Schizohelea incerta

Schizohelea incerta (Clastrier, 1963)

(Figs. 4a–d, 5)

Monohelea incerta Clastrier, 1963: 60 (female, Algeria).

Diagnosis. In both sexes second radial cell about 1.2–1.3 times longer than first radial cell. Males are distinct in having aedeagus with two apical submedian processes and a ventral plate armed with strong teeth, slender parameres armed with a short claw-like spine, and bilobed lateroventral tubercle of gonocoxite. Female with or without macrotrichia on posterior half of wings, with unarmed legs, and arms of sternite 9 broad and blunt, each with dark recurved apical margin.

Description

Male. Body black with slightly paler tarsi (Fig. 4d). Flagellum 0.73–0.74 mm long. Third palpal segment 0.070 –0.085 mm long (Fig. 4a). Wing length 1.37–1.50 mm, costal ratio CR 0.58–0.64; second radial cell about 1.2–1.3 times longer than first one (Fig. 4b). Wing membrane without macrotrichia. Knob of haltere pale with few short setae. Scutellum with 4 bristles and several short setae. Legs slender (Fig. 4d), tarsal ratio TR(1) 1.5–1.7, TR(2) 1.8, TR(3) 1.6–1.8. Gonocoxite with blunt lateroventral bilobed tubercle (Figs. 5a, c). Gonostylus slender, slightly C-curved, about 1.3 times longer than gonocoxite. Parameres slender with short claw-like dark apical curved spine (Figs. 5d–e). Aedeagus arch-shaped with two submedian apical projections and dentate ventral plate (Figs. 5f–h).

Female. Similar to male. Flagellum length 0.57–0.61 mm, antennal ratio AR 0.98–1.00. Third palpal segment 0.070 mm long. Mandible armed with 10–12 teeth. Wing length 1.23–1.42 mm, costal ratio CR 0.64–0.70; second radial cell about 1.2–1.3 times longer than first radial cell. Wing membrane in two specimens with few macrotrichia at anterior apex (Fig. 4c). Scutellum with 4 bristles and several short setae. Tarsal ratio TR(1) 1.7–1.8, TR(2) 1.9–2.2, TR(3) 2.4–2.5. Spermathecae almost spherical, subequal, length with neck 0.053 –0.060 mm. Rudimentary spermatheca indistinct. Sternite 9 separated medially with broad, blunt single arms, each with dark recurved apical margin.

Material examined. Tunisia. Jendouba Governorate, suburbia of Tabarka, inside trap-flowers of Aristolochia navicularis, 15.03.2006, N36 o 55’03.3 ’’ E08 o 45’12’’, 3 females, 11 males, Ch. Neinhuis & S. Wanke leg.

Distribution. Algeria and Tunisia in North Africa. Both sexes visit flowers of Aristolochia navicularis. From Tunisia recorded for the first time.

Comments. The male is described and illustrated for the first time.