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

Sinclair, Bradley J., Brooks, Scott E. & Cumming, Jeffrey M., 2025, Revision of the western Nearctic species of Empis subgenus Enoplempis (Diptera: Empididae), Zootaxa 5615 (1), pp. 1-200 : 52-55

Empis (Enoplempis) fitzgeraldi sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:2827270C-55EA-4495-8117-B9B5D86923EA

( Figs 4 , 104–106 , 110 , 130 )

Type material. HOLOTYPE ♂, labelled:“USA: OR: Benton Co. / Corvallis , Lewisburg Saddle , below Old / Growth Trail, 44°38′32.28″N / 123°17′20.76″W, Malaise trap,/ over creek, 23.iv.-6.v.2013, S./ Fitzgerald CNC350419 ”; “ HOLOTYPE / Empis (Enoplempis) / fitzgeraldi Sinclair ,/ Brooks & Cumming [red label]” ( CNC) . PARATYPES: CANADA. British Columbia: Agassiz [49°14′N 121°46′W], 22.v.1922, R. Glendenning (1♂, USNM) ; same data except, 1.v.1924 (1♂, USNM) ; Bowser [49°26′N 124°40′W], 31.v.1955, R. Coyles (1♂, CNC) ; same data except, 7.vi.1955 (1♀, CNC) . USA. California: Marin County: Lk. Lagunitas [37°56′51″N 122°35′46″W], 30.iii.1961, D.Q. Cavagnaro (1♂, UCDC) ; Lagunitas [38°0′N 122°42′W], 20.iii.1952, K.W Tucker (1♂, UCDC) ; Lily Pond , Alpine Lk. [37°56′N 122°38′W], 1500 ft, 18.iii–1.iv.1971, MT, D.D. Munroe (1♀, CNC) ; same data except, 11.iv– 9.v.1970 (1♂, 4♀, CNC) ; same data except, 15–25.v.1971 (1♂, CNC) ; Lily Lk. [37°56′N 122°38′W], Mt Tamalpais , 10.iv.1978, DDW (1♂, CAS) ; Mill Valley [37°54ʹN 122°33ʹW], 10.iv.1926 (1♂, CAS) ; same data except, 11.iv.1926 (1♂, CAS) ; same data except, 10.iii.1926, E.P. Van Duzee (1♂, CAS) ; same data except, 19.iv.1950, at light, H.B. Leech (1♂, CAS) ; Mt Tamalpais [37°55′N 122°34′W] along Cataract and Kent Trails, 12.iv.1979, DDW (1♂, CAS) ; Tocaloma [38°03′N 122°45′W], 14.iv.1962, C.W. O’Brian (1♂, EMEC) . Mendocino County: UC Hopland Field Sta. [39°00′N 123°04′W], 1.v.1969, MT with dry ice, WJT (2♂, WSU) ; same data except, nr H.Q., 20.iv.1969 (1♂, 1♀, WSU) ; No. Cal. Coast Range Pres. , 5 mi. N Branscomb, 26.v.1976, JAP (1♂, EMEC) ; same data except, 1400 ft, 12–14.v.1978, JAP (1♂, EMEC) ; NCCRP, 3 mi. N Branscomb [39°42′N 123°39′W], 1400 ft, 30.iv.1977, K. Yagi (1♂, EMEC) ; same data except, C. Nawalinski (1♂, EMEC) ; same data except, 18–20.iv.1980, J. R. Wilson (1♂, EMEC) ; same data except, 30–31.v.1980, E. Waits (1♂, EMEC) . San Mateo County: Sky Londa [37°23′N 122°15′W], 25.iii.1943, PHA (1♂, 1♀, USNM) ; Woodside [37°25′N 122°15′W], 4.iv.1906 (1♂, LACM) ; same data except, R. W. Doane (1♂, LACM; 1♀, USNM) . Santa Clara County : Alum Rock Pk [37.3977°N 121.7996°W], San Jose, 5.iv.1906 (1♂, USNM) ; KPC 11-06 , Monte Bello Open Space Pres. , Stevens Ck Tr., 37.32575°N 122.1792°W, 16.iv.2011, K. Collins et al. (3♂, CNC) ; Stanford U. [37°25′N 122°10′W], 9.iii.1906 (1♂, USNM) . Santa Cruz County: 2 mi. N Ben Lomond [37°4′N 122°5′W], 19.iii.1961, D.F. Veirs (1♂, LACM) . Solano County: Cold Cyn Reserve [38°30′N 122°5′W], 17–18.iv.1982, L.G. Bezark (1♂ with Tipuloidea prey) ; Green Valley [38°15′N 122°9′W], 20.iii.1936 (1♂, CAS) ; same data except, 2.iv.1952, R. M. Bohart (16♂, 1♀, UCDC) . Sonoma County: Big Sulfur Ck [38°44′N 122°42′W], 18.iv.1990, E. Bergly (1♂, CSUC) . Oregon: Benton County: same data as holotype except, CNC350415 (1♂, CNC) ; same data as holotype except, 23.iv–6.v.2013, CNC351182 (1♀, CNC) ; 0.5 mi. W Adair A.F. Sta. [44°40′N 123°13′W], 15.v.1969, E.M. Fisher (1♂, CNC) ; Corvallis, 3430 NW Deer Run St. , 44°36′6″N 123°18′51″W, 20.iv–6.vi.2018, MT, SJF (1♂, CNC) ; 4 mi. up Woods Ck Rd jct. Hwy 20, [44.5440°N 123.5030°W], sweep banks of Woods Ck, 22.iv.2013, SJF (2♂, CNC) ; 5 mi. up Woods Ck Rd jct. Hwy 20, ca 44.544022°N 123.503047°W, 15.v.2014, mixed woods & creek banks, SJF (1♂, CNC) ; 6.4 mi. up Woods Ck Rd from jct. Hwy 20 [44°32′N 123°31′W], MT across old road, fir/alder/maple, 12.iv–5.vi.2015, SJF (1♂, CNC) ; Sulfur Springs , 6 mi. N Corvallis [44°38′N 123°18′W], 8.v.1956, W.J. Hogg (1♂, RBCM) . Coos County: ca 3 mi. SE Remote, Rock Ck , 42°59′27″N 123°51′41″W, 28.v.2009, SEB (1♂, CNC) ; same data except, J.M. Cumming (1♀, CNC) ; Rogue R / Siskiyou NF, Coquille R Falls Tr. #1257, ca 42.713657°N 124.022767, 24.v.2014, SJF (1♂, CNC) . Lane County: Oakridge , 18 mi. NW [43°52′N 122°42′W], 12.v.1969, E.M. & J.L. Fisher (11♂, 12♀, CSCA; 1♂, 1♀, CAS) . Washington: King County: L. Sammamish SP [47°33′N 122°03′W], 6.v.1969 (1♂, ODAC) . San Juan County: Mt Constitution [48°40′N 122°49′W], 17.v.1910 (1♂, USNM) . Whatcom County: Bellingham [48°45′N 122°29′W], 15.v.1910 (1♂, USNM) .

