Scatophila mesogramma Loew

Scatophila mesogramma (Loew)

(Figs. 18–23)

Scatella mesogramma Loew, 1869: 42.

Scatophila mesogramma: Sturtevant, 1923: 12 (combination). Scatophila grisescens Frey, 1915: 32, new synonym.

Scatophila infantina Becker, 1926: 89, synonymized by Zatwarnicki, 1987: 282.

Type material examined: One female of the senior synonym, in good condition, was labelled: “ Scatophila mesogramma ♀ ”, "364", "R. I.", "Loew Coll.", "mesograma Lw.", " Type 11148", mounted directly, preserved in MCZ. The holotype female of the junior synonym, which is glued to a paper triangle, in moderate condition (left basal flagellomere missing, left wing broken at the base), labelled: empty gold round label; "Kasatschie 5. VII. 1909 " (handwritten), " Scatophila grisescens n. sp.? Frey det." (name handwritten), " Holotypus " (printed, red), and is preserved in ZIN.

Other material examined: CANADA: Northwest Territories: Chesterfield, 10. VII. 1950, J. G. Chillcott, 4 ex; Nova Scotia: East End, Sable Is., 9. VI. 1967, D. M. Wood, 2 ex, S. Harbour Bch. PG957946, 11. VIII. 1 983, J. R. Vockeroth, 26 ex; Quebec: Gt. Whale R., 23. VI.–24. VIII. 1949, J. R. Vockeroth, 24 ex (CNC); Natashquwan, 23. VII. 1930, W. J. Brown, 1 ex (AMNH). USA: Oregon, Boiler Bay, 9–30. III. 1930, J. Wilcox, 2 ♂; Massachusetts: Martha's Vineyard, Oak Bluffs, 13. VI. 1917, C. W. Johnson, 1 ♀; New Jersey: Wildwood, 18. VII. 1908, 1 ♀ (all ANSP). DENMARK: Frederikshavn, 30. VI. 1908, Th. Mortensen, 2 ♀ (ZMUC). GERMANY: Nordrhein-Westfallen: distr. Herford, Enger/ Bünde, 5. VII. 1994, T. Zatwarnicki, 1 ♂ (TZPC). POLAND: Wrocław-Leśnica, 10. V. 1985, T. Zatwarnicki, 1 ♀ (TZPC). RUSSIA: Karelia: Paanajärvi, R. Frey, 2 ♀ (MZH); Nenetsia: Pechora Bay (68°53'N, 53°34'E), 25–26. VIII. 1994, C. Hansson, 1 ♀ (MZLU). SWEDEN: Norrbotten: Piteå, Pitholmen, 7. IX. 1965, H. Andersson, 1 ♀ (MZLU); Skania, Borgeby, WSW Löddesnäs, 26. VII. 1966, L. Hedström, 1 ♀ (UUZM).

Type localities: Senior synonym was described from " Newport, Rhode Island " (USA). Junior synonym was collected in Russia. " Jana-Land, Dorf Kasatschje am Fl. Jana " (= Kazachye, near Jana river; coordinates 70°44' 2.3" N, 136° 13' 10.9" E).

Diagnosis. The species is closely related to S. arenaria Cresson but is distinguished from other species by mostly pale, whitish wing, with a spotted pattern scarcely evident; gena broad, more than twice as wide as width of basal flagellomere (Figs.18–19); mesonotum uniformly brownish-grey, frequently with small pale presutural spots (Fig. 23). Male terminalia (Fig. 20–22) with concave anterior margin of epandrium and triangular shape of anterior portion of the gonite, sclerotized part of the aedeagus with length twice the height.

Distribution. Nearctic: Canada (Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Quebec), United States (Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island). Palaearctic: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Poland, Russia (European Territory, Siberia), Sweden.

Remarks. External features of the holotype of S. grisescens have been examined and clearly represent S. mesogramma, with which it is now formally synonymized.