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

Empis (Enoplempis) delnortensis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:54F6925E-47DF-4EC9-8160-606EDF632C11

( Figs 304 View FIGURES 299–304 , 306 View FIGURES 305–306 , 308 View FIGURES 307–308 )

Type material. HOLOTYPE ♂ ( Fig. 304 View FIGURES 299–304 ), labelled: “USA: CA: Del Norte Co. / West Fork of Patrick Crk. / N 41°55′03″ W 123°51′28″/ 24-31.V.2009, Malaise/ J.M.Cumming & S.E.Brooks ”; “ CNC/ 1078381 View Materials ”; “ HOLOTYPE / Empis (Enoplempis) / delnortensis Sinclair ,/ Brooks & Cumming [red label]” ( CNC) . PARATYPES: USA. California: Del Norte County: Same data as holotype (1♂, 1♀, CNC) .

Diagnosis. This species is distinguished from other species of the subgenus by the grey body ( Fig. 304 View FIGURES 299–304 ) and males are holoptic, with hindleg unmodified, hind tarsomere 1 somewhat inflated, hind tibia with several pairs of anterodorsal and posterodorsal setae, less than twice as long as tibia and cercus straight dorsally, with tapered apical half ( Fig. 306 View FIGURES 305–306 ).

Description. Wing length 3.8–4 mm. Male. Similar to E. (En.) californica sp. nov., except as follows: head holoptic. Occiput bearing single row of slender setae, similar in size to ocellar setae. Antenna with postpedicel long and tapered, 5× longer than basal width.

Thorax with antepronotum with several pairs of dark setae. Postpronotum with 1 long seta and several short, dark setae. Scutum with uniserial acr; dc slightly longer than acr, increasing in length and stronger posteriorly; 1–2 posterior npl, with 1–2 short, fine anterior npl.

Legs long, slender, yellowish brown, gradually becoming darker apically; coxae with or without dense greyish pruinescence ( Fig. 304 View FIGURES 299–304 ). Mid and hind femora with white ventral pile, longest on hind femur. Fore femur with anteroventral and posteroventral row of setae, shorter than half width of femur. Fore tibia with 1–2 anterodorsal setae on apical half; without erect posterior setae; dorsal and ventral preapical setae present; anterior face with short appressed setae. Fore tarsomere 1 slender without long dorsal setae, with fine dense ventral setae, with 1–2 pairs of stronger ventral setae on apical half; tarsomeres 2–5 with biserial row of strong 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 2 pairs of erect anterodorsal and posterodorsal setae on basal half; apical quarter with strong ventral setae. Mid tarsomere 1 without long dorsal 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. Hind femur slender without modified setae and processes; row of fine anteroventral and posteroventral setae, length longer than width of femur; single dark anteroventral seta on apical quarter. Hind tibia without processes or modified setae; 4–5 erect anterodorsal and posterodorsal setae evenly distributed along length of tibia, length slightly longer than width of tibia; without long anterior and ventral setae. Hind tarsomere 1 somewhat inflated with several long dorsal setae, similar to tibia, otherwise similar to mid tarsus.

Wing slightly infuscate; veins mostly complete (except Sc), CuA+CuP very weak and fading out well before wing margin. Halter whitish to pale brown ( Fig. 304 View FIGURES 299–304 ).

Abdomen paler than thorax, with greyish pruinescence; sclerites of segment 8 fused anterolaterally. Terminalia ( Fig. 306 View FIGURES 305–306 ): epandrium and cerci dark brown; phallus orange brown and shiny. Cercus subtriangular, with straight dorsal margin, tapered posteriorly with truncate apex; setae shorter than width of cercus. Subepandrial process extending on either side of phallus. Epandrium expanded on basal half, not linear, longer than height; posterior margin distinctly upcurved, bearing long setae ventrally, shorter than width of epandrium. Hypandrium narrow, strap-like; without setae. Phallus with basal half not strongly expanded, tapered apically, with distinct bend near apical quarter; apex emerging beyond cerci; phallus with broad apex, with roughened surface encircling tip; ejaculatory apodeme narrow, more than half-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, wider than anterior ocellus; legs stockier, without modified setae and processes. Abdominal pleural membrane without darkened, expanded region; tergite 8 (and likely syntergite 9+10) with pruinescence.

Geographical distribution and seasonal occurrence ( Fig. 308 View FIGURES 307–308 ). Empis (En.) delnortensis sp. nov. is known only from the type locality in Del Norte County, California. Adults have been collected in May .

Etymology. The species is named after Del Norte County in northern California, where all the type specimens were collected.

Nuptial gift presentation. Form unknown.