A new genus of scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae), with description of a new species from China
Author
Liu, Guangchun
text
Zoological Systematics
2021
46
1
85
88
journal article
10.11865/zs.2021104
2095-6827
5360517
034B5535-CF53-40D3-A5D6-B4E37097E2E5
Sacculiphora
gen. nov.
Type
species:
Sacculiphora cultrata
sp. nov.
Diagnosis. In
Disney's (1994)
key to genera, the new genus runs to couplet 197, to the genus
Maculiphora
Disney
(Disney & Kistner, 1991). However, it is distinguished from
Maculiphora
by the frontal bristle formula of 2-4-4 as opposed to 2-2-4, a strongly developed wing vein Sc, clearly fine veins and a cystiform structure on the inner surface of the male fore femur. The male of new genus is also similar to the genus
Metopina
Macquart, 1835
, in terms of the bristle formula of frons, however, the wing section between the vein M
2
and CuA
1
is not hourglass-shaped as that in
Metopina
species.
Description. Small sized flies. Frons lacking ventral fronto-orbital setae; two pairs of supra-antennal setae present. Frontal furrow absent. Flagellomere 1 globular with pointed apex; arista subapical. Anepisternum bare, divided. Wing vein Sc present; vein
R
2+3
absent; all thin veins clearly present. Halter fully developed. Tibia without dorsal longitudinal setal palisades and isolated pre-apical setae. Fore femur dark, expanded ventrally; inner surface concave, covered with tubercles; a cystiform structure present at middle part of ventral edge; a row of inward inclinate setae present along apical half of ventral edge. Fore tibia cylindrical and thickening towards end. Male terminalia asymmatric and hypandrium anticlockwise rotated.
Figures 1–7.
Sacculiphora cultrata
sp. nov.
1. Body, right view; 2. Head; 3. Thorax, left view; 4. Fore leg; 5. Fore femur; 6. Wing; 7. Abdomen, dorsal view. Scale bars: 1 = 0.5 mm; 2–7 =0.1 mm.
Etymology. The genus name is from the Latin words “
sacculus
” meaning cystiform and “
phora
” meaning scuttle fly, referring to the structure at middle part of ventral edge of fore femur.
Distribution.
China
(
Guangxi
).
Discussion. The new genus is classified in the subfamily
Metopininae
, based on the divided anepisternum and lack of tibial setae. Furthermore, it seems belonging to the tribe
Metopiniini
, according to the characters of lacking vein
R
2+3; lack of small basal setae of hypandrium, and hypandrium rotated (
sensu
Brown, 1992
). However, this classification requires further data support and more evidence. The discovery of female of this genus would be particularly helpful on the problem’s clarification.