Ecnomina thinotes Neboiss

Ecnomina thinotes Neboiss

Figs 141–143, 189

Ecnomina thinotes Neboiss, 1978: 827, figs 1–3. — Neboiss 1986: 154.

Diagnosis. Ecnomina thinotes is distinguished from others in the genus by the superior appendages, which have a pair of short, robust mesal processes near the middle and the pair of relatively robust dorsal processes on tergum X.

Description. Head, body and wings brown, abdomen paler ventrally; wings similar to E. legula (Fig. 3). Forewing length about 2.9–3.2 times width: male 3.1–4.2 mm, female 3.8–4.6 mm. Forewing fork 2 relatively long, sessile or with short footstalk, footstalk length up to 0.7 times length cross-vein r-m, length fork about 1.1–1.5 times length of fork 3; fork 3 relatively long, with short footstalk, fork ranges between 3–9 times length footstalk, footstalk length between 0.7–1.7 times length cross-vein m, r-m and m nearly contiguous at fork 3, r-m and m separated by about 0.3–0.7 times length of cross-vein m; fork 4 shorter than fork 3; fork 5 long, length about 1.8 times length of fork 4. Hindwing length about 3.3 times width, fork 2 sessile, length about 1.2–1.6 times length of fork 3.

Male. (Revised after Neboiss 1978). Tergum X membranous, fused basally, with one pair of relatively robust dorsal processes (Fig. 143). Superior appendages in lateral view, sub-rectangular, length about 4 times width (Fig. 141); in dorsal view, length about 6 times width, with a group of relatively long spines distally and with a pair of short, robust mesal processes near middle (Fig. 143). Phallus simple, tube-like (Fig. 141). Inferior appendages short, fused; in ventral view, length about same as width, rounded laterally, with slightly crenulated margin (Fig. 142); in lateral view, robust, length about twice width (Fig. 141).

Female. Genitalia with a single mesal process on sternite VIII, broad based, narrowed in distal half; segment IX relatively long and slender, tapered slightly distally, segment X relatively short (Fig. 189).

Material examined: Queensland. Holotype male. Fraser Island, Lake Wabby, 7 May 1975, H. Burton (NMV, T-5699). Paratypes. Queensland. 2 females (specimen PT-554 figured), collected with holotype (NMV); 1 male, L. Wabby, south end, Fraser Is., 14 Dec 1975, H. Burton; 5 males (specimen PT-546 figured), 1 female, E of L. Bowarrady, Fraser Is., 2-3 Dec 1975, A. Slater and G. Thompson; 1 male, Fraser Is., Yidney scrub, 3-4 Dec 1975, A. Slater and G. Thompson. Other material. Queensland. 1 female, Coombroo Lake, Fraser Isl., at light, 21 Mar 1979, K.J. Lambkin; 1 female, nr Wabby Lake, Fraser Isl., 25 Nov 1976, at light, G. Thompson, P. Webb and M. R. Rice; 1 male (genitalia missing?), Blue Lake, North Stradbroke Is., 11 Nov 1973, coll.?; 2 males, 26 females, Coondoo Ck, 30 km NE of Gympie, Toolara State Forest, MV lt, 28 Oct 1980, A.N.; 1 male, Seary’s Ck, Cooloola N.P, Rainbow Beach, 25°58'S, 153°04'E, 9 Feb 1987, G. Theischinger. New South Wales. 1 male, Kangaroo Valley, 22 Mar 1961, E.F. Riek (ANIC). Victoria. 2 males, L. Barracoota, 28 Jan 1975, A.N.; 1 male, 2 females, Five Mile Rd swamp, Wilsons Promontory, 9 Dec 1986, A.N.; 10 males, 3 females, Miranda Ck, Wilsons Promontory, 38°56'S, 146°28'E, 6 Jan 1986, A.N.; 8 males, 11 females, same loc. and coll., 19 Jan 1987. South Australia. 2 males, 3 females, Rocky R., deep lagoon, Kangaroo Is., 19 Dec 1980, A.W.; 1 male, Rocky R. at bridge, 20 Dec 1980, A.W.

Remarks. Ecnomina thinotes appears to have a widespread but patchy distribution. It has been collected from coastal south-eastern Queensland including several islands, one site in south-eastern New South Wales, three sites in eastern and southern Victoria and from Kangaroo Island off southern South Australia (latitudinal range 25°10'- 38°56'S). Neboiss’s (1978) figures have been redrawn to allow direct comparisons and to accompany the description that is revised in light of new interpretations of Ecnomina genitalic and wing structures.