Parapterogramma pollex, 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 : 51-55

Parapterogramma pollex sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:79D2EBE3-3ABB-4A36-A309-D94AF585ED08

Figs 28–30 , 41C , 42

Etymology

This species name (from the Latin ‘ pollex ’, ‘thumb’) refers to the distinctive knob-like posterior lobe of the surstylus.

Material examined

Holotype

FIJI – Viti Levu • ♂; 15 km N of Suva, Tholoisuva Watershed; 200 m a.s.l.; 25–31 Aug. 1978; S. and J. Peck leg.; rainforest; DEBU.

Paratypes

FIJI – Kadavu • 1 ♂; 0.25 km SW of Solodamu Village, Moanakaka Bird Sanctuary ; 19°04′41″ S, 178°07′16″ E; 60 m a.s.l.; 28 May–11 Jun.2003; Schlinger and Tokota’ a leg.; Malaise; BPBM . – Vanua Levu • 1 ♂; Bua, 6 km NW of Kilaka Village, Batiqere Range ; 16°48′55″ S, 178°59′11″ E; 146 m a.s.l.; 15–26 Apr. 2004; Schlinger and Tokoka’a leg.; Malaise; BPBM . – Viti Levu • 20 ♂♂; same collection data as for holotype; CNCI • 20 ♂♂; same collection data as for holotype; DEBU • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Naitasiri, Navai Village, Eteni ; 17°37′ S, 177°59′ E; 700 m a.s.l.; 6 Jun.–15 Jul. 2003; Irwin, Schlinger, and Tokota’ a leg.; Malaise; BPBM • 1 ♂; 4 km WSW of Colo-I-Suva Village, Mount Nakobalevu ; 18°03′18″ S, 178°25′26″ E; 372 m a.s.l.; 12–24 Oct. 2002; Timoci leg.; Malaise; BPBM • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 12–25 Feb. 2003; BPBM • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 25 Feb.–17 Mar. 2003; BPBM • 4 ♂♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 14–28 Jul. 2003; DEBU • 1 ♂, 5 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; 4–14 Nov. 2003; DEBU • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; 18°03′22″ S, 178°25′19″ E; 325 m a.s.l.; 17 Mar.–9 Apr. 2003; BPBM • 6 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; 14–28 Jul. 2003; BPBM • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; 4–14 Nov. 2003; DEBU • 1 ♀; Naitasiri, Mount Nakobalevu , below tower near Scaevola in bloom; 18°03′ S, 178°25′ E; 461 m a.s.l.; 22 Sep.–8 Oct. 2002; Irwin, Schlinger, and Tokota’ a leg.; Malaise; BPBM • 1 ♂; Naitasiri, 3.5 km N of Veisari Settlement, logging road to Waivudawa ; 18°04′05″ S, 178°22′01″ E; 14 Feb.–8 Mar. 2003; 300 m a.s.l.; Schlinger and Tokota’a leg.; Malaise; BPBM • 4 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Namosi, 2 km SE of Nabukavesi Village, Ocean Pacific Resort ; 18°10′16″ S, 178°15′29″ E; 40 m a.s.l.; 5–22 Jun. 2003; Schlinger and Tokota’ a leg.; Malaise; BPBM • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; 22 Jun.–7 Jul. 2003; DEBU • 1 ♂; 10 km N of Galoa ; 300 m a.s.l.; 19 Aug.–1 Sep. 1978; S. and J. Peck leg.; second forest; DEBU • 2 ♂♂; 10 km N of Ngoloa ; 300 m a.s.l.; 29 Aug.–1 Sep. 1978; S. and J. Peck leg.; second forest; DEBU • 9 ♂♂; Nandarivitu, Y 00 Microwave Station ; 1100 m a.s.l.; 16–23 Aug. 1978; S. and J. Peck leg.; CNCI • 8 ♂♂; Suva, Tholoisuva Watershed ; 25–31 Aug. 1978; S. and J. Peck leg.; carrion trap; DEBU • 1 ♂; Vuda, 0.5 km N of Abaca Village, Koroyanitu EcoPark, Mount Evan’s Range ; 17°40′01″ S, 177°33′00″ E; 800 m a.s.l.; 26 Nov.–3 Dec. 2002; Schlinger and Tokota’a leg.; Malaise; BPBM • 1 ♂; Vuda, 1 km E of Abaca Village, Koroyanitu National Park, Kokabula Trail ; 17°40′ S, 177°33′ E; 800 m a.s.l.; 12–19 Nov. 2002; Schlinger and Tokota’a leg.; Malaise; DEBU • 2 ♂♂; same collection data as for preceding; Savuione Trail; DEBU .

