Trichactia meridiana Ziegler & Gilasian, 2018

Gilasian, Ebrahim, Ziegler, Joachim & Parchami-Araghi, Mehrdad, 2018, Review of the genus Trichactia Stein (Diptera: Tachinidae) in the Palaearctic Region, with the description of a new species from Iran and the East Mediterranean, Zootaxa 4526 (2), pp. 207-220 : 209-213

Trichactia meridiana Ziegler & Gilasian , sp. nov.

( Figs 3–4 , 6 , 9 , 12–13 , 15 )

Type material. HOLOTYPE ♂ ( HMIM): “ IRAN: Khuzestan province / Shoush, Karkheh National / Park , Persian Fallow Deer / Sanctuary , 32°04′42.7″ / N 048°14′33.2″E, near swamp / March 11 –May 10.2015, 67 m / Malaise trap, E. Gilasian // HOLOTYPUS ♂ / Trichactia meridiana / Ziegler & Gilasian / 2018 [red label]” [holotype in good condition, pinned].

PARATYPES. Iran: 12 ♂♂ [8 pinned] , 16 ♀♀ [11 pinned], same data as holotype ( HMIM) ; 8 ♂♂ [5 pinned], 11 ♀♀ [5 pinned], same data as holotype except 32°04′45.6″N 48°14′27.8″E, 68 m, 11.iii–10.v.2015 ( HMIM) ; 3 ♂♂ [1 pinned], 3 ♀♀ [1 pinned], same data as previous ( ZMHB) ; 1 ♂ [pinned], 1 ♀ [pinned], same data as previous ( CZB) . Cyprus: 1 ♀ ( Fig. 15 ), Paphos District, northwest of Stroumpi, Theletra , 34°54′55.4″N 32°27′09.9″E, 500 m, 17.v.2010, C. Lange & J. Ziegler leg. ( CZB) ; 1 ♂, same data as previous except 34°54′34.4″N 32°27′31.9″E, 400 m, 1.iv.2002, C. Lange & J. Ziegler leg. ( CZB) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Paphos District, northeast of Paphos, Agios Dimitrianos , 34°54′30″N 32°33′17″E, 500 m, 18.v.2010, C. Lange & J. Ziegler leg. ( CZB) . Greece: 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀, Rhodes , approx. 36°12′N 27°56′E, v.1939, R. Meyer leg. ( ZMHB) ; 1 ♀, Western Crete, approx. 35°17′N 23°35′E, 8.v.1988, M. von Tschirnhaus leg. ( SMNS) .

Additional material examined. The specimens listed hereafter sustained physical damages that resulted in their exclusion from the type series. Cyprus: 1 ♀, Paphos District, southwest of Polis Chrysochous, Prodromi , 34°59′30″N 32°24′23″E, 150 m, 17.v.2010, C. Lange & J. Ziegler leg. ( CZB) ; 1 ♂, Paphos District, northwest of Stroumpi, Theletra , 34°54′55.4″N 32°27′09.9″E, 500 m, 17.v.2010, C. Lange & J. Ziegler leg. ( CZB) ; 1 ♀, Paphos District, south of Pano Panagia, northeast of Paphos, Agios Fotios , 34°52′48″N 32°36′58″E, 800 m, 18.v.2010, C. Lange & J. Ziegler leg. ( CZB) . Israel: 1 ♀, Baniyas , approx. 33°14′N 35°40′E, 16.iv.1992, Merz & Freidberg leg. ( SMNS) ; 1 ♀, Tel Aviv District, Herzliya , approx. 32°09′N 34°50′E, 11.iii.1995, B. Merz leg. ( SMNS) ; 1 ♀, Tel Aviv, beach, approx. 32°05′N 34°46′E, 14.iii.1995, B. Merz leg. ( SMNS) . Turkey: 1 ♂, Province Antalya, Toros Dağları, northwest of Alanya , Payallar , 36°40′24″N 31°53′47″E, 200 m, 24.iv.1997, C. Lange & J. Ziegler leg. ( CZB) .

Diagnosis. Head with 5–6 frontal setae and with whitish-grey microtrichosity; 1 lateroreclinate upper orbital seta and 2 small proclinate orbital setae present; lower facial margin strongly protruding; scutum with 3+3 dorsocentral setae; katepisternum usually with 3 setae; calypters whitish; wing vein R 4+5 with 2–6 basal setulae dorsally, reaching at most halfway to crossvein r–m; bend of vein M obtuse-angled, apical part nearly straight; abdomen of male orange laterally at least on tergites 2–4.

Description. Male. Length: 4.5 [4.0–5.2] mm.

