Parapterogramma pugioformis, Kuwahara & Marshall & Luk, 2025

Kuwahara, Gregory K., Marshall, Stephen A. & Luk, Stephen P. L., 2025, A revision of Parapterogramma Papp and Pseudopterogramma Papp, with a review of the Parapterogramma genus group of the Pacific and Indomalayan regions (Diptera, Sphaeroceridae, Limosininae), European Journal of Taxonomy 998, pp. 1-124 : 56-61

Parapterogramma pugioformis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:11B040B0-DEAE-4211-A49F-37CA54337CAB

Figs 31–33 , 41D , 42

Etymology

The species name (from the Latin ‘ pugio ’, ‘dagger’ and suffix ‘ -formis ’, ‘having the form of’) refers to the dagger-shaped male postgonite.

Material examined

Holotype

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • ♂; Atherton Tablelands, Lake Eacham, Chambers Lodge ; 6–8 Apr. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; dung; QMBA debu00163634.

Paratypes

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; QMBA • 5 ♂♂; Cape Tribulation , 40 km N of Daintree; 10 m a.s.l.; 12–17 Jul. 1982; S. Peck leg.; rainforest, carrion trap; DEBU • 5 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; QMBA • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; 1 km SW of Kauri Creek ; 17°09′ S, 145°35′ E; 700 m a.s.l.; 10–11 Feb. 1999; D.J. Cook leg.; rainforest, dung pitfall; DEBU • 1 ♂, 4 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; fungus pitfall; QMBA • 12 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; Wonga Beach , 10 km S of Daintree; 15–16 Apr. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; low forest, dung; DEBU • 14 ♂♂; same collection data as for preceding; QMBA .

PAPUA NEW GUINEA • 20 ♂♂, 16 ♀♀; 29 km N of Port Moresby, Brown River ; 3 m a.s.l.; 14–15 Jul. 1974; S. Peck leg.; forest dung; CNCI • 4 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀; 30.5 km N of Port Moresby, Brown River ; 3 m a.s.l.; 14–15 Jul. 1974; S. and J. Peck leg.; forest dung; CNCI • 7 ♂♂, 9 ♀♀; Kokoda Trail, Iora Creek, 17 km S of Kokoda; 1400 m a.s.l.; 3–6 Aug. 1976; O. Kukal leg.; dung; CNCI • 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Kokoda Trail, Iora Creek, 23 km S of Kokoda, Templeton’s Crossing; 1900 m a.s.l.; 6–8 Aug. 1976; O. Kukal leg.; dung; CNCI • 7 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; Kokoda Trail, Karai River, Manari; 700 m a.s.l.; 12–14 Jul. 1976; O. Kukal leg.; dung; CNCI • 4 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀; Kokoda Trail, Ofi Creek, 8 km SW of Naoro; 650 m a.s.l.; 15–18 Aug. 1976; O. Kukal leg.; lowland forest, dung; CNCI .

