Empidideicus (Anomaloptilus) contrasticus Evenhuis & Gharali, 2022

Empidideicus (Anomaloptilus) contrasticus Evenhuis & Gharali , n. sp.

( Figs 7 View FIGURES 5–10 , 20 View FIGURES 20–22 , 26, 27 View FIGURES 25–33 , 41 View FIGURES 40–47 , 51, 52 View FIGURES 50–58 , 65, 66 View FIGURES 65–66 )

Types. Holotype ♂ and GoogleMaps 4♂, 3♀ paratypes from MADAGASCAR: Tulear Province: Parc National de Kirindy Mitea, 16.3 km SE Belo zur Mer, 80 m, 20°47′43″S, 44°8′49″E, 6–10 Dec 2001, Fisher & Griswold, Malaise trap in tropical dry forest, code: BLF-4730 ( CAS). GoogleMaps Other paratypes from MADAGASCAR: Majunga Province: 7♂, Ampijoroa (Andranofasika) National Park , 46 m, 16°19.16′S, 46°48.80′E, 9/ 20 Nov 2003, hand net in deciduous forest, M.E. Irwin, R. Harin’Hala ( CASLOT 014437 ); GoogleMaps 2♀, same data except 22/ 28 Sep 2003, MG 25 _16 ( CAS); GoogleMaps Toliara Province: 13♂, 7♀, Parc National de Tsimanampetsotsa , Forêt de Bemanateza , 20.7 km E. Efoetse, 23°59′32″S, 43°52′50″E, 90 m, 22–26 Mar 2002, B. Fisher, T. Griswold et al., Malaise trap in spiny forest thicket, coll. code: BLF6257 ( CAS); GoogleMaps Tulear Province: 3♂, Mikea Forest , NW of Manombo, 22°54.8′S, 43°28.93′E, 23 Jul–6 Aug 2002, M.E. Irwin, R. Harin’Hala, Malaise trap, spiny forest ( CASLOT 024700 ); GoogleMaps 1♂ (dissected), same data except 29 Apr–9 May 2002 ( CASLOT 0246652 ); GoogleMaps 1♀, Cape Ste. Marie Special Reserve , 37 m, 74 km S. of Tsishombe, 25°35.26′S, 45°09.78′E, 22–29 Jun 2003, M. Irwin, F. Parker, Malaise trap, spiny bush ( CASLOT 024750 ); GoogleMaps 2♂, 1♀, same data except 18–23 Dec 2002 ( CASLOT 024735 ); GoogleMaps 1♂, 1♀, same data except 30 Apr–11 May 2002 ( CASLOT 024746 ); 2m, same data except 9–15 Dec 2002 ( CASLOT 024734 ) GoogleMaps . Holotype in CAS . Paratypes in CAS and BPBM .

Diagnosis. Most similar to E. ( A.) irwini n. sp. based on the extremely short proboscis, but can be separated from it by the black scutellum (yellow in E. ( A.) irwini n. sp.) and the dichoptic eyes below the level of the antennae (eyes below antennae holoptic or nearly so in E. ( A.) irwini n. sp.).

Description:

Male ( Fig. 7 View FIGURES 5–10 ). Length: 0.98–1.20 mm. Wing: 1.00– 1.10 mm. Head ( Fig. 20 View FIGURES 20–22 ): globular, wider than high; eyes dichoptic below antennae, separated at vertex by 1.5× distance between lateral ocelli; occiput and postgena black; frons slightly depressed medially, white small black dot medially; face white narrow, tip of oral margin brown; antennae (cf. Fig. 24 View FIGURES 23–24 ) brown; scape short, subtrapezoidal; pedicel subconical, wider than long; first flagellomere linear-lanceolate, length 2.5× width; second flagellomere minute, length one-eighth that of first flagellomere, with minute transparent apical style; mentum white; clypeus brown, short, not extending beyond tip of oral margin; proboscis brown, slightly exerted from oral margin, labellum stiff, pointed apically; palpus not evident.

Thorax ( Fig. 26 View FIGURES 25–33 ). Mesonotum and scutellum matte brownish black with yellowish white to white markings in following areas: broad dorsolateral band from humeral callus to postalar callus, interhumeral mark large, coalesced with that on humeral callus; mesonotal disc and dorsum of scutellum with short fine brown hairs; pleura bare; pleura predominantly yellow with brown on following: anteroventral corner of anepisternum and anepimeron, ventral third of meron; halter stem white, knob white with brown dorsally.

Legs. Coxae and femora brownish; rest of legs white except tarsal segments 4 and 5 brown.

Wing ( Fig. 41 View FIGURES 40–47 ). Relatively short, length 2.3× width; subhyaline; veins brown; costa ends slightly beyond end of R 4+5; vein Sc incomplete; Rs faded at connection with R 1; R 4+5 straight to wing margin, ending at level of end of M 2; vein M 1 curved to wing margin; M 2 straight; cell dm closed by apical tiny crossvein; A 1 evanescent, visible as fold, straight to wing margin; anal cell open at wing margin; fringe of hair on posterior margin of wing well shortest at wing tip becoming longer and more sparse toward base.

Abdomen ( Fig. 51 View FIGURES 50–58 ). Dorsum brownish black, tergites with thin white band along posterior margin, broad white laterally; tergites with sparsely scattered white hairs; sternites brown.

Genitalia ( Fig. 65 View FIGURES 65–66 ). Hypopygium white, some brown on gonocoxites. Epandrium subquadrate in lateral view with small, rounded apicoventral process; gonocoxa somewhat sickle-shaped in lateral view, subglobular in ventral view, with rounded subrectangular gonostylus bearing pointed apical process, with thin dark sclerotization basally; lateral arms of parameral sheath extending below gonocoxa, thin, rounded apically; aedeagal bulb large, rounded; parameral sheath narrow, almost as long as aedeagus, aedeagal apodeme peanut-shaped with foliate lateral rami.

Female: As in male except: Thorax ( Fig. 27 View FIGURES 25–33 ) with prescutellar area and fine vittae that connect to interhumeral area with yellow color; scutellum pale yellowish brown to admixture of pale yellowish brown and darker brown; pleura with less brown on pleurites; abdomen ( Fig. 52 View FIGURES 50–58 ) with tergite I brown with yellow band posteriorly; tergites II-V brown medially (becoming narrower on succeeding segments), brown pattern with concavity of admedially coalesced with posterior yellow (concavity sometimes with one or more brown spots), tergites white laterally; sternites white. Genitalia ( Fig. 66 View FIGURES 65–66 ) with deeply concave M-shaped genital fork, depressed medial portion thicker than thin arms of “M”; spermatheca ovoid, with wide papillate apex on apical one-fourth; with invagination set in larger depression, striations on basal three-fourths; apical spermathecal duct thin, length subequal to sperm pump; sperm pump translucent, appearing corrugated, without visible apical or basal valves, leading to short lightly sclerotized common duct; basal duct confluent with common duct.

Etymology. The specific epithet derives from the Latin contrasticus , referring to the contrasting black and white pattern of the thorax.