a new species of laboulbenia ascomycota parasitic on an african fly diptera curtonotidae with a brief review of diptera associated species of the genus

A new parasitic fungus, Laboulbenia curtonoti sp. n., associated with the endemic Madagascan fly Curtonotum balachowskyi Tsacas (Diptera: Curtonotidae), is described and figured. The new species is one of the very few Laboulbeniales which penetrate the insect's cuticle by means of more-or-less developed rhizoids. A brief review of the 23 species of the genus Laboulbenia associated with Diptera is presented in a tabulated form

A systematic revision of selected genera of afrotropical curtonotidae (Diptera: schizophora: ephydroidea) : a phylogenetic approach

The first comprehensive phylogeny of the family Curtonotidae is presented based on molecular markers and morphology. This enabled assessment of evolutionary relatedness, species radiation and zoogeography. A revised classification of the world fauna of the family, based on the results of this study is outlined. Nomenclatural acts flowing from these analyses include: the recognition three new Afrotropical species of Axinota van der Wulp; four new species of a new genus, Tigrisomyia Kirk-Spriggs; and nineteen new species of Curtonotum (six Madagascan and thirteen African). Ten informal species-groups of Curtonotum are recognised. Identification keys are provided for the Afrotropical species of these genera and errors in previous interpretations and designation of type specimens are resolved. Species distributions are mapped and interpreted and discussion is made of the historical biogeographical significance of these distributions

Figs 9–13 in A revision of Afrotropical Quasimodo flies (Diptera: Schizophora; Curtonotidae). Part III - the Malagasy species of Curtonotum Macquart, with descriptions of six new species

Figs 9–13. Head and thorax (lateral view) of Curtonotum spp., males: (9) C. rinhatinana sp. n., HT, Ankarafantsika, CAS; (10) C. boeny, HT, Ambato-Boeni, MNHN; (11) C. griveaudi sp. n., HT, Asondrodava dry forest, CAS; (12) C. pauliani, N-T, Tsingy National Park, CAS; (13) C. sakalava, N-T, Berenty Special Reserve, CAS. Not to scale.Published as part of Kirk-Spriggs, Ashley H., 2011, A revision of Afrotropical Quasimodo flies (Diptera: Schizophora; Curtonotidae). Part III - the Malagasy species of Curtonotum Macquart, with descriptions of six new species, pp. 391 in African Invertebrates 52 (2) on page 405, DOI: 10.5733/afin.052.0212, http://zenodo.org/record/834293

Curtonotum rinhatinana Kirk-Spriggs 2011, sp. n.

