Lamprometopia concavatogena ( Pape 1986 )

Szpila, Kozvpztof, Walczak, Kinga, Sopzvńpka, Agniepzka & Pape, Tomap, 2025, Fiopt data on eaolv inptao Afootoopical Miltogoamminae (Dipteoa: Saocophagidae) oeveal unexpected moophological diveopitv, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 203, pp. 1-13 : 5

Lamprometopia concavatogena ( Pape 1986)

( Figs 2A–L , 4D–F , 5C, D )

Material examined: Eighteen larvae from a single female:/ Namibia‘Welw’/ Namib-NaukluftNP /-23.54 126 15.29 55 9/22 Nov 2018/leg. KEiB Expedition//Lampr1/Namib.// Lamprom etopia / concavatogena /( Pape 1986)/det. K. Szpila /

Pseudocephalon: Antennal complex (an) large, antennal dome (and) oval, with rounded tip, antennal basal ring (abr) high ( Fig. 2A–D ); maxillary palpus (mp) shaped as a high, cylindrical protuberance ( Fig. 2A–C ), first sensillum basiconicum (sb1) long and with slightly swollen tip, shifted away from central cluster of sensilla toward medio-dorsal border of palpus, additional sensilla (ns1–ns2) large and both situated dorsally to central cluster of sensilla ( Fig. 2E ); ventral organ (vo) on slightly swollen, fleshy lobe ( Fig. 2A–C ), edge of sensillar pit with a few conical protuberances ( Fig. 2B ); laterally to the mouth opening a few (one to two) cirri/suprabuccal teeth (c/sbt) (Figs 2B, 5C); oral ridges (or) well developed ( Fig. 2A–C ); anterior surface of pseudocephalon with irregular cuticular warts, posterior surface with fine cuticular ridges ( Fig. 2A–C ).

Cephaloskeleton: Labrum (lb) straight but with anteriorpart bent down, tip pointed (Figs 4E, 5C, D); mouthhook (mh) with lateralarmat base, almostparallel-sided and veryslightly upcurved, pick-axe shaped with a single pointed tip directed about 45°C to longitudinal axis of mouthhook (Figs 4E, 5C, D); intermediate sclerite (is) slightly below base of labrum and parastomal bars (pb) in lateral view (Figs 4E, 5C, D), in ventral view intermediate sclerite longer than wide ( Fig. 4F ); parastomal bar long (Figs 4E, F, 5C, D); vertical plate (vp) slightly broader than ventral cornu (vc) and dorsal cornu (Figs 4E, 5C, D); dorsal bridge absent.

Toracic segments: Anterior spinose bands (asb) with from 5–6 (dorsal surfaces) to 11–12 (ventral surface of first segment) rows ofspines, spines arranged separately from each other ( Fig.2A–C ); lateral surface of first thoracic segment with aperture of anterior spiracle (as) ( Fig. 2C ); remaining area of thoracic segments with densely set cuticular ridges ( Fig. 2A–C ), ridges on dorsal and dorso-lateral surfaces fragmented, ridges on ventral and ventro-lateral surfaces continued along the entire length of segment ( Fig. 2A–C, F ); Kelin’s organ with short sensilla ( Fig. 2I ).

Abdominal segments: Spines of spinose bands on dorsal and lateral surfaces gradually changing to fragmented cuticular ridges along each segment ( Fig. 2F, G ), ventral spines smaller than lateral and dorsal ones, ventral surface with continued cuticular ridges ( Fig. 2H ); lateral creeping welts (lcw) developed and densely covered by spines/ ridges; ventral surface of a1–a7 with well-defined fusiform creeping welts (vcw) at the anterior margin of segments and anterior proleg (apr) pre-crevice proleg (prp) and posterior prolegs (pos) ( Fig.2H ).

