Scatopsciara (Xenopygina) subfratercula Mohrig & Kauschke, 2016, sp. n.

Scatopsciara (Xenopygina) subfratercula sp. n.

(Fig. 9 C–F)

Locus typicus: Canada, Alberta, Berland River at Hwy 40, 53.42°N, 118.20°W, pine forest. Holotype: Male, 30.iv.–11.vi.1994, leg. E. Fuller, Malaise trap (PWMP).

Description. Male. Head. Brown. Eye bridge 3 facets wide. 4th flagellomere with l/w-index 2.0, haired somewhat shorter than wide. Palpus 3-segmented, short; basal segment without deepened sensory pit, with 1–2 bristles. Thorax. Brown; scutum haired shortly, fine and whitish. Wings pale; R1 rather long, longer 1/2 R; c = 2/3 w; y shorter x, bare; posterior veins distinct, bare. Haltere short, pale. Legs brownish; tibial organ small, with two bristles only; spurs of middle and hind tibiae with long but unequally long spurs; claws toothless. Abdomen. Brownish, haired short, fine, sparsely and whitish. Hypopygium brownish, ventral base closed and haired denser than inner ventral margin of gonocoxites; gonocoxites slightly longer than gonostylus; gonostylus without apical tooth; with 3–4 spines near the apex and 2 closely situated spines on a common strong protuberance in the middle of inner side; all spines with rather strong bases. Tegmen with strong lateral corners. Body size: 2.0 mm.

Comments. The species is characterized by a strong protuberance in the middle of the inner side of gonostylus with a pair of closely neighboring spines and 3–4 spines on the apex. The species is similar to Sc. fratercula (Vilkamaa & Hippa). It differs by a larger protuberance in the middle of gonostylus, the base of two spines in the middle of inner side, and a lesser number of spines on the apex. It might be considered as a “missing link” to the species Sc. hastata (Johannsen) and Sc. paradoxa (Frey), which are seen as isolated so far. The species belongs to the Sc. paradoxa group.

Distribution. Canada (Alberta).