Parapterogramma hieroglyphicum, 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 : 31-36

Parapterogramma hieroglyphicum sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:96029D4B-CF45-4E8F-AB41-E358F52796E0

Figs 14–16 , 40F , 42

Etymology

This species name (from the Latin ‘ hieroglyphicus ’, ‘hieroglyphic’) refers to the distinct patterning on the scutum, reminiscent of hieroglyphics.

Material examined

Holotype

FIJI – Viti Levu • ♂; Nandarivitu, Y 00 Microwave Station; 3350 m a.s.l.; 16–23 Aug. 1978; S. and J. Peck leg.; forest dung; DEBU.

Paratypes

FIJI – Taveuni • 3 ♂♂; Cakaudrove, 5.3 km SE of Tavuki Village, Mount Devo ; 16°50′28″ S, 179°58′05″ W; 1064 m a.s.l.; 17–24 Oct. 2002; Schlinger and Tokota’ a leg.; Malaise; BPBM • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 24–31 Oct. 2002; BPBM • 1 ♂; Cakaudrove, Devo Forest Reserve ; 16°50′ S, 179°59′ E; 800 m a.s.l.; 3–10 Jan. 2003; Irwin, Schlinger, and Tokota’a leg.; Malaise; DEBU • 1 ♀; Cakaudrove, Devo Peak Radio Tower ; 16°51′ S, 179°58′ E; 1200 m a.s.l.; 31 Oct.–21 Nov. 2002; Irwin, Schlinger, and Tokota’a leg.; Malaise in rainforest; DEBU • 1 ♂; Cakaudrove, Taveuni Estate ; 16°50′ S, 179°59′ E; 140 m a.s.l.; 10–17 Oct. 2002; Irwin, Schlinger, and Tokota’a leg.; Malaise in garden; BPBM . – Vanua Levu • 1 ♂; Bua, 6 km NW of Kilaka, Batiqere Range ; 16°48′24″ S, 178°59′29″ E; 98 m a.s.l.; 15–24 Jun. 2004; Schlinger and Tokota’ a leg.; Malaise; BPBM • 1 ♂; Bua, Kilaka ; 16°48′41″ S, 178°59′29″ E; 98 m a.s.l.; 28 Jun.–21 Jul. 2004; Irwin, Schlinger, and Tokota’a leg.; Malaise; DEBU • 1 ♂; Bua, Kilaka ; 16°48′41″ S, 178°59′02″ E; 154 m a.s.l.; 28 Jun.–2 Jul. 2004; Irwin, Schlinger, and Tokota’ a leg.; Malaise; BPBM • 1 ♂; Macuata, Dogotuki , 2.5 km E of Nasavu River; 16°15′07″ S, 179°47′00″ E; 226 m a.s.l.; 7 Jul. 2003; Irwin, Schlinger, and Tokota’a leg.; Malaise; BPBM . – Viti Levu • 25 ♂♂, 26 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; CNCI • 24 ♂♂, 25 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; DEBU • 2 ♂♂; Naitasiri, Navai Village, Eteni ; 17°37′ S, 177°59′ E; 700 m a.s.l.; 15 May–2 Jun. 2003; Irwin, Schlinger, and Tokota’ a leg.; Malaise; DEBU • 4 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; 6 Jun.–15 Jul. 2003; BPBM • 1 ♀; 1.8 km E of Navai Village, old trail to Mount Tomaniivi ; 17°37′16″ S, 177°59′53″ E; 700 m a.s.l.; 9–30 Aug. 2004; E. Namatalau leg.; Malaise; DEBU • 1 ♂; 10 km N of Galoa ; 300 m a.s.l.; 29 Aug.–1 Sep. 1978; S. and J. Peck leg.; second forest; DEBU .

NEW CALEDONIA • 1 ♀; Col des Roussettes, near Bourail; 500–600 m a.s.l.; 31 Jul.–7 Aug. 1978; S. Peck leg.; rainforest, dung trap; DEBU • 1 ♂; Mount Koghi, Auberge, near Nouméa; 500 m a.s.l.; 26 Jul.–13 Aug. 1978; S. and J. Peck leg.; rainforest; DEBU.