Diagnosis. This species is distinguished from other species of the E. (En.) canaster species group by the distinctly yellow coxae contrasting with the grey pleura, and male hind tibia with large, concave anteroventral lobe with apical border fringed with long, appressed black setae ( Figs 4 , 104–106 ).

Description. Wing length 6.0– 8.4 mm. Male. Head dark in ground-colour, with greyish pruinescence. Dichoptic, upper ommatidia not enlarged. Frons divergent towards antennae; narrowest section of frons equal to width of anterior ocellus; with short setulae along inner margin of eye. Face without setae; slightly divergent towards mouthparts, with oral margin dark and shiny. Ocellar triangle elevated, with thin greyish pruinescence, with divergent ocellar setae, shorter than upper postocular setae; several short posterior setulae. Occiput with single median row of strong, stiff setae, shorter than upper postocular setae, longer and finer ventrally; postocular setae with upper 2–3 setae strong with upper portion strong arched, with lower postocular setae straight, half length of upper setae; postocellar region without setae. Antenna dark; scape slightly more than 2× longer than pedicel, with short, black setae; pedicel with ring of apical setae; postpedicel long and tapered, more than 3× longer than basal width; stylus slightly more than 1.5× longer than basal width of postpedicel. Palpus pale, yellowish brown, with dark setulae. Proboscis yellowish to reddish brown, with apex and base darker, length less than 2× head height; labellum with short, dark setae.

Thorax dark in ground-colour, densely grey pruinescent. Scutum with 2 pairs of broad brownish vittae running between setal rows; lateral pair extending beyond prescutellar depression; apex of postpronotal lobe shiny yellowish brown; postalar ridge pale brown. Proepisternum with short, dark setae on lower section; upper proepisternum in front of spiracle without setae. Prosternum bare. Antepronotum with row of 4–5 setae divided into two lateral groups. Postpronotum with 1 long seta and several short, dark stiff setae. Scutum with short, fine uniserial acr; dc uniserial, slightly longer, stronger than acr, increasing in length posteriorly; 1 strong posterior npl, with 1–3 short anterior npl; 1 very short presut spal; 1 psut spal; 1 pal. Scutellum with 1 widely separated pair of sctl, aligned with dc row, slightly longer than pprn; 2 outer, shorter pairs of marginal setulae; disc bare. Laterotergite with row of 3–5 strong, dark setae. Anterior and posterior spiracles pale.

