Predatory midges of the tribes Palpomyiini and Sphaeromiini (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from the Middle East, with keys and descriptions of new species Author Alwin-Kownacka, Alicja 0995CC31-5CC8-46F3-BB72-A4D76919750A urn: lsid: zoobank. org: author: 0995 CC 31 - 5 CC 8 - 46 F 3 - BB 72 - A 4 D 76919750 A & Corresponding author: alicja. alwin @ biol. ug. edu. pl alicja.alwin@biol.ug.edu.pl Author Szadziewski, Ryszard 083FF55D-C4C0-4C7D-AE23-562619624664 Email: ryszard. szadziewski @ biol. ug. edu. pl & urn: lsid: zoobank. org: author: 083 FF 55 D-C 4 C 0 - 4 C 7 D-AE 23 - 562619624664 ryszard.szadziewski@biol.ug.edu.pl Author Szwedo, Jacek 36BAE161-ECCD-4D89-B383-C7CC84FF0A89 Email: jacek. szwedo @ biol. ug. edu. pl & urn: lsid: zoobank. org: author: 36 BAE 161 - ECCD- 4 D 89 - B 383 - C 7 CC 84 FF 0 A 89 jacek.szwedo@biol.ug.edu.pl text European Journal of Taxonomy 2017 2017-05-15 318 1 30 journal article 22140 10.5852/ejt.2017.318 3a1f57d6-6cad-4bb9-8fdd-6b2b471bce0c 2118-9773 3827451 541EA4D0-3883-4190-8E10-FF7CAC1BB035 Bezzia ( Homobezzia ) sharjahi Alwin-Kownacka & Szadziewski sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 07610F8D-C955-4FD8-851A-395BA06AFB87 Fig. 2 Diagnosis This new species differs from all other Middle East congeners in having the following combination of characters: thorax orange-brown with distinctly paler scutellum; legs uniformly brownish; fore femur with 6–9 ventral spines; male gonostylus long, with pointed apex; parameres long, slender, slightly curved dorsally; female with 2 subspherical seminal capsules with very long necks. Etymology The specific name refers to the Sharjah Desert, where most of the type series was collected. Material examined Holotype UNITED ARAB EMIRATES : ♂ , adult, Sharjah Desert Park , 18 Jan. 2005 , A. van Harten leg. ( CEIUG ). Paratypes UNITED ARAB EMIRATES : 3 ♀♀ , 3 ♂♂ , same collection data as holotype except 18–25 Jan. 2005 , light trap; 3 ♀♀ , 1 ♂ , same collection data except 9 Mar. 2005 ; 1 ♀ , same collection data except 30 Apr. 2005 ; 1 ♀ , same collection data except 30 Jun. 2005 ; 1 ♀ , 1 ♂ , same collection data except 21 Jul. 2005 ; 1 ♀ , Wadi Wurayah, light trap, 15 Jan.–22 Feb. 2009 , A. van Harten leg. ( CEIUG ). YEMEN : 2 ♀♀ , Al Mukalla, light trap, 1. Feb. 2003 , A. van Harten leg. ( CEIUG ). Description Male HEAD. Uniformly pale brown. Antenna ( Fig. 2B ) pale brown; flagellar plume poorly developed; flagellomeres 2(3)–13 with paler basal halves; flagellomeres 10–13 short; total flagellum length 0.50– 0.70 mm ; antennal ratio 0.50–0.70. Palpus yellow, slender; third palpal segment short, with distinct capitate sensilla; palpal ratio 2.00. THORAX. Orange-brown; scutellum paler. Wing pale, with barely visible veins; 1 poorly marked long radial cell; wing length 0.90–1.30 mm ; costal ratio 0.70–0.80. Legs uniformly pale brown, tarsi slightly paler, coxae dark brown; claws small and equal on all legs; fore femur armed with 4–8 short ventral spines; tarsal ratio of fore leg 1.60–1.90, of mid leg 1.80–2.30, of hind leg 2.10–2.20. ABDOMEN. Orange brown. GENITALIA ( Fig. 2 D–F). Tergite IX short, reaching apex of gonocoxite; sternite IX short. Gonocoxite short, stout; gonostylus long, narrow, distal half curved, with sharp apex. Parameres ( Fig. 2E ) fused, tongue-like, slightly curved dorsally, with blunt apex. Aedeagus ( Fig. 2F ) triangular, with low basal arch and barely visible rounded apex. Female HEAD. Brown. Antennal flagellum ( Fig. 2C ) with short flagellomeres, brown, proximal portions yellow; total flagellum length 0.50–0.70 mm ; antennal ratio 0.80–1.10. Palpus slender, yellow; third palpal segment short, rather stout, without sensory pit; palpal ratio 2.00–2.50. Mandible with 6–8 massive distal teeth and numerous smaller proximal teeth. THORAX. Orange brown; scutellum paler. Wing ( Fig. 2A ) venation similar to that of male; wing length 1.70–1.80 mm ; costal ratio 0.80. Femoral coloration as in male; fore femur armed with 6–9 ventral spines; fore and mid tibiae with slightly dark bases, occasionally with slightly darker central areas, and dark apices; hind tibia with slightly darker base; tarsal ratio of fore leg 1.80–2.10, of mid leg 1.90–2.50, of hind leg 2.00–2.50. ABDOMEN. Two subspherical seminal capsules ( Fig. 2G ) with long, thick necks; measuring 0.04–0.05 × 0.03–0.04 mm and 0.05–0.06 × 0.04–0.05 mm . Distribution United Arab Emirates and Yemen . Fig. 2. Bezzia sharjahi Szadziewski & Alwin sp. nov. A . Wing, ♀. B . Antennal flagellum, ♂. C . Antennal flagellum, ♀. D . Genitalia, ♂. E . Parameres. F . Aedeagus. G . Seminal capsules, ♀. Remarks This new species is a typical member of the subgenus Homobezzia . It most closely resembles B. kuhetiensis , which has similar male genitalia and seminal capsules. However, B. kuhetiensis differs from B . sharjahi sp. nov. by its whitish legs with distinct, dark bands, the fore femur has only 2 ventral spines, and the parameres are straight.