Colouration and microtrichosity ( Fig. 3 ). Head predominantly brownish-orange; genal setulae black; frontal vitta and lunule orange; fronto-orbital plate blackish; face, parafacial, fronto-orbital plate, ocellar triangle and occiput covered with whitish-grey microtrichosity; occipital setulae black, except pale posteroventral ones; scape, pedicel, and about basal 1/2 [1/3–2/3] of postpedicel orange, other parts of antenna including arista brown; prementum and palpus orange; thorax black, predominantly covered with grey microtrichosity, presutural portion of scutum with 2 black narrow median vittae and 2 black semitriangular lateral vittae (posterior view); postalar callus brownish-orange; scutellum black, lateral portions and posterior 1/2–[1/3] orange, covered with grey microtrichosity; wing hyaline; calypters whitish; tegula yellowish-orange; basicosta yellowish-white; halter orange; legs orange; abdominal tergites predominantly orange; syntergite 1+2 black, posterolaterally orange, extending ventrally; tergites 3–4 dorsally with black trapezoidal markings; tergite 5 with one black triangular marking; each black marking on tergites 3–5 nearly 1/3–[rarely 1/2] as wide as tergites; postabdomen mostly orange except sclerotized black parts of distiphallus.

Head ( Fig. 3 ). Eye apparently bare, with a few scattered setulae; height of gena about 0.40 [0.40–0.55] times as long as maximum diameter of eye in lateral view; face 1.20 [1.14–1.35] times as long as frons in lateral view; frons at narrowest point 1.30 [1.27–1.57] times as wide as an eye in dorsal view; frontal vitta 1.20 [1.20–1.50] times as wide as fronto-orbital plate at midlength; inner vertical seta 0.95 [0.78–0.95] times as long as maximum diameter of eye and 1.90 [1.90–2.20] times as long as outer vertical seta; ocellar setae lateroproclinate, as strong as frontal setae; postocellar setae parallel; frons with 6 [5–6] frontal setae descending to level of lower margin of pedicel; facial ridge bare, parafacial with a few setulae in approximately upper 1/3; fronto-orbital plate with a few setulae outside and inside row of frontal setae; with 1 lateroreclinate upper orbital seta and 2 proclinate orbital setae; fronto-orbital plate at level of scape about 0.50 [0.40–0.50] times as wide as minimum diameter of eye; parafacial distinctly narrowed ventrally, at narrowest point 0.08 [0.08–0.10] times as wide as minimum eye diameter and 0.10 [0.10–0.14] times as wide as postpedicel in lateral view; vibrissa arising at level of lower facial margin and about 0.50 times as long as face; lower facial margin strongly protruding, well visible in lateral view; postpedicel wide, about 1.65 [1.40–1.85] times as long as width at mid length, 3.30 [2.10–3.50] times as long as pedicel; arista thickened nearly to apex; first and second aristomeres elongate; first aristomere 7.5 [6.0–8.0] times as long as wide; second aristomere 3.0–4.0 times as long as wide and 0.65 [0.55–0.65] times as long as first aristomere; prementum short, about 2.5 times as long as wide; palpus well developed, with only a few black setulae, 0.37 [0.2–0.60] times as long as postpedicel.

Thorax. Prosternum and proepisternum bare; postpronotum with 2 setae; scutum with 3+3 acrostichal, 3+3 dorsocentral, 1+3 [2–3] intra-alar, 2 notopleural, and 3 supra-alar setae [third postsutural supra-alar seta sometimes absent]; postalar callus with 2 setae; anatergite bare below lower calypter; katepimeron bare; katepisternum usually with 3 setae, median (lower) seta sometimes short and weak or absent; postmetacoxal area membranous; scutellum with 4 [3–4] pairs of marginal setae and 1 pair of preapical dorsal setae; apical setae strong, crossed and nearly as long as basal setae; lateral setae fine [rarely absent]. Wing ( Fig. 3 ). second costal section bare ventrally; costal seta weak; third costal section 1.90–[1.80–2.10] times as long as fourth costal section; fourth costal section (between veins R 2+3 and R 4+5) 1.50 [1.40–1.50] times as long as second costal section (between subcostal break and vein R 1); vein R 1 in apical half sometimes with up to 2 very small setulae dorsally; vein R 4+5 with 5 [2–6] basal setulae dorsally, reaching halfway to crossvein r–m and with 1–2 basal setulae ventrally [basal ventral setulae rarely absent]; cell r 4+5 open or closed at wing margin; section of vein M between crossveins r–m and dm–cu 0.90 [0.35– 0.90] times as long as section between crossvein dm–cu and bend of vein M; bend of vein M forming an obtuse angle and without an appendix; apical part of vein M nearly straight; crossvein dm–cu almost 4.50 times as long as crossvein r–m. Legs. Fore coxa bare on anterior and posterior surfaces; fore tibia with 2 [2–3] posterior setae and with a nearly complete row of anterodorsal setae; preapical anterodorsal seta a bit shorter than preapical dorsal seta; preapical posterodorsal seta absent; fore tarsomere 1 about 2.20 times as long as fore tarsomere 2 and 0.50 times as long as fore tibia; fore claws short, nearly 0.40 times as long as fore tarsomere 5; mid femur with 1 anterior seta at mid length; mid tibia with 1 [rarely 2] anterodorsal, 2 [rarely 3] posterior and 1 ventral setae; hind tibia with nearly complete rows of anterodorsal and posterodorsal setae, 2 [2–3] anteroventral and 3 preapical dorsal setae.