Other material examined

AUSTRALIA – Queensland • 2 ♂♂; 1 km NW of Buchan Point ; 16°44′ S, 145°39′ E; 10 m a.s.l.; 3–11 Feb. 1999; Monteith and Cook leg.; open forest, fish pitfall; QMBA • 3 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀; Buchan Point ; 16°44′ S, 145°39′ E; 5 m a.s.l.; 11–13 Feb. 1999; G.B. Monteith leg.; rainforest, dung pitfall; QMBA • 1 ♂; Cape Tribulation , 40 km N of Daintree; 10 m a.s.l.; 12–15 Jul. 1982; S. Peck leg.; dung trap; DEBU • 3 ♂♂; Cooktown, Keating’s Gap ; 100 m a.s.l.; 28–31 Jun. 1982; S. and J. Peck leg.; rainforest, carrion; DEBU • 10 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; dung trap; DEBU • 7 ♀♀; Fitzroy Island , site 2; 16°56′ S, 145°59′ E; 40 m a.s.l.; 19–21 Apr. 1999; G.B. Monteith leg.; transition to rainforest, dung trap; QMBA • 6 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; site 4; 15 m a.s.l.; QMBA • 1 ♀; 2.5 km S of Hartley’s Cree ; 16°40′ S, 145°34′ E; 10 m a.s.l.; 3–11 Feb. 1999; Monteith and Cook leg.; open forest, fish pitfall; QMBA • 2 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀; 4 km S of Hartley’ s Creek ; 16°41′ S, 145°35′ E; 5 m a.s.l.; 3–11 Feb. 1999; Monteith and Cook leg.; littoral rainforest, fish pitfall; QMBA • 2 ♀♀; same collection as for preceding; dung pitfall; QMBA • 2 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; fungus pitfall; QMBA • 3 ♂♂; 2 km E of Kauri Creek ; 17°08′ S, 145°37′ E; 680 m a.s.l.; 10–11 Feb. 1999; D.J. Cook leg.; rainforest, dung pitfall; QMBA • 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; fungus pitfall; QMBA • 5 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Kuranda State Forest , 3 km N of Kuranda; 360 m a.s.l.; 25 Jun.–3 Aug. 1982; S. Peck leg.; rainforest, flight intercept trap; DEBU • 3 ♀♀; Lacey’ s Creek, 10 km SE of El Arish, near Mission Beach ; 40 m a.s.l.; 23 Jun.–5 Aug. 1982; S. and J. Peck leg.; rainforest, flight intercept trap; DEBU • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀; Lake Euramoo ; 17°10′ S, 145°36′ E; 700 m a.s.l.; 10–11 Feb. 1999; D.J. Cook leg.; rainforest, dung pitfall; QMBA • 3 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; fungus pitfall; Monteith and Cook leg.; QMBA • 14 ♂♂; Mossman Gorge National Park , 6 km SW of Mossman; 50 m a.s.l.; 11–18 Jul. 1982; S. and J. Peck leg.; rainforest, carrion trap; DEBU • 9 ♂♂; Mount Finnigan Slopes , 30 km S of Cooktown; 400 m a.s.l.; 2–5 Jul. 1982; S. and J. Peck leg.; rainforest, carrion trap; DEBU • 2 ♂♂; same collection data as for preceding; dung trap; DEBU • 5 ♂♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; litter and fungi; DEBU • 1 ♂; Mount Hypipamee National Park ; 11–17 Apr. 1999; S.A. Marshall leg.; dung; DEBU • 5 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Noah Creek , 20 km N of Daintree; 4 m a.s.l.; 12–18 Aug. 1982; S. Peck leg.; rainforest, carrion trap; DEBU • 2 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀; Oak Beach ; 16°36′ S, 145°31′ E; 5 m a.s.l.; 3–11 Feb. 1999; Monteith and Cook leg.; rainforest, fish pitfall; QMBA • 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; fungus pitfall; QMBA • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀; Palmerston National Park, near Innisfail ; 360 m a.s.l.; 2–5 Aug. 1982; S. and J. Peck leg.; carrion trap; DEBU • 2 ♂♂; Rex Range ; 16°31′ S, 145°23′ E; 90 m a.s.l.; 3–11 Feb. 1999; Monteith and Cook leg.; open forest, fish and fungus pitfall; QMBA • 6 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Rex Range , 12 km S of Mossman; 400 m a.s.l.; 10–18 Jul. 1982; S. Peck leg.; rainforest, carrion trap; DEBU • 12 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀; Thorton Range, near Daintree ; 200 m a.s.l.; 12–18 Jul. 1982; S. and J. Peck leg.; carrion trap; DEBU • 1 ♂; Tolga Scrub ; 17°15′ S, 145°29′ E; 760 m a.s.l.; 3–6 Feb. 1999; Monteith and Cook leg.; rainforest, fish pitfall; QMBA • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; fungus pitfall; QMBA .

PAPUA NEW GUINEA • 19 ♂♂, 13 ♀♀; Mount Hagen ; 1829 m a.s.l.; 5–8 Jul. 1974; S. Peck leg.; oak forest, dung trap; DEBU .

