Monocentrota matilei Bechev 1989

6. Monocentrota matilei Bechev, 1989 **

(Figs 1–3)

Material examined. S1 4–18.IV.06 1 ♂ 1 ♀. S2 2 –16.V.06 1 ♀, 11–25.VII.06 4 ♂♂, 25.VII–8.VIII.06 2 ♂♂.

Chorotype. Type 6 [1.12 of Vigna Taglianti et al. (1999)]. Mediterranean and central European.

Italian distribution. Sardinia only.

Notes. Monocentrota matilei may be misplaced generically as it differs from other species of the genus in having antennae with only 13 flagellomeres and simple slender apically tapered gonostyli. Other Monocentrota Edwards species have 14 flagellomeres as in most Keroplatidae and the gonostyli are blunt ended with internal apical teeth. Bechev (1989) described this species from Bulgaria and Algeria. Papp (2003) recorded it from Hungary and provided more detailed figures of the genitalia. The Sardinian specimens agree in most respects with the figures provided by Bechev and Papp but the genitalia are also figured here (Figs 1– 3) as they obviously differ from previous figures in the following respects: tergite 9 longer and more tapered apically and the cerci markedly smaller relative to this tergite (Fig. 3) and teeth only apparent on the apical margin of the aedeagus (Fig. 2) rather than more widely on its surface. The male Sardinian material is also described below to augment the description given by Bechev and to characterise the population. Further study may show that it is specifically distinct but study of further material from other areas would be desirable to determine if this is the case.

Description. Male. Head dark brown with short dark occipital bristling. Antenna about as long as thorax, dark brown, with 2 + 13 segments; flagellomeres not much longer than broad. Palpus brownish, slender.

Thorax dark brown with short black bristling on mesonotum in acrostichal and dorsocentral stripes, and irregular longer black setae laterally. Pleura bare except for scattered short setae on upper part of anepisternum. Laterotergite with dark bristling on upper half. Mediotergite bare. Wing slightly brownish tinted on membrane, with costa and radial veins brown. Vein Sc short, ending in costa before level of base of Rs. Vein R 4 short, ending in costa more than twice its length beyond tip of R 1. Costa extends 0.5 distance from R 5 to M 1. Basal part of M not developed; r-m fusion long but shorter than curved Rs and stem of median fork. Vein A 1 weak on apical half but faintly reaching costa. R 1 and R 5 setose, other veins including Rs, r-m fusion and R 4 bare. Haltere yellow. Wing length 1.9–2.6 mm. Legs brownish yellow, with short dark setulae, those on tibiae and tarsi in regular rows; no stronger setae developed. Fore leg with metatarsus half length of tibia. Tibial spurs brown, a single spur on each tibia, that on fore leg as long as width of tibial apex, on mid leg 1.5 times and on hind leg twice as long as width of tibial apex.

Abdomen including genitalia brown with short dark bristling. Genitalia (Figs 1–3) with broadly emarginate gonocoxites, simple slender apically tapered gonostylus and aedeagus short and broad with short marginal teeth. Tergite 9 (Fig. 3) simple, tapered and rounded apically, with small densely bristled cerci protruding apically.