Monepidosis difficilis, Jaschhof & Jaschhof, 2020

Jaschhof, Mathias & Jaschhof, Catrin, 2020, The Porricondylini (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae: Porricondylinae) of Sweden revisited: descriptions of nineteen new species of ten genera, including a new genus, Zootaxa 4728 (2), pp. 151-182 : 160

Monepidosis difficilis sp. nov.

Figs 14–15

Diagnosis. While Monepidosis difficilis and M. duplicis conform in having an aedeagal apodeme with bifurcate apex (for characters of M. duplicis , see the description of M. tinnerti , a junior synonym, by Jaschhof & Jaschhof 2015: 168, fig. 6), several details of the genitalic structures are different. This can be used for distinguishing between these two species, as follows (character states of M. duplicis in parentheses). In M. difficilis , the arrow-shaped, apical portion of the aedeagal apodeme is pointed (blunt-ended and finely serrate); the pair of terminal processes are slightly but unmistakably flattened ( Fig. 14 , ↓ 1) (circular in profile and more strongly sclerotized); and the smaller, dorsal pair of parameres are more slender and oriented posteriad (↓ 2) (parameral apices markedly bent dorsad).Also, the gonocoxal synsclerite of M. difficilis is more strongly narrowed ventrobasally ( Fig. 15 , ↓ 3) and the membranous, ventroposterior portion is smaller and bilobed (↓ 4) rather than one piece. Both species are indistinguishable regarding non-genitalic characters. Monepidosis difficilis is known from a single male, meaning females and preimaginal stages are unknown.

Etymology. The Latin adjective difficilis , here in the meaning of ̒hard to deal with’, is an allusion to the fact that this species is difficult to distinguish from some of the congeners.

Type material. Holotype. Male , Sweden, Uppland , Håbo , Biskops Arnö, elm grove, 7 September 2003 – 1 June 2004, Malaise trap, Swedish Malaise Trap Project (trap 8, collecting event 394) (spn. CEC 2045 in NHRS).

Figures

FIGURES 14–18. Male morphology of Monepidosis difficilis (14–15) and Monepidosis hybrida (16–18), holotypes. 14: Parameres and aedeagal apodeme, ventral. 15: Genitalia, ventral. 16: Fourth flagellomere, lateral. 17: Parameres and aedeagal apodeme, ventral. 18: Genitalia, ventral. Scales 0.05 mm. Arrows refer to characters described in the diagnoses.