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

Empis (Enoplempis) chillcotti sp. nov.

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( Figs 94–96 View FIGURES 94–99 , 101 View FIGURES 100–101 , 129 View FIGURES 129–130 )

Type material. HOLOTYPE ♂ ( Fig. 94 View FIGURES 94–99 ), labelled: “Lakelse L. [54°23′N 128°31′W] bog/ nr. Terrace , B.C./ 14.VI 1960 / J.G. Chillcott ”; “on Ledum/ blossoms”; “ CNC/ 1078367 View Materials ”; “ HOLOTYPE / Empis (Enoplempis) / chillcotti Sinclair ,/ Brooks & Cumming [red label]” ( CNC) GoogleMaps . PARATYPES: CANADA. British Columbia: Same data as holotype (2♂, 10♀, CNC) GoogleMaps ; same data as holotype except, S of Terrace , 27.vi.1960, B. Heming (1♀, CNC) GoogleMaps ; Haida Gwaii, Graham Is., Lepus Bay [54.166°N 133.033°W], intertidal, 15.vii.1988, S.A. Marshall (1♀, DEBU) GoogleMaps ; Kleanza Ck , 14 mi. E Terrace [54°35′N 128°24′W], 250 ft, 17.vi.1960, B. Heming (2♂, CNC) GoogleMaps ; same data except, CHM (1♂, CNC) GoogleMaps ; same data except, wet scrub in cut over forest, JGC (1♂, CNC) GoogleMaps ; same data except, 29.vi,1960, wet scrubby clearing, (2♂, CNC) GoogleMaps ; same data except, on liliaceous undergrowth hemlock forest (1♂, 1♀, CNC) GoogleMaps ; Hot Springs Area , Lakelse L. [54°21′N 128°32′W], 14.vi.1960, G.E. Shewell (2♂, CNC) GoogleMaps ; Lakelse L. nr Terrace [54°23′N 128°31′W], 300 ft, 14.vi.1960, W.W. Moss (3♂, 4♀, CNC) GoogleMaps ; same data except, R. Pilfrey (1♀, CNC) GoogleMaps ; 9 mi. W Terrace [54°27′N 128°47′W], 3.vi.1960, B.S. Herring [sic] (4♂, 1♀, CNC) GoogleMaps ; same data except 10 mi. W Terrace , 9.vi.1960, JGC (1♂, CNC) GoogleMaps ; Prince Rupert [54°18′N 130°19′W], 4.vi.1960, B. Heming (2♂, 1♀, CNC) GoogleMaps ; Victoria, Mt Douglas [48.4933°N 123.3453°W], 3.vi.1959, E.E. MacDougall (1♀, CNC) GoogleMaps ; Zymoetz R, 6 mi. E Terrace [54°32′N 128°28′W], 3.vi.1960, JGC (3♂, 1♀, CNC) GoogleMaps . USA. Alaska: Kenai Peninsula Borough: Seward [60°07′N 149°26′W], 26.vii.1921 (2♂, USNM) GoogleMaps . Washington: Clallum County: Olympic NP, meadow below Sunrise Ridge, Mt Angeles [47°59′N 123°28′W], 1550 m, 24.vii.1978, DDW (1♂, CAS) GoogleMaps . Mason County: Lk. Cushman [47°25′N 123°13′W], 27.vi.1917, H.G. Dyar (1♂, USNM) GoogleMaps . San Juan County: Mt Constitution [48°40′N 122°49′W], 17.v.1910 (3♂, 1♀, USNM) GoogleMaps . Yakima County: 8 mi. SW Tieton RS, Snoqualmie NF, Bear Ck [46°42′N 120°45′W], 11–12.vi.1973, D. Corredor (1♂, WSU) GoogleMaps ; same data except, MT with dry ice, WJT (1♂, WSU) GoogleMaps ; same data except, 24–25.vi.1973 (1♀, WSU) GoogleMaps .

Possible additional material (unassociated female). USA. Alaska: Thane [58°15′N 134°19′W], 1.vii.1952 (1♀, USNM) GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis. This species is distinguished from other species of the E. (En.) canaster species group by two paint brush-like preapical ventral lobes on the male hind femur, two digitiform basal processes on the male hind tibia ( Figs 95, 96 View FIGURES 94–99 ), hypandrium with long setae, and the length of the dorsal setae of the male hind tibia less than twice width of tibia ( Fig. 94 View FIGURES 94–99 ).

