Drymeia valentinae

Drymeia valentinae (Pont, 1975)

Fig. 3

Pogonomyia valentinae Pont, 1975: 193.

KYRGYZSTAN • 2 ♂♂; Naryn Oblast, Inner Tien Shan, Baybiche-Too Range, Kalakashu Pass, SW of Naryn; 40°58′57″ N, 75°10′14″ E [40.9825″ N, 75.17056″ E]; 3400 m a.s.l.; 25 Jul. 2009; J. Ziegler leg.; ZMHU • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Naryn Oblast, Inner Tien Shan, At Bashi Mts, Kynda Pass, S of Besh Bel-Chir; 41°09′00″ N, 76°26′41″ E; 3400 m a.s.l.; 18 Jul. 2009; J. Ziegler leg.; ZMHU • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀; Naryn Oblast, Kynda Pass, S of Besh Bel-Chir; 41°09′028″ N, 76°26′406″ E; 3414 m a.s.l.; 18 Jul. 2009; D. Werner leg.; SDEI • 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; OUMNH • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; BMNH • 1♂; Naryn Oblast, Kiokkyia Valley; 40°42′603″ N, 76°23′620″ E; 3410 m a.s.l.; 20 Jul. 2009; D. Werner leg.; SDEI • 1 ♂; Issyk-Kul Oblast, Tien Shan, Terskey-Alatoo Mts, Upper Ak-Terek Valley (Tash-Tar-Ata Mts), SE of Bökönbaev; 42°04′22″ N, 77°08′02″ E; 2620 m a.s.l.; 22 Jun. 2011; J. Ziegler leg.; ZMHU • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; OUMNH.

This species was described from Kyrgyzstan but has not yet been found in other neighbouring mountain ranges, although we have seen it from Kazakhstan (Almaty env., Zailiysky alatau). It is similar to D. fasciculata, but differs by the presence of only 3 postsutural dorsocentrals and the different conformation and armature of the ♂ mid femur: mid femur curved, with 2–3 stout anteroventral setae on third quarter, much longer than depth of femur, and, opposite them, on posteroventral surface with several shorter fine setae; basal half of femur bare on anteroventral and posteroventral surfaces. ♂ hind femur with strong anteroventrals in apical half, weaker setae in basal half where they are more anterior than anteroventral; without posteroventral setae. ♀ frons relatively narrow, in frontal view and at middle appearing much narrower than an eye-width; mid femur with 2 anteroventrals in apical third, otherwise without anteroventrals or posteroventrals; mid tibia with 2 anterodorsals.

This is very probably the species listed as “ Pogonomyia, sp. n. ” by Sychevskaya & Vtorov (1969: 828), who collected it in association with the Altay marmot, Marmota baibacina baibacina Kastschenko, 1899, either on droppings or in the burrows or on both. The type-series of Drymeia valentinae included some paratypes collected by P.P. Vtorov in the Chon Kyzyl-Su valley in the Terskey Alatau range in 1964, 1965 and 1966 and by R.I. Zlotin in the upper reaches of the River Naryn in 1965, some of which could be those which Sychevskaya & Vtorov listed as “ Pogonomyia, sp. n. ” which was also listed from the upper reaches of the River Naryn.

Palaearctic: Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan.