Prosopodopsis appendiculata

Prosopodopsis appendiculata (de Meijere, 1910)

TAIWAN • 1 ♀; with printed white label: “Anping / Formosa / H. Sauter, 1911 [with handwritten addition: “ V.12 ”]”, with printed white label: “det. Baranoff ”, with handwritten white label: “ Prosopodopsis / fasciata Wied.”; SDEI.

Key (based on Tschorsnig & Richter 1998)

The new genus Susamyia gen. nov. can be incorporated into the modified identification key of the Palearctic tachinid genera prepared by Tschorsnig & Richter (1998). One problem for the users of this key can be in distinguishing between upper frontal setae and upper orbital setae for which Tschorsnig & Richter (1998) also mentioned, through the morphological description of the adult head, “One, two or more reclinate or lateroclinate upper orbital bristles present, in many genera not distinguishable from uppermost frontal bristles …”. The second problem is the intraspecific variation in the number of reclinate upper orbital bristles, which exist in Susamyia gen. nov. (cf. Figs 3, 6A, 8A with two vs Fig. 6C–E with only one) and other genera, including Palesisa Villeneuve, 1929, which usually possesses only one upper orbital seta (but in Fig. 8B with two). In case of two reclinate upper orbital setae, the anterior seta is mostly shorter than the second seta. In the description of Palesisa nudioculata, Cerretti (2010a: 276) stated “Una (raramente 2) setola orbitale reclinate superiore” and provided a photograph of the female head with two strong reclinate upper orbital setae (Cerretti 2010b: 124). Čepelák & Sisojević (1974: 834) had described the male of the same species as having “1 (auch 2, vordere kürzere) oi” [one or two reclinate upper orbital setae, the anterior seta shorter]. Mesnil (1949: 101) had used this character (one or two upper orbital setae) in his key to separate Sturmiariae from Blepharellariae, and mentioned that he had encountered specimens with both 2 oi (reclinate upper orbital setae) and 1 oi among the individuals of Pales pumicata (Meigen, 1824) (as Ctenophorocera). Even though the presence of 2–3 reclinate upper orbital setae has been described for the genus Gymnophryxe Villeneuve, 1922, mostly one is observed in G. theodori (Fig. 6F–H). These remarks are intended to discuss the reliability of the used characters “One single reclinate upper orbital seta” and “Two or more reclinate upper orbital setae” in the keys. Therefore, we offer here two variants of the key by Tschorsnig & Richter (1998) to facilitate the determination of Susamyia gen. nov. in both occurrences and include the following combinations “One single reclinate upper orbital seta, if sometimes two, the uppermost stronger” and “Two reclinate upper orbital setae, the uppermost of same size or weaker, or more than two setae” in place of the original ones in the key to improve its accuracy as well.

Key 1. Specimens with two or more reclinate upper orbital setae

496. Lateral scutellar setae at least as long as half of subapical setae, but if shorter, then upper part of head with black setulae behind the postocular row. Two or three reclinate upper orbital setae present [Comment: Usually only one reclinate upper orbital seta occurs in Susamyia mira gen. et sp. nov. and Gymnophryxe theodori]...................................................................................................... 499

499. R 4+5 setose from base to crossvein r-m or beyond................................................................................ Prosopodopsis Townsend,1926, Suensonomyia Mesnil, 1953 and Synamphichaeta Villeneuve,1936

– R 4+5 setose at most halfway to crossvein r-m............................................................................ 501

501. Legs entirely or predominantly yellow (at most tarsi black). Tegula reddish. Body length 4–7 mm.......... Crapivnicia Richter, 1995, Hebia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 and Masistyloides Mesnil, 1963

– At least femora black or dark brown, but if (rarely) red or yellow, then body length 8 mm or more. Tegula usually black [Comment: The characters hardly fit in with Susamyia mira gen. et sp. nov. because of predominantly brownish-black femora and tarsi (femora orange apicoventrally), dark brownish-orange tibia, brownish orange tegula, and body length 6.3–7.5 mm]...................... 503

503. Height of gena one-sixth vertical diameter of eye or more, at least as great as width of parafacial at level of base of antenna. Parafacial not or not as strongly narrowed ventrally.................... 504

504. Section of M between crossveins r-m and dm-cu distinctly longer than section between dm-cu and bend of M, the latter section shorter than section between bend and apex of M...................... 505

505. Arista thickened at least on basal half or more. Frons 1.1–2.5 times as wide as one eye in dorsal view. Abdominal tergites 3 and 4 with or without median discal setae.................................... 506

