaceae .

Figures

Figures 2–5. Photographs of Notorisa mcalpinei sp. nov. (2) Habitus, dorso-oblique view. (3) Head and thorax, dorsal view. (4) Head, anterior view. (5) Head and thorax, lateral view. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.

Figures 6–9. Photographs of Notorisa mcalpinei sp. nov. (6–8) and Risa longirostris Becker (9). (6) Head, thorax and abdomen, anterooblique view. (7) Head, lateral view. (8) Wing. (9) Wing. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.

Figures 10–15. Photographs of Notorisa mcalpinei sp. nov. (10–14) and Risa longirostris Becker (15). (10) Proboscis, lateral view. (11) Labrum, posterior view. (12) Cibarium, posterior view. (13) Terminal female abdominal segments, ventral view. (14) Ventral receptacle, lateral view. (15) Ventral receptacle, lateral view. Scale bars = 0.2 mm (10–11), = 0.1 mm (12–13), = 0.05 mm (14–15).

Figures 16–19. Male terminalia of Notorisa mcalpinei sp. nov. (16) Epandrium, cerci, gonostylus, ventral view. (17) Same, lateral view. (18) Internal structures (postgonite, hypandrium and aedeagus fused with phallapodeme), ventral view. (19) Same, lateral view. Scale bar = 0.1 mm.

Figures 20–25. Line drawing of frons and associated setae, dorsal view. (20) Notorisa mcalpinei sp. nov. (21) Risa longirostris Becker. (22) R. asiatica Ozerov. (23–25) Line drawing of head, lateral view. (23) R. longirostris Becker. (24) R. brevicornis Papp. (25) R. longicornuta Papp.