Urytalpa atriceps ( Edwards, 1913 )

Kjaerandsen, Jostein, Martinsson, Svante, Hedmark, Kjell & Evenhuis, Neal L., 2009, On the genus Urytalpa Edwards (Diptera: Keroplatidae) in the Nordic and Nearctic regions, with fixation of a new type species and a key to world males, Zootaxa 2160 (1), pp. 29-50 : 33-35

Urytalpa atriceps ( Edwards, 1913)

( Figs 2C , 4C , 5A–D )

Platyura atriceps Edwards, 1913:350 , figs 18–19

Orfelia (Urytalpa) atriceps ; Hutson et al. 1980:38, fig. 141

Urytalpa atriceps ; Bechev & Koç 2008:31, figs 7–8

Diagnosis. This species shares terminalia with fused gonocoxites and very long aedeagal apparatus with U. dorsalis and U. trivittata . It can be distinguished from these and other species by having long, digitate projections from tergite IX ( Figs 5B–C ) and relatively large and exposed gonostyli. The shape of the bifid gonostylus is unique with a brush of strong setae on the inner smaller branch ( Fig. 5D ).

Description. Male (n=1). Body length 6 mm. Wing length 4.84 mm or 3.36 as long as profemur. Antenna length 2.26 mm. Coloration (dry, pinned specimen, Fig. 2C ). Head dark blackish brown with pale yellowish brown mouth parts and palps. Antenna dark brown; scape, pedicel and basal part of first flagellomere paler yellow. Thorax yellow with mediotergite dark brown; preepisternum with brown posterior part and anterior edge; thoracic stripes brown, narrowly surrounded by pale yellow ground, humeral area pale, extending laterally to behind wing base. Wings clear, yellow tinged. Halter yellow. Legs yellow. Abdomen yellow with tergites VI–IX dark brown, sternites VII–VIII brownish yellow. Terminalia ( Fig. 5 ). Gonocoxites connected by a narrow strip and prolonged apicolaterally. Gonostylus bifurcate, with a broad base; ventral branch strong, ending in a sclerotized fold; dorsal branch shorter with about 5 long strong setae forming a brush apically. Aedeagal apparatus long but not high, with compressed plate extending anteriorly into segment V, and long associated apodemes laterally. Tergite IX with a long, narrow, digitate projection apicolaterally without patch of short internal setae; with deep posterior and anterior U-shaped incision. Proctiger small and short, cercus thin, rhombic in lateral view.

Female unknown.

Distribution. North-western Europe; known only from southern England, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden.

Material examined: SWEDEN: LU, Gällivare , Haapavaara / Annavaara, 8 km WNW Vettasjärvi, 67°24'22"N, 067°24'22"E, 1 Jun–26 Jul 1994 ( NHRS, Leg. R. Rova) — 1 male ; NB, Pajala , Pajala, 27 Jul 1955 ( MZLU, Leg. H. Andersson) — 1 male ; TO, Kiruna , Abisko, 68°21'01"N, 018°49'50"E, 16 Jul 1957 ( MZLU, Leg. P. I. Person) — 1 male ; Abisko , mouth of river Ridonjira, 22 Jul 1983 ( MZLU, Leg. H. Andersson) — 2 males ; Kiruna , Övre Soppero, Harrijoki, 68°10'09"N, 021°30'57"E, 26 Jul 1951 ( MZLU, Leg. Ander & Ardö) — 1 male .

Figures

FIGURE 2. Habitus photos of males of Nordic species of the genus Urytalpa Edwards. — A. Urytalpa dorsalis (Staeger, 1840). — B. Urytalpa trivittata (Lundström, 1914). — C. Urytalpa atriceps (Edwards, 1913). — D. Urytalpa macrocera (Edwards, 1913). — E. Urytalpa galdes Hedmark & Kjaerandsen sp. n.

FIGURE 4. Wing photos of males of Nordic species of the genus Urytalpa Edwards. — A. Urytalpa dorsalis (Staeger, 1840). — B. Urytalpa trivittata (Lundström, 1914). — C. Urytalpa atriceps (Edwards, 1913). — D. Urytalpa macrocera (Edwards, 1913). — E. Urytalpa galdes Hedmark & Kjaerandsen sp. n.

FIGURE 5. Male terminalia of Urytalpa atriceps (Edwards, 1913). — A. Sternite IX, hypandrial lobe and internal aedeagal apparatus in ventral view (pre-terminal segments not illustrated). — B. Tergite IX, proctiger and cerci in dorsal view. — C. Segment IX and beyond in lateral view. — D. Gonostylus in lateral view, enlarged.