Stylogaster rinhaii, Stuke, 2012

Stuke, Jens-Hermann, 2012, A revision of Afrotropical species of Stylogaster Macquart (Diptera: Conopidae), with descriptions of twenty-one new species and an identification key, African Invertebrates 53 (1), pp. 267-267 : 331-334

Stylogaster rinhaii sp. n.

Figs 223–235

Etymology: The species is named in honour of Harin’Hala (Rin’ha) Rasolondalao (Antananarivo), who coordinated collecting efforts in Madagascar and who made this project such a success.

Diagnosis: Stylogaster rinhaii sp. n. belongs to a species-group with darkened posterior margins on some tergites ( Fig. 225 ) and a white setulose distal area on the hind tibia ( Fig. 227 ). It differs from the other two species of this group ( S. kroeberi sp. n. and S. malgachensis Camras ) in having a broad orange-brown ocellar triangle, bordered a the black frons ( Fig. 228 ) and only slightly enlarged facets.The ♂ terminalia ( Figs 229–235 ) are diagnostic, especially in respect of the long black setulae on the inner surface of the surstylus, which are unique ( Fig. 231 ).

Description (based on holotype):

Male.

Length: ca 7.5 mm.

Head: 1.8 mm high. Eye dark brown, with a few scattered, inconspicuous ommatrichia. Facets on inner side slightly enlarged. Ocelli yellow­brown. Ocellar tubercle blackish brown, with 1 pair of ocellar setae. Ocellar triangle occupies virtually entire frons, reaching as far as antennae ( Fig. 228 ). Ocellar triangle brown. Frons lateral to ocellar triangle black, with 4 fronto-orbital setae. Scapus and pedicellus orange-brown, basal flagellomere brown. Arista dark brown, 3 segments evident. Arista situated dorsally at apex of basal flagellomere ( Fig. 226 ). Scapus with few black setulae dorsally. Pedicellus with black setulae. Shape of antenna as illustrated in Fig. 226 . One distinct vertical seta is damaged. Face pale yellow with silver pruinosity. Occiput black to brown, distinctly silver pruinose; with row of regularly-arranged small white setulae dorsally, and several longer white setulae ventrally. Some long white setulae on mouth opening. Proboscis pale brown basally, becoming blackish brown distally except for yellow-brown distal division of labellum. Labrum ca 3.2 mm, labellum approximately same length.

Thorax: Yellow-brown, mesoscutum medially pale brown. All discernible setae black with exception of golden seta on anepimeron. Two notopleural setae (only one remains), 1 damaged supra-alar seta, 2 damaged postalar setae, 1 praescutellar dorsocentral seta, 1 apical scutellar seta (left damaged), 1 damaged seta on anepimeron and 1 seta above fore coxa on propleuron. Black semi-adpressed setulae on mesoscutum.

Wing: Length 5.7 mm. Generally clothed in microtrichia, but base of sc, base of radial cells r 1 and r 2+3, partly br, bm, base of dm and cup without microtrichia. Hind margin of wing with black or brown setulae. Venation as in Fig. 224 . Haltere uniformly yellow­brown, with areas of sensillae at base.

Legs: Yellow-brown with a brown patch at base of hind femur, brown areas on hind tibia, conspicuous white distal area on hind tibia and conspicuous black hind tarsi. Legs with black and white setulae and golden setae, only left hind coxa with 1 black seta. Fore and mid coxa without distinct setae, but with strong golden setulae distally. Hind coxa with strong golden setulae distally on anterior surface, with smaller golden setulae laterally, and 1 outstanding lateral seta. Hind trochanter without teeth, but with dense golden setulae. Mid femur with a row of regularly-arranged golden setulae posteriorly in distal half. Hind tibia with single short black spines on anterior surface. Claws only narrowly brown basally, distally black. Pulvilli brown. Empodia short, pale brown.

Abdomen: Mainly orange-brown, tergite 1 brownish, tergites 3–5 with indistinctly darker posterior margins, tergite 6 dark brown ( Fig. 225 ). Tergites with semi­adpressed black setulae. Tergite 1 with long golden setulae laterally, tergite 2 with 5 black lateral setae on either side of anterior margin. Abdomen of holotype not dissected, but appears to match terminalia of a paratype. Terminalia as illustrated in Figs 229–235 . Cercus slightly elongated ( Fig. 233 ). Dorsal margin concave. Cercus with only a small lappet ventrally. No conspicuous teeth ventrally. No black setae. Surstylus with several black short setae medially on distal margin ( Fig. 230 ). Several long, conspicuous, erect black setulae on inner surface ( Fig. 231 ).Also 1 lappet on inner side. Phallus sheath as illustrated in Fig. 234 . Strong black setulae conspicuous basally.

Female. Unknown.

Holotype: ♂ MADAGASCAR: (1) “Madagascar, Fianarantsoa Prov., 12km / W Ranomafana Natl Pk entrance, / radio tower, malaise in montane / tropical forest, 6.­17.VII.2003 / R H’Hala, ME Irwin, 1215m, / 21°15.05’S. 47°24.43’E. MA 9B­66”; (2) “ Holotypus / Stylogaster / rinhaii ♂ / des. Stuke, 2011” ( CAS) . Holotype complete and in good condition.

Paratypes: MADAGASCAR: Fianarantsoa: 1♂ radio tower at forest edge, 1130 m, 21°15.05'S 47°24.43'E, 9–25.ix.2005, R. Harin’Hala & M.E. Irwin ( J­HS) .

Distribution: Endemic to Madagascar.

Bionomics: Sampled in primary rainforest at moderately high elevation (1215 m).

Figures

Figs 223–228.Stylogaster rinhaiisp.n.(♂ holotype):(223) habitus,lateral view;(224) wing;(225) abdomen, dorsal view; (226) antenna (lateral view); (227) hind femur; (228) frons. Not to scale.

Figs 229–235. Terminalia (♂) of Stylogaster rinhaii Camras (♂ paratype): (229) terminalia, lateral view; (230) surstylus, lateral view; (231) same, ventral view; (232) same, dorsal view; (233) cercus, lateral view; (234) phallus sheath of hypandrium, lateral view;(235) sperm pump and ejaculatory apodeme. Abbreviations: ce – cercus; dp – distiphallus; ep – epandrium; he – hemispherical extension; hys – phallus sheath of hypandrium; pa – phallus apodeme; sd – sperm duct; su – surstylus. Not to scale.