Abdomen. Middorsal depression of syntergite 1+2 extending to posterior margin of segment; syntergite 1+2 without median marginal setae, without lateral marginal setae [or rarely with 1 pair on each side]; tergite 3 without median marginal setae [or with 1–2], with 2–3 lateral marginal setae, without median discal setae [or with 1–2] and with 4–5 lateral discal setae; tergite 3 about 0.40 times as long as wide in dorsal view; tergites 4–5 each with a nearly complete row of marginal setae; tergite 4 with 1–2 pairs of median discal setae and 4–5 lateral discal setae; tergite 5 almost entirely covered with discal setae, about 0.90 times as long as tergite 4. Terminalia ( Figs 12–13 ). Sternite 5 with a U-shaped median apical depression; surstylus longer than syncercus, rounded apically in lateral view; syncercus with a very small apical hook in lateral view.

Female ( Figs 4 , 6 , 9 , 15 ). Differs from male as follows: postpedicel narrower, 1.90–2.50 times as long as wide; parafacial at its narrowest point about 0.20 times as wide as postpedicel in lateral view; abdominal tergites black at least dorsally, predominantly covered with grey microtrichosity.

Etymology. The name meridiana (Latin adjective, feminine singular) is derived from meridianus, meaning “southern”, in reference to the known distribution of the new species in the southern and warmer regions of Iran and Europe.

Distribution. This species occurs in East Mediterranean Europe ( Cyprus, Greece), and West Asia ( Iran, Israel, Syria, Turkey).

Remarks. The Mediterranean specimens ( Cyprus, Crete, Rhodes and Turkey) of T. meridiana sp. nov. have section of vein M between crossveins r–m and dm–cu 0.35–0.65 as long as section between crossvein dm–cu and bend of M ( Fig. 9 ) and palpus about 0.50–0.60 as long as postpedicel, whereas in specimens from Israel and Iran these measurements stand at 0.65–0.90 and 0.20–0.50, respectively.

The following literature data for T. pictiventris should be assigned to T. meridiana sp. nov.: Mount Hermon Range, approx. 33°16ʹN 35°44ʹE, 1200 m, one female ( Kugler 1974; Herting 1984, as “ Palestine ”), and Damas (French for Damascus, Syria) approx. 33°30ʹN 36°17ʹE, one female ( Mesnil 1973).

Figures

FIGURES 1–4. Trichactia spp., habitus in lateral view. 1. Trichactia pictiventris (Zetterstedt), ♂, Canton Grisons, Switzerland (CZB). 2. Trichactia pictiventris (Zetterstedt), ♀, Canton Grisons, Switzerland (CZB). 3. Trichactia meridiana sp. nov., paratype, ♂, Paphos District, Cyprus (CZB). 4. Trichactia. meridiana sp. nov., paratype, ♀, Paphos District, Cyprus (CZB). Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 5–7. Trichactia spp., ♀, head in lateral view. 5. Trichactia pictiventris (Zetterstedt), Canton Grisons, Switzerland (CZB). 6. Trichactia meridiana sp. nov., paratype, Paphos District, Cyprus (CZB). 7. Trichactia nubilinervis (Becker), holotype, Canary Islands, Tenerife (ZMHB). Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 8–9. Trichactia spp., ♀, left wing in dorsal view. 8. Trichactia pictiventris (Zetterstedt), Canton Grisons, Switzerland (CZB). 9. Trichactia meridiana sp. nov., paratype, Paphos District, Cyprus (CZB). Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 10–13. Trichactia spp., male terminalia. 10–11. Trichactia pictiventris (Zetterstedt), Bavaria, Germany (HMIM). 10. Dorsal view. 11. Lateral view. 12–13. Trichactia meridiana sp. nov., paratype, Khuzestan, Iran (HMIM). 12. Dorsal view. 13. Lateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 14–15. Live specimens of Trichactia spp. 14. Trichactia pictiventris (Zetterstedt), ♂, on leaf of Acer pseudoplatanus L., Bavaria, Germany (CZB) (body length: 5.0 mm). 15. Trichactia meridiana sp. nov., paratype, ♀, on flowers of Apiaceae, Paphos District, Cyprus (CZB) (body length: 4.5 mm). Photographs by J. Ziegler.