Drymeia sororcula, Pont, 2022

Pont, Adrian C., 2022, The genus Drymeia Meigen in the Caucasus Mountains, with a note on the identity of Aspilia glacialis Rondani, 1866 (Diptera: Muscidae), Zootaxa 5134 (3), pp. 355-382 : 375

Drymeia sororcula sp. nov.

Figs 31–37

Diagnosis. This species is close to D. brumalis ( Rondani, 1866) which also has 3 postsutural dorsocentrals. However, the male of D. brumalis has frontal vitta equal to diameter of anterior ocellus; mid and hind femora with the anteroventral and posteroventral setae longer, denser and more numerous; hind tibia with the anteroventral (and anterior) and posteroventral setae more numerous and dense (only 3–4 posteroventrals and 3 anteroventrals in D. sororcula ). Both sexes of D. brumalis lack the ventral scutellar setulae of D. sororcula .

Etymology. The specific name “ sororcula ” is Latin and means “little sister”. This reflects the close similarity between this species and D. brumalis (Rondani) .

Type-material Examined. Holotype ♂. GEORGIA: Mtskheta-Mtianeti region: Mt Kuro [~ 42°39’N 44°39’E], heath, 2330 m. 29.vi.1983, A.C. Pont ( BMNH) . Paratypes 21♂ 10♀. GEORGIA, Mtskheta-Mtianeti region: data as for holotype , 5♂ 3♀ (1♂ ZMUM, 1♂ 1♀ OUMNH, rest BMNH); same data but 2120–2330 m , 3♂ (1 SZMN, 2 BMNH); same data but 2450–2500 m , 2♂ ( BMNH); meadows E of Kazbegi [~ 42°39’N 44°38’E], 1900 m, 28.vi.1983 (A.C. Pont) , 3♂ (2 BMNH, 1 OUMNH); forest E of Kazbegi , 1950–2000 m, 1.vii.1983 , 2♂ 1♀ ( BMNH), 5.vii.1983 , 1♂ ( BMNH), & 6.vii.1983 , 2♂, all A.C. Pont ( BMNH); SE of Kazbegi , meadow/scree, 1900–1950 m, 5.vii.1983 (A.C. Pont) , 1♂ ( BMNH); Mt Koltesh [~ 42°35’N 44°45’E], meadows, 2000–2100 m, 8.vii.1983 (A.C. Pont) , 1♂ 3♀ (1♀ SZMN, rest BMNH); Mt Koltesh , meadow/heath, 2300 m, 8.vii.1983 (A.C. Pont) , 1♂ 4♀ (1♀ ZMUM, rest BMNH); Truso [~ 42°35’N 44°26’E], mineral springs, 2150 m, 9.vii.1983 (A.C. Pont) , 1♂ 2♀ ( BMNH); Gergeti [~ 42°42’N 44°31’E], upper heaths, 2300–3000 m, 11.vii.1983 (A.C. Pont) , 1♀ ( BMNH) .

Figures

FIGURES 31–32. Drymeia sororcula sp. nov., ♂ habitus. 31. Lateral view. 32. Dorsal view. (paratype; Georgia, Kazbegi, Mt Kuro, heath, 2450–2500 m, 29.vi.1983.)

FIGURES 33–35. Drymeia sororcula sp. nov. 33. ♂ head, lateral view. 34. ♀ fore tarsomeres, posterior view. 35. ♂ sternite 5, dorsal view. Scale line 0.25 mm. (Georgia, Kazbegi, Mt Kuro, heath, 2120–2330 m, 29.vi.1983 (33, 35), Mt Koltesh, meadows, 2000–2100 m, 8.vii.1983 (34).)

FIGURES 36–37. Drymeia sororcula sp. nov., ♂ terminalia. 36. Cercal plate, dorsal view. 37. Hypopygium, lateral view. Scale lines 0.25 mm. (Georgia, Kazbegi, Mt Kuro, heath, 2120–2330 m, 29.vi.1983.)