The genus Aphaniosoma Becker, 1903 (Diptera: Chyromyidae) in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East, with descriptions of new species Author Ebejer, Martin J. text European Journal of Taxonomy 2023 2023-06-08 872 1 161 http://zoobank.org/05098e38-ab11-486e-8f28-8567de6bc19c journal article 53713 10.5852/ejt.2023.872.2131 31ad2cf7-cce8-4202-9a46-d81b0073d561 2118-9773 8018303 05098E38-AB11-486E-8F28-8567DE6BC19C Aphaniosoma gallagheri Ebejer, 1996 Fig. 37 Material examined BAHRAIN • 1 ♂ ; Ahari , pool area; 4 Jun. 2000 ; C. Turner leg.; irrigated farms and ditches; NMWC . EGYPT • 8 ♂♂ , 1 ♀ ; Alexandria , Abu Kir ; 20 Oct. 2003 ; P. Gatt leg.; beach, wrack; PG • 6 ♂♂ , 1 ♀ ; same collection data as for preceding; MJE • 3 ♂♂ ; same collection data as for preceding; CULSP • 7 ♂♂ , 2 ♀♀ , preserved in alcohol; same collection data as for preceding; MJE • 1 ♂ ; Sinai , Taba ; 1 May 1996 ; A. Freidberg leg.; SMNHTAU . ISRAEL • 1 ♂ , 1 ♀ ; ‘ Enot Zuqim ; 11 Oct. 1994 ; F. Kaplan and A. Freidberg leg.; SMNHTAU • 10 ♂♂ , 2 ♀♀ ; ‘ En Yahav ; 24 Jul. 1995 ; A. Freidberg leg.; SMNHTAU • 5 ♂♂ , 5 ♀♀ ; ‘ En Gedi ; 19 Mar. 1995 ; A. Freidberg leg.; SMNHTAU • 6 ♂♂ ; Ne’ot haKikkar ; 29 Mar. 1996 ; A. Freidberg leg.; SMNHTAU • 2 ♂♂ , 1 ♀ ; ‘ En ‘Iddan ; 20 Jun. 1995 ; A. Freidberg leg.; SMNHTAU • 5 ♂♂ , 1 ♀ ; ‘ Iddan ; 20 Jun. 1995 ; I. Yarom leg.; SMNHTAU • 7 ♂♂ , 1 ♀ ; Sappir pond; 9 Jul. 1996 ; A. Freidberg leg.; SMNHTAU • 2 ♂♂ , 3 ♀♀ ; ‘ Enot Zuqim ; 25 Aug. 1995 ; A. Freidberg leg.; SMNHTAU • 1 ♂ ; Elot ; 18 Mar. 1995 ; A. Freidberg leg.; on Tamarix sp. ; SMNHTAU • 1 ♂ ; ‘ Enot Zuqim ; 7 Jun. 1996 ; A. Freidberg leg.; SMNHTAU • 3 ♂♂ , 2 ♀♀ ; Dead Sea , ‘ Enot Zuqim ; 31°43ʹ N , 35°27ʹ E ; alt. - 400 m ; 25 Mar. 2000 ; M.J. Ebejer leg.; on Tamarix sp. ; MJE • 2 ♂♂ , 2 ♀♀ ; Dead Sea , Zomet Zohar ; 31°08ʹ N , 35°21ʹ E ; alt. - 338 m ; 25 Mar. 2000 ; M.J. Ebejer leg.; on Tamarix sp. ; MJE . JORDAN • 1 ♂ ; NW Amman , Zarka River ; 12 Oct. 2000 ; W. Rossi leg.; NMWC • 4 ♂♂ , 1 ♀ ; preserved in alcohol; Azraq Reserve ; 8 Oct. 2000 ; W. Rossi leg.; NMWC • 5 ♂♂ , 2 ♀♀ ; preserved in alchohol; Azraq , Wildlife Resort ; 31°49ʹ97ʹʹ N , 36°49ʹ27ʹʹ E ; 20 Oct. 2011 ; J.-H. Stuke leg.; 1584; J-HS . QATAR • 7 ♂♂ , 4 ♀♀ ; Al Khor , nr Al-Khor community; 25°42ʹ21.95ʹʹ N , 51°33ʹ17.84ʹʹ E ; 25 Apr. 2014 ; D. Whitmore leg.; BMNH(E) 2015-94 ; NHMUK . UNITED ARAB EMIRATES • 1 ♂ ; Al-Ajban ; 1–10 Oct. 2005 ; A. van Harten leg.; NMWC • 2 ♂♂ ; Al-Ajban ; 9–16 Nov. 2005 ; A. van Harten leg.; MJE • 1 ♂ ; Sharja Desert Park ; 6–13 Dec. 2006 ; A. van Harten leg.; pitfall trap ; NMWC • 4 ♂♂ ; Wadi Shawkah ; 31 Oct.–27 Nov. 2006 ; A. van Harten leg.; water trap ; NMWC . Remarks This species belongs to the approximatum group. The ground colour of the scutum is dark grey anteriorly but appears pale grey because of the dense pale microtomentum; setae and setulae are predominantly white ( Fig. 37 ). The male has a large U-shaped pregenital sternite ( Ebejer 1996: 293 , fig. 11; 2009: 401, fig. 46a–b) that allows for easy identification when the abdomen is dissected, although occasionally it is also visible without dissection if the abdomen is not shrunken and flexed. The long ventrally projecting lobes on each side at the caudal end of the sternite may also be visible. Distribution Cape Verde Islands, Oman , The Gambia ( Ebejer 1996 , 2009 ). New records for Bahrain , Egypt , Israel , Jordan , Qatar , United Arab Emirates .