Description

BODY ( Fig. 28 ). Length 1.1–1.5 mm. Head caramel-brown, darkened around lateral and posterior margins, with silver-gold microtomentum on interfrontal plates, ocellar triangle, orbital plates, and occiput; gena yellow; antenna caramel-brown. Frontal width 2.0× interfrontal height. Eye height 2.5× genal height. Thorax caramel-brown to dark brown, anepimeron with a pale posterior spot. Scutum with grey brown microtomentum forming indistinct grey longitudinal stripes, lateral margins broadly yellow microtomentose, with pale M-shaped microtomentose mark at level of posterior dorsocentral bristles; scutellum caramel-brown to 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 a stout apicoventral bristle and two rows of stout ventral setae. Wing ( Fig. 41C ) pattern weak. CS2 0.5× CS3. R 2+3 gently sinuate, distal curve much stronger than basal curve and spanning most of vein length, reaching costa at almost a right angle and broadly separating it from costa for most of its length; costa extending well beyond apex of R 4+5 (5–6 × costal width). M 1 indistinct beyond dm-m; M

4

extending beyond dm-m; CuA+CuP long but non-tubular. Halter pale brown.

MALE ABDOMEN ( Fig. 29). S5 broad with a large, posteromedial emargination, a small triangular posteromedial lobe, and long posterolateral setae. S6 with an elongate, sinuate ventrolateral apodeme extending underneath the medial part of S5; S7 broad. Epandrium small, wedge-shaped and uniformly long-setose; cercus flat, rectangular with several enlarged setulae, ventrally emarginate, mesial edges fused; subepandrial sclerite triangular and ventrally rounded. Surstylus large, bilobed: anterior lobe boxy and ventrally setulose with a short anteroventral protuberance, posterior lobe smaller with dense setulae on the inner surface. Postgonite large, strongly curved, apically bifurcate with a triangular lateral lobe originating at about midlength. Phallapodeme long, tapered, and angled downwards apically; basiphallus long and wedge-shaped with a short, triangular epiphallus. Distiphallus stout, complex and made of several narrow T-shaped dorsolateral and ventral sclerites supporting the membranous apex.

FEMALE ABDOMEN ( Fig. 30 ). T6 and T7 well-developed, rectangular and long-setose along posterior margin; T8 split into two large lateral plates, with sparse setation along posterior margin. Epiproct entirely membranous and C-shaped. S6 rectangular; S7 deeply emarginate and long-setose along posterior margin; S8 pentagonal, broadened anteriorly to fit into emargination in S7, and with 6 posteromedial setae. Hypoproct rectangular, largely membranous, and setulose with a pair of posterolateral setae. Spermathecae elongated, ovoid, grooved with an apical invagination, stem long and membranous.

Remarks

Parapterogramma pollex sp. nov. seems to be most closely related to Pa. matau sp. nov., males of which also have large, long-setose posterolateral lobes on S5 and large lateral lobes on the postgonite. It differs from Pa. matau in having a distinct extension of M 4 beyond dm-m, (usually) smaller size, and lighter colour. Parapterogramma pollex females are more like females of Pa. peckorum sp. nov., which also have a deeply posteromedially concave S7, anteromedially bulging S8, and spermathecae with large,

wide invaginations (as opposed to the narrower invaginations in Pa. matau ).

Figures

Fig. 28. Parapterogramma pollex sp. nov., paratype (DEBU). A. Male habitus, lateral view. B. Male head, anterodorsal view. Scale bars: A = 0.50 mm; B = 0.25 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.

Fig. 30. Parapterogramma pollex 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.