Description

BODY ( Fig. 14 ). Length 1.0– 1.2 mm. Head yellow, with a brown crescent around each ocellus, and silvery-yellow microtomentum on interfrontal plates, ocellar triangle, orbital plates, and occiput; gena brownish; antenna yellow. Frontal width 2.5× interfrontal height. Eye height 2.1 × genal height. Thorax bicoloured ( Fig. 14C–D ): lower two-thirds of anepisternum and below dark brown, upper third yellow, scutum yellow with 8–10 dark brown, irregular oval to triangular spots; scutellum yellow with brown spots anterolaterally, anteromedially, and posteromedially. Scutum uniformly microtomentose except on spots. Anterior dorsocentral bristles separated by 7–8 rows of acrostichal setulae. Legs brown, fore tibia yellow, mid and hind femora apically and tibiae proximally paler, tarsi paler. Male mid tibia with long apicoventral bristle only. Wing ( Fig. 40F ) pattern strong, anterior margin with bold dark spots. CS2 0.5 × CS3. R 2+3 broadly curved in apical half, angled at ~60° to costa; costa extending well beyond apex of R 4+5 (5–6× costal width). M 1 and M 4 both indistinct beyond dm-m; CuA+CuP long. Halter whitish.

MALE ABDOMEN ( Fig. 15 ). S5 broad, rectangular, with a posteromedial row of 7–8 thickened setae and longer posterolateral setae. S6 short and slightly curved. Cercus flat, subquadrate with two setae; subepandrial sclerite indistinct but medially darkened. Surstylus long but low, bilobed: anterior lobe larger, triangular, largely bare, with flared anteroventral apex, posterior lobe triangular, slightly curved, and setulose in the apical half and anteroventrally. Postgonite small, short but broad, curved, evenly tapered, anterior half pale. Phallapodeme elongate, apex strongly curved; basiphallus small, ring-shaped with a well-developed, flattened, triangular epiphallus. Distiphallus stout: basal part well-sclerotized but frame-like, with a blade-like sclerite along anterior face connected to the broad lateral sclerites by a pair of narrow medial sclerites; apical part with a large membranous scoop-like flap and supported posteroventrally by a large, papillate, membranous extension of the basal part extending to (but separate from) epiphallus.

FEMALE ABDOMEN ( Fig. 16 ). T6 and T7 well-developed, rectangular and long-setose along posterior margin; T8 broad, wrapping around laterally, rectangular and sclerotized dorsally, with three lateral setae. Epiproct entirely membranous. S6 rectangular and setose along posterior margin; S7 subrectangular with deep posteromedial emargination and posterior row of setae; S8 pentagonal, anteriorly projecting into emargination of S7, with scattered setae. Hypoproct reduced, rectangular, largely membranous except for a sclerotized, setulose medial part. Spermathecae stout, subcylindrical, wider at base, lightly grooved with deep invaginations on both ends, stem very short and membranous.

Remarks

Parapterogramma hieroglyphicum sp. nov. is easily recognized by the distinctly bicoloured thorax and spotted scutum. This species is primarily known from Fiji, although two specimens were collected in New Caledonia.

Figures

Fig. 14. Parapterogramma hieroglyphicum sp. nov., paratypes (DEBU). A. Male habitus, lateral view. B. Male head, anterodorsal view. C. Male habitus with connected scutal pattern, dorsal view (debu00074730). D. Male habitus with isolated scutal pattern, dorsal view (debu00029571). Scale bars: A, C–D = 0.50 mm; B = 0.25 mm.

Fig. 15. Parapterogramma hieroglyphicum sp. nov., paratype (BPBM). 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. 16. Parapterogramma hieroglyphicum sp. nov., paratype (BPBM). 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. 40. Parapterogramma Papp, 2008, left wings, ventral views. A. Parapterogramma asiaticum Papp, 2008 (LKCNHM). B. Parapterogramma bicolor sp. nov., paratype (BPBM). C. Parapterogramma dentatum sp. nov., holotype (DEBU). D. Parapterogramma digitisternum sp. nov., paratype (DEBU). E. Parapterogramma gonitellum sp. nov., paratype (DEBU). F. Parapterogramma hieroglyphicum sp. nov., paratype (BPBM). G. Parapterogramma magnum sp. nov., paratype (QMBA). H. Parapterogramma matau sp. nov., paratype (DEBU). Scale bars: A–H = 0.50 mm.

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