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

Empis (Enoplempis) fresno sp. nov.

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( Figs 250 View FIGURES 249–250 , 266, 267 View FIGURES 266–274 , 275 View FIGURES 275–276 )

Type material. HOLOTYPE ♂, labelled: “Bluffs, Fresno [36°51′N 119°47′W]/ 17 Mar.’23, Cal”; “ M.E. Phillips / Collector”; “ HOLOTYPE / Empis (Enoplempis) / fresno Sinclair ,/ Brooks & Cumming [red label]” ( CUIC) GoogleMaps . PARATYPES: USA. California: Same data as holotype (1♀, CUIC) GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis. This species is distinguished from other species of the E. (En.) valentis species group by the occiput bearing a pair of irregular rows of strong setae, four marginal scutellar setae, halter with pale knob, male hind femur without inner basal knob on anteroventral digitiform process, medial lobe to digitiform anteroventral process strongly arched, sickle-shaped ( Figs 266, 267 View FIGURES 266–274 ), and wing length less than 7 mm.

Description. Wing length 5.5 mm. Male. Similar to E. (En.) aeripes , except as follows: head with occiput bearing pair of irregular rows of strong setae, similar in size to ocellar setae. Postpedicel long and tapered, 4× longer than basal width; stylus 1.5× longer than basal width of postpedicel. Palpus not visible.

Thorax with postpronotum with 1 long seta and some 4–5 pairs of shorter, dark setae. Scutum with 2 posterior npl, with several very short anterior npl. Scutellum with 2 pairs of strong sctl, widely separated medially.

Hind femur with anteroventral process digitiform, longer than apical width of femur, with tuft of black apical setae and several setae on stalk, without basal lobe; one knob-like lobe medial to digitiform anteroventral process, strongly arched, sickle-shaped; one very short posteroventral swelling proximal to preapical row of 3 flattened, black posterior setae; preapical anterior seta strong, slightly longer than width of femur ( Figs 266, 267 View FIGURES 266–274 ). Hind tibia with stout anteroventral digitiform process on basal quarter, slightly proximal to process of femur (when legs folded), with appressed black marginal setae; posteroventrally with broad, rounded process, with short marginal setae and tuft of long, subapical setae, subequal to length of process ( Figs 266, 267 View FIGURES 266–274 ).

Wing with R 5 ending posterior to wing tip. Halter pale, yellowish brown.

Abdomen without glossy posterior margin of tergites. Terminalia ( Fig. 275 View FIGURES 275–276 ): dark brown. Cercus short, rectangular; dorsal margin with distinct notch at mid-length, posteriorly with distinct, dorsal knob-like projection; setae shorter than width of cercus. Subepandrium without process or setae. Epandrial lamella oval, higher than long; posterior margin with very short, knob-like projection; posterior margin with short setae. Hypandrium short, truncate, slightly prolonged laterally; without setae. Phallus with basal half strongly expanded; tapered apically, mostly straight apically; apex not emerging beyond epandrium; lateral face of phallus with thickened spicules; ejaculatory apodeme more than half-length of epandrium, Y-shaped, with ventrally positioned lateral apodemes.

Female. Similar to male, except as follows: frons slightly broader; hindleg without modified setae and processes; abdominal pleural membrane with darkened, expanded region; tergites 7 and 8 shiny.

Geographical distribution and seasonal occurrence ( Fig. 250 View FIGURES 249–250 ). Empis (En.) fresno sp. nov. is only known from March at the type locality in Fresno , California .

Etymology. The species name is in reference to the type locality, Fresno, California and is a noun in apposition.

Nuptial gift presentation. Form unknown.