Siphona (Aphantorhaphopsis) nepalensis, 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 : 235

Siphona (Aphantorhaphopsis) nepalensis sp. nov. ( Figs 58–62 , 96)

Siphona (Aphantorhaphopsis) sp. 1: O’HARA (1989: 97).

Type material. HOLOTYPE: J ( BLKU), (E. NEPAL) / Thudam (3,500 m) / 27°45’N, 87°32’E / July 4, 1972 / Malaise Trap (1) / Kyushu Univ. Col . PARATYPES: NEPAL: 4 JJ 4 ♀♀ ( KUM), same locality as holotype, 21–30, 26.vi, 2,4. vii.1972; 1 J ( KUM), Bogara, 1700–2200 m, 83°23′E, 28°35′N, 20.ix.1971, A. Nakanishi.

Diagnosis. Gena 0.45–0.50 of eye height; prementum long, approximately twice as long as eye height; labella subequal in length to prementum; 3 postsutural dorsocentral setae; abdomen light gray in ground color with whitish pruinosity.

This species is very similar to members of the subgenus Siphona in having a long prementum and labella. However, this species is easily distinguished from them by having one weak seta on the dorsal part of the pregonite in the male postabdomen.

Description. Body length 4.5–5.0 mm. Male. Head whitish in ground color; fronto-orbital plate with whitish gray pruinosity; frontal vitta reddish brown; antenna with scape, pedicel, postpedicel, and arista blackish; palpus dark brown. Vertex 0.40–0.45 of head width; parafacial subequal in width to length of 2nd aristomere at middle height; gena 0.45–0.50 of eye height; anterior reclinate orbital seta situated near middle of fronto-orbital plate; fronto-orbital plate with some setae on lower part; antenna with postpedicel subrectangular, approximately 3 times as long as wide, and 5.5 times as long as pedicel; 2nd aristomere 3–4 times as long as wide; 3rd aristomere thickened on basal 2/5; palpus slender; prementum approximately twice as long as eye height; labella subequal in length to prementum.

Thorax. Light gray in ground color, with whitish pruinosity; postpronotal lobes with whitish pruinosity; apical 1/3 of scutellum yellowish; pleura brownish, with grayish pruinosity. Three presutural and 3 postsutural dorsocentral setae.

Wing. Tegula black; basicosta orange. Relative lengths of costal sectors two, three, and four approximately 2: 9–11.5: 4.5–5.0; ultimate section of M 4 0.36–0.40 times as long as penultimate section and 1.3–1.6 times as long as crossvein dm-m; R

1

bare.

Legs yellow in ground color; tarsi brownish. Fore tibia with 4 anterodorsal, 2–3 posterodorsal, and 1 posterior setae; hind tibia with 4 anterodorsal, 4 posterodorsal, and 6 ventral setae.

Abdomen light gray in ground color, with whitish pruinosity. Syntergite 1+2 with pair of lateral marginal setae; tergite 3 with pair of lateral and median marginal setae; sternite 5 with pair of relatively rounded median lobes on inner edges; apical lobes expanded laterally.

Male postabdomen. Surstylus nearly straight in lateral view and narrowed in apical 1/5; cerci narrowed apically in lateral view, apex curved ventrally; pregonite narrowed apically in lateral view, with one short dorsal seta; postgonite slender and rounded apically; epiphallus absent; distiphallus trapezoidal in lateral view, broadly sclerotized with some spinules ventrally.

Female. Similar to male, but differing as follows: gena narrower, approximately 0.4 of eye height.

Female postabdomen. Tergites 6–7 present, weakly sclerotized; sternite 7 nearly triangular with some transparent setulae, bearing anterior apodeme; spiracle 6 on tergite 6; spiracle 7 in membrane anterior to tergite 7.

Etymology. This name is taken from the country, Nepal, where the type specimens were collected; an adjective.

Host. Unknown.

Distribution. Nepal.

Figures

Figs 58–62. Male and female postabdomen of Siphona (Aphantorhaphopsis) nepalensis sp. nov. (paratypes, Nepal). 58 – epandrium, cerci and surstylus in lateral view; 59 – epandrium, cerci and surstylus in dorsal view (setae omitted on left side); 60 – hypandrium, pregonite, postgonite and phallus in lateral view; 61 – fifth abdominal sternite in ventral view (setae omitted on left side); 62 – female postabdomen in lateral view. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.