Acantholeria gorodkovi, Zeng & Chen & Yang, 2025

Acantholeria gorodkovi sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–19 View FIGURE 1 View FIGURES 2−5 View FIGURES 6−7 View FIGURES 8−12 View FIGURES 13−15 View FIGURES 16−19 )

Diagnosis. Crossveins r-m and upper edges of dm-m with obvious dark markings on membrane (present in both sexes), base of subcostal cell and ends of three longest longitudinal veins with dark markings (absent in female). Hind tibia (only male) with a poorly developed ventral swelling at middle (posterior view more easily observed). Cerci (only male) curved towards downward proximally, with bifurcation near base, ventral edge of bifurcation serrated. Surstylus gradually narrowed towards apex, broadly rounded at tip.

Description. Male: body length 4.9–5.8 mm, wing length 5.2–6.4 mm; female: body length 5.9–6.1 mm, wing length 6.3–6.6 mm. [ Holotype male, body length 5.8 mm, wing length 6.4 mm. Paratypes 1 male, same as holotype; 1 male, body length 4.9 mm, wing length 5.2 mm; 1 female, body length 5.9 mm, wing length 6.3 mm; 1 female, body length 6.1 mm, wing length 6.6 mm].

Male. Head ( Figs. 2–4 View FIGURES 2−5 ) mostly brownish orange, ocellar triangle and occiput slightly dark, gena brownish orange; eyes reddish brown. Head with gray pruinesence. Setulae and setae on head dark brown. Two pairs of fronto-orbital setae, anterior pair 1/3 as long as posterior pair; anterior pair thin and short, directed forward; posterior pair well-developed, perpendicular to the surface, with bent backward tip. Antenna brownish orange; pedicel with 1 dorsal seta and one row of circle setae. First flagellomere rounded, covered with velvet, 0.25 times as long as head height; arista pubescent, brownish, 3.5 times longer than first flagellomere, slightly thickened at base. Proboscis brownish yellow with one pair of vibrissae well developed and one row of well arranged setae on oral margin; setulae on proboscis brownish yellow. Palpus brownish yellow; subapical setae stronger than surrounding ones.

Thorax ( Figs. 1–3 View FIGURE 1 View FIGURES 2−5 ) mostly dark brown, mesonotum with grey pruinescence. Postpronotum and scutellum orange yellow, scutum tinged orange yellow along edges, scutellum with gradually narrowed light brown stripe running from base to central part. Setulae and setae on thorax dark brown. Postpronotum with 1 well developed postpronotal seta and 5 small setae; 1+3 dorsocentral setae, almost equal in length, approximately five irregular rows of acrostichal setae between them; a pair of prescutellar setae present. Scutellum rounded apically, with two pairs of scutellar setae. 1 well developed proepisternal seta, 2 very short and thin proepimeral setae half as long as proepisternal seta, and several shorter proepimeral setae. Katepisternum with 1 long seta and 6 very short and weak setae on upper edge; anepimeron and anepisternum bare.

Wing ( Fig. 5 View FIGURES 2−5 ) nearly hyaline, slightly tinged yellowish; veins yellowish orange. Crossveins r-m and upper edges of dm-m with obvious dark markings on membrane, base of subcostal cell and ends of three longest longitudinal veins with dark markings. Costal spines well developed. Calypter and alula nearly hyaline with pale setulae. Halter pale white.

Legs ( Figs. 1 View FIGURE 1 , 6–7 View FIGURES 6−7 ) yellow, except fore leg brownish yellow on outer and dorsal surfaces. Setulae and setae on legs dark brown. Fore femur with two irregular rows of antero-dorsal setae and one row of approximately 10 ventral setae; mid femur with 1 strong seta on proximal part; hind femur with 2 setae on proximal antero-dorsal part and one row of postero-ventral setae at middle. Fore tibia with 1 thin preapical dorsal seta; mid tibia with 1 well developed anterior apical seta and one circle of short apical setae; hind tibia with a poorly developed ventral swelling at middle (posterior view more easily observed) and 1 thin preapical dorsal seta. Tarsomere 4 of all legs slightly shorter than tarsomere 3 and 5.

Abdomen almost dark brown on tergites 2–5 and brownish orange on sternites 2–5, but apically yellowish orange. Setulae and setae on abdomen dark brown. Tergite 6 small.

Male genitalia ( Figs. 8–12 View FIGURES 8−12 ): Epandrium yellowish orange, with short sparse dark brown setae. Hypandrium symmetrical. Editum absent. Cerci curved downward proximally, with bifurcation near base, ventral edge of bifurcation serrated. Surstylus gradually narrowed towards apex, broadly rounded at tip.

Female ( Figs. 13–15 View FIGURES 13−15 ). Ocellar triangle and posteriorly extended area brown.Anterior pair of fronto-orbital setae perpendicular to the surface. Scutellum with a pair of short fine black setae on inner surface of anterior scutellar setae ( Fig. 14 View FIGURES 13−15 ). Upper edge of first flagellomere near base of arista slightly tinged light brown. Ends of three longitudinal veins of wing without distinct markings. Hind tibia without swelling. Tergites 7–8 yellowish orange.

Female genitalia ( Figs. 16–19 View FIGURES 16−19 ): Cerci yellow, symmetrical, extremely short, rounded at apex, with very short setae and long brownish yellow setulae at tip. Two spermathecae dark brown and well sclerotized ( Fig. 19 View FIGURES 16−19 ), one slightly compressed and spherical, other two identical in shape and grouped together, both branches encased in a transparent pale red membrane; spermathecal ducts colorless or slightly tinged with reddish brown.

Type material. Holotype ♂, China, Sichuan, Yajiang River [ 29°59'24.73"N, 100°54'24.73"E], 3579 m, 2019. VII. 1, Liang Wang ( CAU) GoogleMaps . Paratypes: 1♂ 1♀, same as holotype GoogleMaps ; 1♀, China, Qinghai, Tianjun, Yangkang Township [ 37°41'2.29"N, 98°38'18.51"E], 3570 m, 2021. VIII. 7, Qicheng Yang ( CAU) GoogleMaps .

Distribution. China ( Sichuan, Qinghai).

Remarks. The new species is similar to the Holarctic species Acantholeria moscowa Garrett, 1925 in the hind tibia with a poorly developed ventral swelling at middle and a bifurcation on cerci, but can be distinguished from it by the following characteristics: Crossveins r-m and upper edges of dm-m with obvious dark markings on membrane (in A. moscowa , hyaline wings without infuscation); cerci with a bifurcation near base (in A. moscowa , a bifurcation at apex); surstylus gradually narrowed towards apex, broadly rounded at tip (in A. moscowa , not narrowed at middle, almost parallel, extended to apex).

Etymology. The specific name A. gorodkovi is in honor of Dr. Kirill Borisovich Gorodkov, a distinguished scientist who worked at the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the taxonomic research of this genus.