Empis (Enoplempis) susanae, Sinclair & Brooks & Cumming, 2025

Empis (Enoplempis) susanae sp. nov.

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( Figs 308 View FIGURES 307–308 , 340, 341 View FIGURES 338–341 , 348 View FIGURES 342–349 )

Type material. HOLOTYPE ♂, labelled: “USA: CA: Nevada Co. / Big Culvert along Sagehen Crk/ N 39°26′04.4″ W 120°16′52.2″/ Malaise, 11-17.vii.2012 / J.M. Cumming, S.E. Brooks / C. Borkent ”; “ CNC/ 1078378 View Materials ”; “ HOLOTYPE / Empis (Enoplempis) / susanae Sinclair ,/ Brooks & Cumming [red label]” ( CNC) . PARATYPES: USA. California: Nevada County : Same data as holotype (3♂, 1♀, CNC; 2♂, 1♀, CSCA) ; same data as holotype except, 17.vii–10.viii.2012 (2♂, CNC) ; Sagehen Creek Field Station , 13.vii.2012, N 39°25′54.6″ W 120°14′26.0″, swept creek, S.H. Cumming (1♂, CNC) .

Diagnosis. This species is distinguished from other species of the subgenus by the grey body and males very narrowly dichoptic with unmodified hindleg, hind tarsomere 1 slightly swollen, hind tibia without long anterior setae ( Fig. 348 View FIGURES 342–349 ), cercus with straight dorsal margin, and phallus with broad base and sinuous apical third, with long slit-like opening ( Figs 340, 341 View FIGURES 338–341 ).

Description. Wing length 5.5–6.1 mm. Male. Similar to E. (En.) californica sp. nov., except as follows: head narrowly dichoptic. Frons very narrow, width less than width of anterior ocellus. Antenna with postpedicel long and tapered, 4–5× longer than basal width.

Thorax with scutum with narrow median pair of greyish vittae; broader outer pair of greyish vittae very faint or absent. Antepronotum with 4 pairs of dark setae. Scutum with short, fine uniserial or biserial acr; dc longer than acr, increasing in length and stronger posteriorly; 1–2 posterior npl, with 1–2 shorter anterior npl. Scutellum with pair of long apical sctl, with 1 pair of marginal setae, length half or apical sctl.

Legs short, slender, yellow to orange brown, apical half of tibiae and tarsi darker brown, basal half of tarsomere 1 often paler than apical half; coxae without dense greyish pruinescence. Femora with white ventral pile. Fore femur with anteroventral and posteroventral row of setae, shorter than half width of femur. Fore tibia with 1–2 erect anterodorsal setae; anterior face with short appressed setae. Fore tarsomere 1 not swollen, without long dorsal setae, with fine dense ventral setae; tarsomeres 1–5 with biserial row of spine-like ventral setae; tarsomeres 1–4 with apicolateral pair of spine-like setae, longer than width of segment. Mid femur similar to fore femur. Mid tibia with 1–3 erect posterodorsal setae; several erect ventral setae, similar to posterodorsal setae. Mid tarsomeres 1–5 with biserial row of spine-like ventral setae; tarsomeres 1–4 with apicolateral pair of spine-like setae, longer than width of segment. Hind femur slender without modified setae and processes ( Fig. 348 View FIGURES 342–349 ); rows of fine ventral setae, nearly as long as width of femur; strong anteroventral seta usually present on apical fourth. Hind tibia without processes or modified setae; 4–5 anterodorsal and posterodorsal erect setae, longer than width of tibia ( Fig. 348 View FIGURES 342–349 ). Hind tarsomere 1 broader than fore tarsomere 1, without dorsal setae; otherwise tarsus similar to mid tarsus.

Wing with CuA+CuP weak apically, reaching wing margin.

Abdomen paler than thorax, with dense whitish pruinescence. Terminalia ( Figs 340, 341 View FIGURES 338–341 ): ventral margin of epandrium and dorsal margin of cercus dark brown, with phallus orange brown and shiny. Cercus with straight dorsal margin; posterior half rectangular, with truncate apex; setae shorter than width of cercus. Subepandrial process extending on either side of phallus. Epandrial lamella elongate, longer than height; posterior margin with somewhat expanded dorsally, rounded, bearing setae ventrally, shorter than width of epandrium. Hypandrium narrow, strap-like; without setae. Phallus ( Fig. 341 View FIGURES 338–341 ) with basal third strongly expanded, tapered apically, with strong bend at apical third; apical third sinuous, arched, apex with long, narrow slit-like opening; emerging beyond cerci; apex tapered to narrow tip, with roughened subapical surface at base of long narrow opening; ejaculatory apodeme two-thirds length of epandrium, Y-shaped, with lateral apodemes positioned near ventral margin with short medial apodeme.

Female. Similar to male, except as follows: frons broader, slightly wider than anterior ocellus; legs stockier, without modified setae and processes. Abdominal pleural membrane without darkened, expanded region; tergite 8 and syntergite 9+10 with pruinescence.

Geographical distribution and seasonal occurrence ( Fig. 308 View FIGURES 307–308 ). Empis (En.) susanae sp. nov. is known only from Sagehen Creek in Nevada County , California. Adults have been collected in July and August.

Etymology. This species is named in recognition of the third author’s wife, Susan Cumming, who has collected many specimens of Empis (Enoplempis) , including a paratype of this species.

Nuptial gift presentation. Form unknown.