Parapterogramma ofiensis, 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 : 44-46

Parapterogramma ofiensis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:FE807AE5-C7D6-4895-BF32-CC865194021C

Figs 23–24 , 41A , 42

Etymology

This species name refers to the type locality of the species, Ofi Creek in Papua New Guinea.

Material examined

Holotype

PAPUA NEW GUINEA • ♂; 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.

Description

BODY ( Fig. 23 ). Length 1.2 mm. Head dark brown with lower portion of frons lighter, and silvery-yellow microtomentum on interfrontal plates, ocellar triangle, orbital plates, and occiput; gena brownish-yellow with a small ovoid patch of pale microtomentum; antenna brown. Frontal width 2.0 × interfrontal height. Eye height 3.5 × genal height. Thorax brown with indistinct paler central stripe; scutellum brown with dark brown anteromedial spot. Scutum with pale grey and brown microtomentum forming a pair of Y- or V-shaped dark longitudinal marks, lateral margins broadly yellow microtomentose, pale M-shaped microtomentose mark at level of posterior dorsocentral bristles, below this dark brown; scutellum brown with median, dark brown microtomentose triangle. Anterior dorsocentral bristles separated by 5–6 rows of acrostichal setulae. Legs light brown, mid tibia slightly paler apically, tarsi pale. Male mid tibia with small, stout apicoventral bristle only. Wing ( Fig. 41A ) pattern weak. CS2 0.4× CS3. R 2+3 broadly curved in apical half, angled at ~70° to costa; costa extending well beyond apex of R 4+5 (5 × costal width). M 1 indistinct beyond dm-m; M 4 extending beyond dm-m; CuA+CuP long but non-tubular. Halter whitish.

MALE ABDOMEN ( Fig. 24 ). S5 broad, rectangular, uniformly setose, posteromedially desclerotized with a setulose membrane between S5 and S6. S6 short and slightly sinuate. Cercus flat, subquadrate, with one seta; subepandrial sclerite indistinct but medially darkened. Surstylus long but low, bilobed: anterior lobe bulging outwards anteriorly with several long ventral setae, posterior lobe rounded triangular, bulbous dorsally with dense setae and setulae and projecting ventrally with several long, sinuate setae. Postgonite slightly bent, constricted in the basal half, greatly expanded anterolaterally in the apical half and setulose laterally. Phallapodeme elongate, apex triangular and flared; basiphallus large, stalked, peanut-shaped with stout posterior setae. Distiphallus stout, largely membranous, and complex: centrally supported by an elongate, sinuate upper sclerite and a short, scoop-like lower sclerite, laterally supported on each side by a long, curved, apically flared sclerite.

FEMALE ABDOMEN. Female unknown.

Remarks

Parapterogramma ofiensis sp. nov. is externally most similar to Pa. asiaticum , but differs in having M 4 tubular beyond dm-m and the male mid tibia with only a single stout apicoventral bristle.

Figures

Fig. 23. Parapterogramma ofiensis sp. nov., holotype (DEBU). A. Male habitus, lateral view. B. Male head, anterodorsal view. Scale bars: A = 0.50 mm; B = 0.25 mm.

Fig. 24. Parapterogramma ofiensis sp. nov., holotype (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. 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.