Legs long, slender, with coxae and femora yellow to yellowish brown and apex of tibiae and tarsi darker; coxae sometimes with thin greyish pruinescence ( Fig. 104 ). Coxae with stiff, black setae. Hind trochanter with short black setae. Fore femur clothed in short, black setae. Fore tibia with 1–2 short anterodorsal setae, shorter than width of tibia; several outstanding preapical setae; anterior face clothed in dense short setulae. Fore tarsomere 1 slender; 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. Mid femur clothed in short, black setae. Mid tibia with 3–4 posterior and posteroventral setae, subequal to width of tibia; 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 short anteroventral process with long crown of laterally projecting appressed setae, nearly twice length of process; narrow hooked lobe medial to anteroventral process; apex of femur with rounded posterior lobe; without preapical row of posterior setae; preapical anterior seta strong, shorter than width of femur ( Figs 105, 106 ). Hind tibia with large, concave anteroventral lobe with apical border fringed with long, appressed black setae; posteroventral lobe with broad, flattened base, with narrow distal branch bearing tuft of obliquely directed setae; with seta in posteroapical comb; anterodorsal and posterodorsal setae long and denser apically, slightly longer than width of tibia ( Figs 104–106 ). Hind tarsomere 1 somewhat inflated, with distinct dorsal setae; tarsomeres 2–5 similar to mid tarsus.

Wing infuscate with dark veins, darker about node of radial fork; all veins complete (except Sc), well sclerotized. Basal costal seta absent. R 5 and M 1 parallel near wing margin; R 5 ending posterior to wing tip; radial fork acute. Halter pale, yellowish brown.

Abdomen dark, with dense greyish pruinescence, concolourous with scutum. Pregenital segments unmodified, except sclerites of segment 8 narrowly separated, weakly narrowly fused anteriorly. Terminalia ( Fig. 110 ): brown. Cercus short, rectangular; dorsal margin concave near mid-length; apex rounded and somewhat expanded; setae shorter than width of cercus; weakly fused anteriorly to epandrium. Subepandrium without process; with row of medium-length setae. Epandrial lamella oval, longer than height; posterior margin without projection, broadly rounded; posterior margin with short setae. Hypandrium short, truncate, not projected laterally; without setae. Phallus very narrow and tubular basally; expanded on basal half, tapered, strongly curved apically; apex emerging beyond cercus; apex narrow, tapered; ejaculatory apodeme slightly shorter 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 not visible; tergite 8 shiny.

Geographical distribution and seasonal occurrence ( Fig. 130 ). Empis (En.) fitzgeraldi sp. nov. is known from southern British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and northern and central California. Adults have been collected from March to June.

Etymology. This species is named after fellow dipterist Scott J. Fitzgerald, who collected the holotype.

Nuptial gift presentation. A male specimen was examined with an unwrapped crane fly (Tipuloidea) prey item pinned below the specimen. This may indicate that males of this species present unwrapped prey to females as nuptial gifts.

Figures

FIGURES 4–5. Empis (Enoplempis) species in situ. 4, E. (En.) fitzgeraldi sp. nov. in Benton Co., Oregon (photograph by Connor Dooley); 5, E. (En.) genista sp. nov. in Los Angeles Co., California (photograph by Graham Montgomery).

FIGURES 104–109. Male habitus and hindleg of the E. (Enoplempis) canaster species group. 104, E. (En.) fitzgeraldi sp. nov., habitus, lateral view; 105, same, hind femur tibia joint, anterior view; 106, same, hind femur tibia joint, posterior view; 107, E. (En.) safra sp. nov., habitus (holotype), lateral view; 108, same, hind femur tibia joint, anterior view; 109, same, hind femur tibia joint, posterior view.

FIGURES 110–111. Male terminalia of the E. (Enoplempis) canaster species group, lateral view. 110, E. (En.) fitzgeraldi sp. nov.; 111, E. (En.) safra sp. nov.

FIGURES 129–130. Known geographical distribution of the E. (Enoplempis) canaster species group. 129, E. (En.) arizonensis sp. nov., E. (En.) canaster Melander, E. (En.) chillcotti sp. nov., E. (En.) contrasta sp. nov. and E. (En.) falcata Melander; 130, E. (En.) fitzgeraldi sp. nov., E. (En.) safra sp. nov., E. (En.) sagehenensis sp. nov., E. (En.) spokanensis sp. nov., E. (En.) subcanaster sp. nov. and E. (En.) sp. A.