Anal division: Spines of spinose bands on dorsal and lateral surfaces gradually changing to fragmented cuticular ridges along each segment, on ventral surface spines well defined, ventral surface posterior to the spines with continued cuticular ridges ( Fig. 2L ); spiracular field with slightly protruded papillae p1–p7 and irregular row of small spines ( Fig. 2J ); posterior spiracle (ps) with four peristigmatic tufts, each with five to seven branches ( Fig. 2J ); anal papillae (ap) rounded ( Fig. 2J, K ); anal tuft (at) with several spines ( Fig. 2J, K ).

Remarks: Gravid females were attracted to damaged termite commuter tunnels on a tree trunk and on the ground surface below the tree ( Fig. 7A–C ). Some first instar larvae developed successfully to the third instar by feeding on freshly killed blow flies ( Chrysomya albiceps ).

Figures

Figure 2. First instar larva of Lamprometopia concavatogena. A, anterior end, antero-lateral view. B, anterior end, ventral view. C, anterior end, lateral view. D, antennal complex. E, maxillary palpus.F, cuticular ridges, fifth abdominal segment. G, third abdominal segment, dorsal view. H, second abdominal segment, ventral papilla. I, first thoracic segment, Keilin’s organ. J, anal division, posterior view. K, posterior end, ventral view. L, posterior end, lateral view. Abbreviations: abr, antennal basal ring; an, antennal complex; and, antennal dome; apr, anterior proleg; ao, anal opening; ap, anal papilla; as, anterior spiracle; asb, anterior spinose band; at, anal tuft; c/sbt, cirri/suprabuccal teeth; lo, labial organ; mh, mouthhook; mp, maxillary palpus; ns1, first additional sensillum coeloconicum; ns2, second additional sensillum coeloconicum; or, oral ridges; p1–p7, papillae around spiracular field; pos, posterior proleg; ppr, pre-crevice proleg; ps, posterior spiracle; sb1–sb2, sensilla basiconica 1 and 2; sc1–sc3, sensilla coeloconica 1–3; vcw, ventral creeping welt; vo, ventral organ.

Figure 4. First instar larva of Afrotropical Miltogramminae. A, Hoplacephala sp., habitus, lateral view. B, Hoplacephala sp., cephaloskeleton, lateral view. C, Hoplacephala sp., cephaloskeleton, ventral view. D, Lamprometopia concavatogena, habitus, lateral view. E, L. concavatogena, cephaloskeleton, lateral view. F, L.concavatogena, cephaloskeleton, ventral view. G, Phylloteles picifons, habitus, lateral view. H, P. picifons, cephaloskeleton, lateral view. I, P. picifons, cephaloskeleton, ventral view. Abbreviations:a1–a7, abdominal segments; ad, anal division; ahs, additional horseshoe-shaped sclerite; dc, dorsal cornu; is, intermediate sclerite; la, lateral arm; lb, labrum; ls, labial sclerite; mh, mouthhook; pb, parastomal bar; pc, pseudocephalon; t1–t3, thoracic segments; vc, ventral cornu; vp, vertical plate.

Figure 5. CLMS images of first instar larva of Afrotropical Miltogramminae. A, Hoplacephala sp., anterior part of cephaloskeleton, lateral view. B, Hoplacephala sp., mid part of cephaloskeleton, lateral view. C, Lamprometopia concavatogena, cephaloskeleton, lateral view. D, L. concavatogena, cephaloskeleton, dorso-lateral view. E, Phylloteles picifons, cephaloskeleton, lateral view. F, P.picifons, dorso-lateral view. Abbreviations:ahs, additional horseshoe-shaped sclerite; c/sbt, cirri/suprabuccal teeth; dc, dorsal cornu; es, epistomal sclerite; is, intermediate sclerite; la, lateral arm; lb, labrum; ls, labial sclerite; mh, mouthhook; pb, parastomal bar; vc, ventral cornu; vp, vertical plate.

Fig. 7. Habitats and females of Miltogramminae. A, the tree in Homeb canyon, where gravid female of Lamprometopia concavatogena was collected. B, termites on the tree trunk. C, female of L. concavatogena on the ground at the trunk. D, termite nest tumulus with perching female of Phylloteles picifons (pointed by arrow). E, female of P.picifons at the top of tumulus. F, female P.picifons entering into the open corridor.