Description

BODY ( Fig. 31 ). Length 1.3–1.8 mm. Head dark brown; interfrontal plates pale yellow with silver-gold microtomentum limited to bases of interfrontal, orbital, and ocellar bristles, lunule, and around inner vertical bristle; gena brown; antenna brown. Frontal width 2.5× interfrontal height. Eye height 2.5× genal height. Thorax brown, anepimeron with a pale posterior spot. Scutum with pale grey and brown microtomentum forming two grey longitudinal stripes, lateral margins broadly yellow microtomentose with pale M-shaped microtomentose mark wrapping around posterior dorsocentral bristles; scutellum dark brown with median, grey-brown microtomentose triangle. Anterior dorsocentral bristles separated by 7–8 rows of acrostichal setulae. Legs brown, tibiae proximally paler, tarsi paler. Male mid tibia with long apicoventral bristle only. Wing ( Fig. 41D ) pattern weak. CS2 0.5× CS3. R 2+3 almost straight for most of its length, distal fifth abruptly bent towards costa, angled at ~45° to costa; costa extending well beyond apex of R 4+5 (4–5 × costal width). M 1 and M 4 both indistinct beyond dm-m; CuA+CuP long and weakly tubular. Halter pale brown.

MALE ABDOMEN ( Fig. 32 ). S5 narrow, posteromedially desclerotized between two narrow posterior arms and uniformly long-setose. S6 with sinuate lateral apodeme. Cercus flat, triangular with a few setae and many fine apical setulae, large gap between the pair; subepandrial sclerite indistinct but medially darkened. Surstylus large, bilobed, the lobes almost entirely separated: anterior lobe triangular, curved inwards, and densely long-setose along the posterior edge, posterior lobe subtriangular, posteriorly setulose, with a shorter outer projection and a larger inner projection, each with a stout apical seta. Postgonite elongate, broadly triangular with two spine-like, posterior extensions on the basal half and a curved, blade-like apical half with a small anterior hook. Phallapodeme elongate, slightly sinuate with a broad apex; basiphallus large, ring-shaped with an elongate, flattened, and apically rounded epiphallus. Distiphallus stout, complex and made of two parts: basal half with an elongate, apically bifurcate dorsomedial sclerite and a large, cylindrical ventral sclerite; apically with large membranous flaps and supported by a small dorsal and a larger ventral sclerite.

FEMALE ABDOMEN ( Fig. 33 ). T6 well-developed, rectangular, and long-setose along posterior margin; T7 very large, slightly posteromedially emarginate, and long-setose in posterolateral corners; T8 large, membranous with dense dorsal setation, the setae clumped on small sclerotized patches. Epiproct largely reduced. S6 and S7 well-developed, rectangular, and long-setose along posterior margin; S8 broad with a slight posteromedial sclerotization, uniformly long-setose but with a row of four smaller posteromedial setae. Hypoproct trapezoidal with a row of 6 preapical posterior setae. Spermathecae stout, spherical, and smooth, stem short and sclerotized.

Remarks

Parapterogramma pugioformis sp. nov. and the similar Pa. digitisternum sp. nov. both have the microtomentum on the orbital plates limited to the bases of the orbital and inner vertical bristles. Parapterogramma pugioformis differs from Pa. digitisternum by its broader frons (width 2.5× height), straighter R 2+3, CuA+CuP almost reaching the wing margin, male S5 with a pair of posteromedial lobes, a rounded epiphallus, and a more linear surstylus.

Figures

Fig. 31. Parapterogramma pugioformis sp. nov., holotype (debu00163634, QMBA). A. Male habitus, lateral view. B. Male head, anterodorsal view. Scale bars: A = 0.50 mm; B = 0.25 mm.

Fig. 32. Parapterogramma pugioformis sp. nov., paratype (DEBU). A. Male terminalia, posterior view. B. Male terminalia, lateral view. C. Aedeagus and associated structures, lateral view. D. Male S5–8, ventral view. Scale bars: A–D = 0.10 mm.

Fig. 33. Parapterogramma pugioformis sp. nov., paratype (DEBU). A. Female terminalia, dorsal view. B. Female terminalia, ventral view. C. Female terminalia, lateral view. D. Single spermatheca. E. Paired spermathecae. Scale bars: A–C = 0.30 mm; D–E = 0.01 mm.

Fig. 41. Parapterogramma Papp, 2008, left wings, ventral views. A. Parapterogramma ofiensis sp. nov., holotype (DEBU). B. Parapterogramma peckorum sp. nov., paratype (DEBU). C. Parapterogramma pollex sp. nov., paratype (DEBU). D. Parapterogramma pugioformis sp. nov., paratype (DEBU). E. Parapterogramma simplex sp. nov., paratype (CNCI). F. Parapterogramma tokotaai sp. nov., paratype (BPBM). Scale bars: A–F = 0.50 mm.

Fig. 42. Distribution map of Parapterogramma Papp, 2008.