Siphona (Aphantorhaphopsis) seminigra, Tachi & Shima, 2023

Tachi, Takuji & Shima, Hiroshi, 2023, Systematic study of the subgenus Aphantorhaphopsis of the genus Siphona in East Asia and the Oriental Region (Diptera: Tachinidae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae (Acta. Ent. Mus. Natl. Pragae) 63 (1), pp. 213-247 : 246

Siphona (Aphantorhaphopsis) seminigra sp. nov.

( Figs 81–85 )

Type material. HOLOTYPE: J ( SMNH), MALAYSIA, Pahang / Cameron Highlands / Gunung Jasar / Malaisetrap , 1700 m / 24–27.xi.1994, T.Pape . PARATYPES: MALAYSIA: PAHANG: 3 ♀♀ ( SMNH), same locality as holotype, 20–23, 24–27.xi.1994.

Diagnosis. Vein R 1 setulose dorsally on apical half; labella pad-like; 3 postsutural dorsocentral setae; abdomen almost without pruinosity.

This species is similar to S. (A.) samarensis but is easily distinguished from it by the following characters: vertex approximately 0.33 of head width; gena approximately 0.2 of eye height; ultimate section of M 4 approximately 1.3 times as long as crossvein dm-m.

This species is considered incertae sedis because it has a unique character state in the male pregonite bearing 2–3 transparent setae on the dorsal portion.

Description. Body length 3.0– 3.5 mm. Male. Head yellowish in ground color; fronto-orbital plate brownish; frontal vitta reddish brown; antenna with scape and pedicel orange; postpedicel dark brown; arista brown;

palpus orange. Vertex approximately 0.33 of head width; parafacial subequal in width to length of 2nd aristomere at middle height; gena approximately 0.2 of eye height; anterior reclinate orbital seta situated posterior to middle of fronto-orbital plate; fronto-orbital plate with some fine setae; antenna with postpedicel subrectangular, approximately twice as long as wide, and approximately 4.5 times as long as pedicel; 2nd aristomere approximately twice as long as wide; 3rd aristomere thickened in basal 1/2; palpus clavate; labella pad-like.

Thorax. Dorsum gray in ground color, with yellowish pruinosity; postpronotal lobe with whitish pruinosity; apical 1/3 of scutellum yellowish; pleura dark brown, with grayish pruinosity. Three presutural and 3 postsutural dorsocentral setae.

Wing. Tegula black; basicosta light yellow. Relative lengths of costal sectors two, three, and four approximately 1: 7: 4; ultimate section of M 4 approximately 0.4 times as long as penultimate section, and approximately 1.3 times as long as crossvein dm-m; R 1 setulose dorsally on apical half, bare ventrally.

Legs yellow in ground color; tarsi blackish. Fore tibia with 3 anterodorsal, 4 posterodorsal, and 1 posterior setae; hind tibia with 4–5 anterodorsal, 3–4 posterodorsal, and 4 ventral setae.

Abdomen yellow in ground color, almost without pruinosity; posterior half of tergites 3–5 with blackish band. Syntergite 1+2 without lateral marginal setae; tergite 3 with pair of lateral and median marginal setae; sternite 5 with pair of relatively rounded median lobes on inner edge.

Male postabdomen. Surstylus nearly straight in lateral view and longer than cerci; cerci curved dorsally in middle in lateral view, apex strongly curved ventrally; pregonite strongly narrowed in lateral view and rounded apically, with 2–3 weak transparent setae on dorsal part; postgonite slightly broadly notched apically, upper part somewhat pointed apically; epiphallus absent; distiphallus subrectangular in form in lateral view, broadly sclerotized with some spinules ventrally.

Female. Similar to male.

Female postabdomen. Tergites 6–7 absent; sternite 7 without anterior apodeme.

Etymology. This species is named after the blackish band on the posterior half of tergites 3–5; an adjective.

Host. Unknown.

Distribution. Malaysia (Pahang).

Figures

Figs 81–85.Male and female postabdomen of Siphona (Aphantorhaphopsis) seminigra sp. nov. (paratypes, Malaysia, Pahang).81 – epandrium, cerci and surstylus in lateral view; 82 – epandrium, cerci and surstylus in dorsal view (setae omitted on left side); 83 – hypandrium, pregonite, postgonite and phallus