506. Upper part of head without black setulae behind the postocular row (rarely with a few setulae). Scutum with four pairs of postsutural dorsocentral setae. Preapical anterodorsal seta on fore tibia distinctly shorter than preapical dorsal seta (see Tschorsnig & Richter 1998: fig. 143)..... 507 (a)

507(a). Gena and sides of thorax with black setulae. Fronto-orbital plate in male with or without proclinate setae. Abdominal tergites 3 and 4 usually without median discal setae............ 507 (aa)

– Gena and sides of thorax with pale setulae. Fronto-orbital plate in male without proclinate setae. Abdominal tergites 3 and 4 each with two or three pairs of median discal setae, with one pair anterior to the other................................................................................... Frontina Meigen, 1838

507(aa). Face usually 1.7–2.0 times as long as frons (Fig. 6F) [Comment: Face in G. carthaginensis (Bischof, 1900) only 1.3–1.5 times as long as frons, while frons measures 2.0–2.3 times as wide as one eye]. Frons more than 1.4 times as wide as one eye in dorsal view (Fig. 6H). Fronto-orbital plate in male with or without proclinate setae. 2–4 reclinate upper orbital setae present [Comment: Usually one reclinate upper orbital seta is present in G. theodori (Figs 6F–H)]. Apical scutellar setae inclined at 45–90° to horizontal (see Tschorsnig & Richter 1998: figs 126–127). Gena 0.3– 0.5 times as height as vertical diameter of eye (Fig. 6F). Male terminalia: Surstylus in lateral view broader and shorter than cercus (Fig. 5D)................................... Gymnophryxe Villeneuve, 1922

– Face 1.2–1.3 times as long as frons (Fig. 6C). Frons at most 1.15–1.40 times as wide as one eye in dorsal view (Fig. 6E). Fronto-orbital plate in male with two strong proclinate setae (Fig. 6C–E) and one single reclinate upper orbital seta (sometimes a fine semi reclinate seta before, Fig. 3). Apical scutellar setae inclined at most at 30° to horizontal. Gena almost 0.2 times as heigh as vertical diameter of eye (Fig. 6C). Male terminalia: Surstyli and cerci in lateral view slender; surstylus longer than cercus (Fig. 5B).............................. Susamyia Ziegler & Gilasian gen. nov.

Key 2. Specimens with only one reclinate upper orbital seta

496. Upper part of head without black setulae behind the postocular row. One single reclinate upper orbital seta present (see Tschorsnig & Richter 1998: fig. 50) [Comment: Two reclinate upper orbital setae rarely occur in the specimens of Susamyia gen. nov. (Fig. 8A) and Palesisa (Fig. 8B), while is frequently observed in the specimens of Kuwanimyia Townsend, 1916; lateral scutellar setae in Susamyia gen. nov. as strong and long as basal setae]................................................ 497

497. Ocellar setae reclinate. Prementum four to five times as long as its diameter. Scutellum without apical setae, but with a pair of straight nearly erect setulae on dorsal surface just anterior to apex (see Tschorsnig & Richter 1998: fig. 123).............................. Goniophthalmus Villeneuve, 1910

– Ocellar setae proclinate (see Tschorsnig & Richter 1998: fig. 50). Prementum at most two times as long as its diameter. Scutellum with crossed apical bristles, without erect preapical setulae.................................................................................................................................................. 498 (a)

498(a). Lateral scutellar setae strong, as long and strong as subapical scutellar setae. Fronto-orbital plate in both sexes with two strong proclinate setae and only a few short hair-like setulae (Figs 6C–E, 8A).................................................................................... Susamyia Ziegler & Gilasian gen. nov.

– Lateral scutellar setae absent or hair-like. Fronto-orbital plate in male without proclinate setae, but with many long hair-like setulae (as in Fig. 8B) [Comment: Rare specimens of Kuwanimyia possess one proclinate upper orbital setae]........................................................................ 498 (aa)

498(aa). Second aristomere 1.0–2.5 times as long as its diameter. Postpedicel less than four times as long as pedicel................................................................................................ Palesisa Villeneuve, 1929

– Second aristomere 2–10 times as long as its diameter. Postpedicel 4–10 times as long as pedicel in Palearctic species. For further characters see (Cerretti 2009)............................................................. Dolichocolon Brauer & Bergenstamm, 1889 and Kuwanimyia conspersa Townsend, 1916