Dacus (Lophodacus) magnificus, White, Ian M. & Goodger, Kim F. M., 2009

White, Ian M. & Goodger, Kim F. M., 2009, African Dacus (Diptera: Tephritidae); New Species and Data, with Particular Reference to the Tel Aviv University Collection, Zootaxa 2127, pp. 1-49 : 28-30

Dacus (Lophodacus) magnificus sp.n.

Figures 64 – 70 .

Diagnosis. Separated from all other African Dacus spp. as follows: Thorax. Lateral and medial postsutural vittae absent (fig. 64); lateroterga without a xanthine (fig. 68). Wing. Costal band incomplete (fig. 70); cell c with an almost complete covering of microtrichia; narrow subbasal raised section of cell br with only a few microtrichia. Male. Tergite III with pecten (fig. 65).

Description. Size. Medium, wing length, 6.7 – 6.9 mm. Head (fig. 67). Pedicel+first flagellomere not longer than ptilinal suture. Face, antennal furrow with a very small vertically elongate spot, adjacent lower facial margin; Frons, frontal setae 2, orbital setae 1. Thorax (figs 64, 68). Scutum red-brown, without any distinct darker areas; postpronotal lobe concolorous with scutum; notopleural callus white; notopleural suture xanthine absent; lateral and medial postsutural vittae absent. Scutellum dorsally concolorous with scutum, laterally white. Anepisternum with a narrow white stripe from notopleural callus to katepisternum; extended onto katepisternum. Lateroterga without a xanthine. Thoracic setae. Anterior notopleural seta present; anterior supra-alar seta absent. Wing (fig. 70). Basal cell bc without an almost complete covering of microtrichia; cell c with an almost complete (>90%) covering of microtrichia; cell bm without microtrichia. Narrow subbasal raised section of cell br with only a few microtrichia. Crossvein R-M in apical quarter of cell dm. Costal band reduced; cells c and sc coloured; large apical spot which extends below vein M and includes both R-M and DM-Cu crossveins. Anal streak absent (at most with a trace of colour confined to cell bcu). Cell bc hyaline. Without any crossbanding. Legs (fig. 69). Femora orange-brown. Abdomen (fig. 65). Orangebrown, without any distinct darker marks; broadest at tergite V (based on paratype female; holotype male distorted). Tergites I – V all fused. Ceromata present. Male. Tergite III with pecten, dense microtrichia adjacent end A1+Cu2, and hindtibia preapical pad. Female (fig. 66). Aculeus pointed.

Etymology. Descriptive name for its magnificent (magnificenti) appearance.

Material. Holotype, male, TANZANIA: 35km. S. Mbeya, Rt.A345, 2200m., 1.ix.1996, A. Freidberg ( TAU); paratype, 1 female, same data as holotype ( TAU).

Remarks. The wing of this fly is similar to that of D. attenuatus , notably in apical spot size and shape; but if differs in its almost complete lack of microtrichia in the narrow portion of cell br, its extensive covering in cell c, and the lack of a continuous costal band.

Figures

FIGURES 64 – 70. Dacus (Lophodacus) magnificus sp. n. 64. Mesonotum, dorsal view (holotype male). 65. Abdomen, dorsal view (holotype male). 66. Ovipositor with extended aculeus, dorsal view (paratype female). 67. Head, anterior view (holotype male). 68. Thorax, left lateral view (holotype male). 69. Legs, left lateral view; fore, mid, hind (holotype male). 70. Wing, dorsal view (holotype male). Scale lines = 1 mm.