Laxotela plata, Winterton, Shaun L., 2007

Winterton, Shaun L., 2007, New species of Laxotela Winterton & Irwin from Australia (Diptera: Therevidae: Agapophytinae), Zootaxa 1407, pp. 57-64 : 62-64

Laxotela plata sp. nov.

( Figure 3 )

Holotype male, AUSTRALIA: SOUTH AUSTRALIA: Mt Barker (summit), Mar–Apr.1968, A.D. Austin, M[alaise]/trap (MEI 16576) ( ANIC).

Paratypes, AUSTRALIA: SOUTH AUSTRALIA: 4 males, same data as Holotype, (MEI 164559, 164562, 164574, 164571) ( ANIC). AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY: female, Lees Spring, 1.iii.1949, S.P. [Sergei Paramonov?] (MEI 164537) ( ANIC); female, Blundells Creek, Mar.1987, D. Colless, 35.22S, 148.50E, Malaise trap (MEI 164618) ( ANIC). NEW SOUTH WALES: male, Monga, 8.ii.1959, Z. Liepa (MEI 165923) ( ANIC); male, Tinderrys, 27.ii. 1957, E.F. Riek (MEI 165927) ( ANIC); male, Alpine Creek, 8 mls. E Kiandra, 21.iii.1962, Z.R. Liepa (MEI 165903) ( ANIC).

Other material examined. AUSTRALIA: NEW SOUTH WALES: 5 males, 1 female, Tinderry Nature Reserve, intersection East Tinderry & Horse Flat fire trails, 13.5 km ENE Michelago, Malaise across drying creek, 16–29.i.2005, 1029 m, C.L. Lambkin, N. Starick, 35°40’45”S, 149°18’31”E ( ANIC).

Diagnosis

Scutum patterned with brown, silver and matte black pubescence; enlarged setae on frons; male frons wider than ocellar tubercle at narrowest point; white macrosetae on hind and mid tibia; male abdomen with silver velutum; ventral apodeme of parameral process shorter than ejaculatory apodeme.

Description

Male. Body length: 6.0– 6.5 mm.

Head. Brown to black, slightly longer than high; frons width equal to ocellar tubercle at narrowest point, antennal base positioned low on protruding lower frons, frons flat or only slightly concave midway and raised dorsally, frons rugose, overlain with dense grey-silver pubescence on lower two thirds, black on upper third, admixed with numerous elongate, dark setae; face covered with silver pubescence, smooth, glabrous laterally on lower face, narrow strip of silver pubescence extending from base of antennae to eye; ocellar tubercle flattened, overlain with bronze-black pubescence admixed with elongate setae; occiput slightly concave medially, black, overlain with dense grey pubescence, one-two rows of relatively long, black postocular setae dorsally; gena smooth, glossy black on lower portion, overlain with dense light grey pubescence dorsally, admixed with long, white setae; palp and labellum black with scattered pale setae; antennae shorter than head length, projecting anteroventrally, dark brown-black, overlain with light grey pubescence admixed with dark setae on scape pedicel and base of flagellum, flagellum turbinate.

Thorax. Brown or black, scutum overlain with patterned brown, grey and matte black pubescence, dark matte pubescence laterally and silver-white pubescence along lateral margin and postpronotal lobe, medial vitta of black pubescence, scutum uniformly admixed with fine, dark setae; scutal macrosetae black; scutellum overlain with grey pubescence, dark medially; pleuron and coxae glossy, black or brown, covered with dense grey pubescence except on anepisternum, anepimeron and katatergite; elongate pale setae dorsally on anepisternum, katepisternum, katatergite and coxae; legs black with white macrosetae on mid and hind tibiae; wing hyaline with distinct black mottling; venation brown; haltere brown, knob white; scutal chaetotaxy (pairs): np, 2–3; sa, 1; pa, 1; dc, 2–4; sc, 1.

Abdomen. Black, dense silver velutum extensively on segments 1–6, anteromedial portion of tergite 1 bronze-brown pubescent; intersegmental membranes on tergites 2–3 white; sparse elongate pale setae laterally on all segments; terminalia black.

Male genitalia. Terminalia dark, setae pale; epandrium short, width equal to length; cercus rounded ( Fig. 3 A); tergite 8 broad, only slightly emarginate medially ( Fig. 3 B); gonocoxal process much shorter than inner gonocoxal process ( Figs 3 C–D); gonocoxal apodeme very short; ventral lobe approximately 1/2 length of gonostylus; velutum patch at base on ventral lobe; hypandrium triangular, fused laterally to gonocoxites; sternite 8 broadly ovate to quadrangular ( Fig. 3 E); distiphallus short, narrow ( Figs 3 F–G); dorsal apodeme of parameral sheath well sclerotised, ‘T’-shaped; ventral apodeme approximately 1/2 length of ejaculatory apodeme; lateral ejaculatory apodeme thick, projecting laterally.

Female. Body length 6.0 mm.

Similar to male except: frons only slightly wider than in male; abdomen without silver velutum.

Female genitalia. Tergite 8 with broad anterior process; furca complete, quadrangular with broad anterolateral flanges; spermathecae spherical, three spermathecal ducts joined to spermathecal duct close to bursa; spermathecal sac simple, elongate, without lobes or reticulations.

Comments

Laxotela plata sp. nov. is very similar to L. holstoni ; both are distinctively patterned with silver, brown and matte black pubescence on the scutum and have similar shaped male genitalia. This species is represented in the ANIC collection by a large series of specimens collected in Tinderry Nature Reserve (New South Wales) during February–March 2005.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Laxotela plata sp. nov., Male genitalia: A, epandrium, dorsal view; B, tergite 8, dorsal view; C, gonocoxites lateral view; D, same, ventral view; E, sternite 8, ventral view; F, aedeagus, lateral view; G, same, dorsal view. Scale line = 0.5 mm.