Empis (Enoplempis) falcata Melander

Empis (Enoplempis) falcata Melander View in CoL

( Figs 88–90 View FIGURES 82–90 , 103 View FIGURES 102–103 , 129 View FIGURES 129–130 )

Empis falcata Melander, 1902: 326 View in CoL . Type locality: Juliaetta, Idaho ( USA), by lectotype designation.

Empis (Enoplempis) falcata View in CoL : Melander, 1928: 142 (assigned to Enoplempis View in CoL ).

Empis falcata View in CoL : Melander, 1965: 459 (catalogue); Yang et al., 2007: 134 (catalogue).

Type material examined. LECTOTYPE (here designated in order to fix identity of the species) ♂, labelled: “ Juliaetta [46°34′N 116°42′W]/ Idaho ”; “ E. falcata / TYPE Mel.”; “ALMelander/ Collection / 1965”; “ LECTOTYPE / Empis falcata Melander / des. Sinclair , Brooks &/ Cumming 2025 [red label]” [dissected] ( USNM). GoogleMaps

Notes on type specimens. This species was based on a single male from Berkely [sic], California (AMNH) and a male and female from Juliaetta , Idaho . Only a single male from Juliaetta has been found. It is suspected that the California specimen is not conspecific, given the distribution based on the additional material and the observation that many species in the Pacific Northwest at most only extend as far south as northern California .

Additional material examined. USA. Idaho: Idaho County: same data as holotype except, J.M. Aldrich (1♂, USNM); Clearwater NF , Hwy 12, Three Devils Picnic Area , 2–3 km W Lowell, 13.vi. 2014, 450 m, 46°08.155′N 115°38.681′W, small str., BJS (1♂, CNC) GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis. This species is distinguished from other species of the E. (En.) canaster species group by the short, broad, triad posteroventral process on the male hind tibia, digitiform posteroventral process of the male hind tibia comprising three closely appressed tufted lobes, and length of the dorsal setae on the male hind tibia only slightly longer than width of tibia ( Figs 88–90 View FIGURES 82–90 ).

Redescription. Wing length 6.8–7.5 mm. Male. Similar to E. (En.) canaster , except as follows: head with ocellar setae short, subequal to length of ocellar triangle. Occiput with single median row of short, stiff setae, shorter than ocellar setae, longer and finer ventrally; postocular setae with upper 2–3 setae slightly curved, short than ocellar setae, with lower postocular setae straight, half length of upper setae. Postpedicel and scape dark brown; scape and pedicel pale brown.

Thorax similarly patterned; margin of scutellum yellowish brown. Antepronotum with row of 4–5 pairs of short, dark setae. Postpronotum with 1 short seta and 4–5 short setae. Scutum with 1 posterior npl, with 1–2 short anterior npl setae; 0 presut spal, with several setulae; 1 very short psut spal; 1 pal. Scutellum with 1 pair of short sctl, separated by twice length of setae, with 1 outer, shorter pair of marginal setulae. Laterotergite with 1–2 setae.

Legs slender, yellowish, apical tarsi darker; coxae yellowish, without greyish pruinescence. Fore tibia without long posterior setae. Fore tarsomere 1 narrow; 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 with 2 preapical, paint brush-like ventral processes and outer, forked digitiform posteroventral process without setae; medial paint brush-like process arising directly from swelling on femur; outer paint brush-like process, short, with strong outer setae, outer setae of brush longer; short slender process posterior to paint brush-like processes; apex of femur without preapical row of posterior setae; preapical anterior seta strong, shorter than width of femur ( Figs 89, 90 View FIGURES 82–90 ). Hind tibia with posteroventral process comprising 3 closely appressed tufted lobes; outer lobe with apical setae longer than length of lobe; with seta in posteroapical comb; apical two-thirds with dorsal setae subequal to width of tibia ( Figs 88–90 View FIGURES 82–90 ). Hind tarsomere 1 not swollen, with dorsal setae, similar to tibia.

Wing with R 5 and M 1 slightly divergent near wing margin.

Abdomen with sternites yellowish; tergites greyish, paler than thorax; sparely clothed in pale setae. Sclerites of segment 8 narrowly separated. Terminalia ( Fig. 103 View FIGURES 102–103 ): orange brown, shiny with cercus dark brown. Cercus short, rectangular; dorsal margin slightly expanded basally; apex truncate; setae slightly longer than width of cercus. Subepandrium without process; with row of medium-length setae. Epandrial lamella subtriangular, higher than long; posterior margin somewhat truncate, without projection, bearing longer setae along posterior margin. Hypandrium short, truncate, with shallowly concave margin; numerous short setae present. Phallus very narrow and tubular basally; strongly expanded on basal half, tapered, mostly straight with apex partially curved; apex emerging beyond cercus; apex not expanded; ejaculatory apodeme longer than length of epandrium, T-shaped, with ventrally positioned lateral apodemes.

Female. Unknown.

Geographical distribution and seasonal occurrence ( Fig. 129 View FIGURES 129–130 ). Empis (En.) falcata is known from Idaho County in Idaho collected in June. Melander (1902, p. 326) mentioned an additional male from Berkeley, California (not located) that is probably not conspecific.

Nuptial gift presentation. Form unknown.