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

Empis (Enoplempis) flavobulla sp. nov.

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( Figs 250 View FIGURES 249–250 , 259–261 View FIGURES 257–261 , 265 View FIGURES 262–265 )

Type material. HOLOTYPE ♂, labelled: “ CALIF: Tuol. Co., S./ fork StanislausRiv.,/ 4airline mi. NE./ Columbia [38°04′N 120°20′W] III-25-65”; “ R. L. Langston / Collector”; “ Empis / ( Enoplempis )/ ?dolabraria / Melander/ det/ WJ Turner ’78”; “ HOLOTYPE / Empis (Enoplempis) / flavobulla Sinclair ,/ Brooks & Cumming [red label]” ( EMEC) GoogleMaps . PARATYPES: USA. California: Same data as holotype (1♂, 1♀, EMEC) GoogleMaps ; same data except, 3.iv.1964, JAP (3♂, 1♀, EMEC) GoogleMaps . El Dorado County: 8 mi. E Auburn, Greenwood Ck [38°54′N 120°54′W], 10.iii.1997, M.S. Caterino (2♂, 1♀, EMEC) 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 ( Fig. 259 View FIGURES 257–261 ), four marginal scutellar setae, halter with pale knob ( Fig. 259 View FIGURES 257–261 ), male hind femur with narrow inner basal knob on anteroventral digitiform process ( Fig. 260 View FIGURES 257–261 ), and wing length less than 7 mm.

Description. Wing length 6.5 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 1 shorter 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, with narrow basal lobe bearing several thin apical setae; one knob-like lobe medial to digitiform anteroventral process, straight, parallel-sided; one short knob-like posteroventral lobe proximal to preapical row of 4 flattened, black posterior setae; preapical anterior seta strong, slightly longer than width of femur ( Figs 260, 261 View FIGURES 257–261 ). 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 259–261 View FIGURES 257–261 ).

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

Abdomen without posterior margin of tergites glossy. Terminalia ( Fig. 265 View FIGURES 262–265 ): 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.) flavobulla sp. nov. is known from March and April in central California.

Etymology. The species name is derived from Latin flavos for yellowish and bulla for knob, in reference to the pale yellowish halter of this species.

Nuptial gift presentation. Form unknown.