Description. Wing length 6.5–7.6 mm. Male. Similar to E. (En.) canaster , except as follows: head with ocellar triangle with pair of short, parallel ocellar setae, nearly subequal to length of triangle. Postpedicel and stylus dark; inner base of postpedicel, pedicel and scape yellowish brown.

Thorax with postpronotum with 1–2 short setae and several short setulae. Scutum with short, fine uniserial acr; dc uniserial, slightly longer, stronger than acr, increasing in length posteriorly; 1 long posterior npl, with several short anterior npl; 1 short presut spal; 0–1 psut spal; 1 short pal. Scutellum with 1 widely separated pair of long sctl, aligned with dc row, with 1 outer, shorter pair of marginal setulae; disc bare. Laterotergite with narrow patch of 2–3 strong, dark setae.

Legs slender, yellow, apex of tibiae and tarsi darker; coxae yellowish, thinly clothed in greyish pruinescence ( Fig. 94 View FIGURES 94–99 ). Fore femur clothed in short, black setae. Fore tibia with 3–4 long anterodorsal and posterodorsal setae on apical third, longer than width of tibia; apical half with long posterior setae; ring of outstanding preapical setae; anterior face clothed in dense short setulae. Fore tarsomere 1 swollen, as broad as basal width of tibia, with long, strong ventral setae, nearly as long as width of tarsomere; tarsomeres 2–5 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 clothed in short, black setae, with anteroventral row of short, slender setae. Mid tibia with 3–4 posterior and posteroventral setae, subequal to width of femur; several preapical setae surrounding apex; 3–4 anterodorsal and posterodorsal setae, subequal to width of femur. Mid tarsus similar to fore tarsus. Hind femur with 2 preapical, paint brush-like ventral processes and outer curved posteroventral digitiform process without setae; outer paint brush-like process broader than inner paint brush-like process; without knob-like process or ridge 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 95, 96 View FIGURES 94–99 ). Hind tibia with narrow posteroventral digitiform process on basal quarter, with black setae along margin and apex, longer than process; anteroventral digitiform process similar to posteroventral process with long setae confined to apex, with knob-like swelling at base; with seta in posteroapical comb; apical two-thirds with long dorsal setae, longer apically, slightly longer than width of tibia ( Figs 95, 96 View FIGURES 94–99 ). Hind tarsomere 1 somewhat inflated, with 2 pairs of long dorsal setae, similar to tibia; tarsomeres 2–5 similar to mid tarsus.

Abdomen with sclerites of segment 8 narrowly separated, fused anteriorly. Terminalia ( Fig. 101 View FIGURES 100–101 ): orange brown, shiny with cercus dark brown. Cercus rectangular, subequal to length of epandrium; dorsal margin depression medially; apex truncate, strongly sclerotized; setae longer than width of cercus; weakly fused anteriorly to epandrium. Subepandrium without process; with row of medium-length setae. Epandrial lamella subtriangular, higher than long; posterior margin rounded without projection, with setae concentrated along posterior margin; setae shorter than epandrium. Hypandrium short, truncate, slightly projected laterally; numerous setae of variable lengths present, some twice length of hypandrium. Phallus very narrow and tubular basally; strongly expanded on basal half, tapered, mostly straight apically; apex not emerging beyond cercus; apex not expanded; ejaculatory apodeme longer than length of epandrium, T-shaped, with ventrally positioned lateral apodemes.

Female. Similar to male, except as follows: frons broader, nearly as wide as ocellar triangle; hindleg without modified setae and processes. Abdominal pleural membrane apparently not expanded; tergite 8 subshiny, with thin pruinescence.

Geographical distribution and seasonal occurrence ( Fig. 129 View FIGURES 129–130 ). Empis (En.) chillcotti sp. nov. is known from Alaska, British Columbia and Washington. Adults have been collected from May to July.

Etymology. This species is named in honour of the late James (Jim) G. Chillcott (CNC), who collected the holotype and many other valuable empidoid specimens.

Nuptial gift presentation. Form unknown.