Limnophora obsignata

[Limnophora obsignata (Rondani)]

(Figs 8A‒C)

Limnophora obsignata is a widespread Mediterranean (Hennig 1959) and Afrotropical (Couri & Pont 2017) species, but the present study revealed that the existing records from the Canary Islands (Becker 1908a; Frey 1936; Hennig 1959; Chandler 1979; Santos Abréu 1976; Báez 1981) are based on misidentifications of other Limnophora species with a similar contrasting “ Anthomyia pattern” on the mesonotum (see Figs 5 and 7).

Material examined. [NHMD]: Large sample of males and females from: France (incl. Corsica), Greece (incl. Crete), Portugal, Spain (incl. Baleares), Italy (Sicily). Also from: Morocco and Tunisia.

Diagnosis. In most respects morphologically identical to the endemic Canarian species described below as Limnophora obsignatula sp. nov. Decisive differences are found in the shape of the male surstyli, compare Figs 8B, C and E, F. Limnophora obsignata differs in the male sex from L. obsignatula (Fig. 6A) by the near absence of brown pruinosity on the fronto-orbital and parafacial plates, and by the wider separation of the presutural black mesonotal marks covering the setulose median part of the acrostichal field, by the slightly narrower postsutural black band reaching only to the third pair of postsutural dorsocentral setae, and by the dirty whitish calypteres. Limnophora obsignata differs in the female sex by the narrower black mesonotal band not extended behind the level of the third pair of postsutural dorsocentral setae, and by the paired black abdominal marks on tergite IV being smaller, obtusely triangular and far separated from the preceding tergite.

Taxonomic note. The photos of the male terminalia (Figs 8A‒C) of a specimen from Portugal agree well with the drawings of the same parts of an Afrotropical male by Couri & Pont (2017).