Parapterogramma simplex, 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 : 61-64

Parapterogramma simplex sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:8693005A-ED19-410D-BB82-B92A1D3F5E03

Figs 34– 36 , 41E , 42

Etymology

This species name refers to the relatively simple male genitalia, without the additional lobes or modified setae found in most other species of Parapterogramma .

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.; CNCI.

Paratypes

FIJI – Kadavu • 1 ♂; 0.25 km SW of Solodamu Village, Moanakaka Bird Sanctuary ; 19°04′41″ S, 178°07′16″ E; 50 m a.s.l.; 23 Oct.–6 Nov. 2004; S. Lau leg.; Malaise; BPBM . – Viti Levu • 28 ♂♂, 26 ♀♀ ;

same collection data as for holotype; CNCI • 26 ♂♂, 16 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; forest dung; DEBU • 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 ♂; 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 • 2 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀; 10 km N of Galoa ; 300 m a.s.l.; 29 Aug.–1 Sep. 1978; S. and J. Peck leg.; second forest; DEBU • 1 ♂, 5 ♀♀; 10 km N of Ngoloa ; 300 m a.s.l.; 29 Aug.–1 Sep. 1978; S. and J. Peck leg.; second forest; CNCI • 7 ♂♂, 22 ♀♀; 15 km N of Suva, Tholoisuva Watershed ; 200 m a.s.l.; 25–31 Aug. 1978; S. and J. Peck leg.; rainforest; CNCI • 1 ♀; Suva , Tholoisuva Watershed; 25–31 Aug. 1978; S. and J. Peck leg.; carrion trap; CNCI .

Description

BODY ( Fig. 34 ). Length 1.1–1.3 mm. Head orange-brown, darkened posteriorly with silvery-gold microtomentum limited to bases of interfrontal and orbital bristles, ocellar triangle, tip of lunule, and around inner vertical bristle; gena yellow; antenna brown. Frontal width 2.3 × interfrontal height. Eye height 3.0 × genal height. Thorax brown. Scutum with pale grey and brown microtomentum forming two dark longitudinal stripes, lateral margins broadly yellow microtomentose with pale M-shaped microtomentose mark at level of posterior dorsocentral bristles; scutellum brown with median, dark brown microtomentose triangle. Anterior dorsocentral bristles separated by 9–10 rows of acrostichal setulae. Legs brown, fore tibia yellowish, tarsi slightly paler. Male mid tibia with a stout apicoventral bristle and two rows of stout ventral setae. Wing ( Fig. 41E ) pattern strong. CS2 0.5 × CS3. R 2+3 broadly curved in apical half, angled at ~80° to costa; 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. Halter brown.

MALE ABDOMEN ( Fig. 35 ). S5 broad, deeply posteromedially desclerotized and sparsely long-setose. S6 sinuate. Cercus flat, subquadrate with one seta; subepandrial sclerite indistinct but medially darkened. Surstylus long but low, bilobed: anterior lobe larger, triangular, largely bare with flared anteroventral apex, posterior lobe triangular, sinuate, and setulose on the inner surface of the apical half. Postgonite short but broad, curved, evenly tapered, anterior half pale. Phallapodeme elongate, gently curved with pointed apex; basiphallus large, ring-shaped with an elongate, flattened, apically rounded, spoon-shaped epiphallus. Distiphallus stout, complex but largely membranous, basal half with a broad, U-shaped upper sclerite and papillate lower membrane, apex supported by a small upper and a larger lower sclerite.

FEMALE ABDOMEN ( Fig. 36 ). T6 and T7 well-developed, rectangular and long-setose along posterior margin; T8 split into two large, lateral sclerites, each with three lateral setae. Epiproct entirely membranous. S6 rectangular and setose along posterior margin; S7 subrectangular with a very deep posteromedial emargination and posterior row of setae; S8 subtriangular, anteriorly projecting into emargination of S7, with V-shaped row of setae. Hypoproct reduced, rectangular, largely membranous except for a sclerotized, setulose medial part. Spermathecae stout, subcylindrical, slightly wider at base, lightly grooved with deep invaginations at both ends, each invagination with a small central projection, stem very short and membranous.

Remarks

Parapterogramma simplex sp. nov. is the smallest species of Fijian Parapterogramma . It is distinguished from all congeners by its frons with silver-gold microtomentum that contrasts with the dark brown body and wing markings.

Figures

Fig. 34. Parapterogramma simplex sp. nov., holotype (CNCI). A. Male habitus, lateral view. B. Male head, anterodorsal view. Scale bars: A = 0.50 mm; B = 0.25 mm.

Fig. 35. Parapterogramma simplex 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. 36. Parapterogramma simplex 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.