Curtonotum rinhatinana sp. n. Figs 9, 22, 35, 73, 74, 74a, 74b, 75, 87, 100 Etymology: The specific epithet is a combination of the names Rinha and Tina Harin’ Hala, in recognition of their contribution to Malagasy dipterology. Differential diagnosis: Although similar in external characters to other species of the genus occurring in Madagascar (inasmuch as the poor condition of the unique holotype allows comparison), the bizarre structure of the basiphallus and the presence of what is here interpreted as a sclerotised sperm pump, may preclude any direct association. This is the only know species worldwide to possess such a structure and this may be an ancient species, that has been retained as a relict on Madagascar. Associations with other species (if they exist), must await a detailed phylogenetic analysis. Description: Male (based on unique field­pinned HT). As redescribed for C. balachowskyi, differing in the following respects: Measurements: Overall length unknown; length of head and thorax combined 2.7 mm; length of thorax and scutellum combined 2.6 mm; wing length 4.1 mm. Head (Figs 9, 22). Eye height/length ratio: 11:7 (HT); frons (Fig. 22), subparallel-sided, slightly wider than long, frons length/width ratio: 6:8 (HT), slightly wider at vertex than at ventral margin, ground colour pale dirty yellow, vittae conspicuous, reaching ventral margin; orbital plates and ocellar triangle silver-grey pruinose, ocelli clear brown; orbital plates extending from vertex of head to 0.8 length of frons; lateral margins with very narrow silver pruinose fascia (adjacent to eye margin), widest at midlength of face (posterior and anterior orbital setae, postocellar and vertical setae missing on unique HT and cannot be described); ocellar setae short, only extending ca 0.7 length of frons; antennal scape and pedicel dirty pale brown, silver-grey pruinose, flagellomere 1 concolourous with pedicel, darkened in apical ⅔, especially along anterior margin, slightly silver-grey pruinose, 2.5× as long as wide, apex evenly-rounded (right flagellomere 1 and left arista missing from HT and arista cannot be described); lunule brown, shiny; face uniform silver-grey pruinose throughout, with very narrow silver fascia (adjacent to eye margin), region between this fascia and ptilinal fissure yellow­silver pruinose, facial carina developed as a prominent ridge, extending ⅔ length of face, vibrissae strong; occiput grey pruinose; gena narrow, eye height/genal height ratio: 11:1 (HT), silver pruinose, abruptly dirty brown beyond basal angle; palpus thin, black, brown basally, brown microtrichose. Thorax (Fig. 22). Mesonotum (badly rubbed on unique HT), as described for C. boeny, except: acrostichal setae slightly shorter than anterior dorsocentral seta (presutural and notopleural setae missing on HT and cannot be described); postalar setae, moderately strong, longer than acrostichal setae; postpronotum (postpronotal setae missing on HT, but socket size indicates two present), with 8 finer, black­brown setulae; anepisternum silver-grey pruinose, with yellow pruinose patch in centre, with 3 moderately strong anepisternal setae (the more ventral missing on HT, but size of socket indicates this to be smaller and finer than dorsal and medial setae), with 20 fine setulae, some larger and arranged in 2 groups of 3 and 2; katepisternum with ventral katepisternal seta strong, the more dorsal much smaller and finer, ca 0.3 length of ventral katepisternal setae, surface with 15 short, fine setulae at base and along posterior margin. Scutellum. Uniform, golden-silver-grey pruinose (medial vitta not discernable on HT, basomedial area rubbed); weak intermediate scutellar setula inserted 0.8 distance between medial and lateral scutellar setae. Legs. Fore coxa with 8 diminutive brown setulae on anterior surface; mid coxa with 2 very strong, lateral, ventrally-directed black setae, 1 very strong medial seta and 5 brown setulae; fore tibia with 4 strong setae on lateral margin, the second basal seta of similar length to other three, with ctenidium of 9 or 10 short, sharp, black spinules, separated from each other by one or more basal spinule widths. Wing (as in Fig. 35). Relatively short and very broad, tip slightly angularly rounded; veins chestnut-brown, membrane very faintly infuscate brown throughout, very slightly darker in medial region of r 1 and in region of dm–cu crossvein; dm–cu crossvein subvertical, with indentation in basal half; haltere pale yellow. Abdomen (Tergites 1–2 damaged on macerated abdomen of HT): Ground colour of tergites unknown; tergites 3–5 with narrow, V-shaped concolourous median fascia and well separated and greatly reduced concolourous T-shaped dorsolateral macula, apparently not merging with fascia, lateral margin of tergites 2–5 with subelliptical concolourous macula in basal half; sternite 4, quadrate, evenly rounded laterally, with straight apical margin; sternite 5 rectangular, evenly-rounded at sides, slightly less that twice length of sternite 4, with faint lateral macula, both unmodified, with sparse brown setulae arranged in irregular rows, those along lateral and apical margins of sternite 4 slightly longer and stronger; sternite 6 (Fig. 87) subquadrate (may appear narrower than Fig. 87 in undissected specimens), narrowed basally, evenly rounded laterally, with very shallow, broad excision apically, with indistinct medial macula and fascia laterally, clothed in short, brown, regular setulae in apical ⅔, those at apical margin spare, longer and more prominent. Terminalia (Figs 73, 74, 75). Hypandrium (Fig. 73, hy) long, with broad-based rounded-truncate dorsobasal lobe, posterior bridge dorsally and ventrally produced (rounded to slightly angulate in profile); hypandrial arms narrow basally, expanded apically (viewed laterally), with 2 setulae proximal to postgonite, the more lateral ventrally directed, the medial ventromedially directed (obscured by epandrium on Fig. 73), sclerotised area of medial lobes (viewed dorsally), parallel-sided, well separated; postgonite (Fig. 73, pg) very short, relatively broad, with slight undulating anterior margin; epandrium (Fig. 73, ep) slightly broader dorsally than ventrally (viewed laterally), evenly rounded on dorsal margin, posterior margin angled, ventral margin with row of long regular to irregular, apically-directed setae; cercus (Fig. 73, ce) not prominent, longest setae longer than setae on dorsal margin of epandrium; surstylus (Fig. 73, ss) very short, widest basally, slightly curved in apical half; phallus (as in Figs 74, ph, bp, dp, 75, bp, dp) highly modified, heavily sclerotised, brown, especially along anterior margin; phallapodeme (Fig. 74, ph) fused to basiphallus, subtriangular and flat, with heavily­sclerotised region basally (viewed laterally); ejaculatory apodeme detached during dissection (Fig. 75, ea) but free, with duct probably inserted at junction of phallapodeme and basiphallus; basiphallus (Fig. 74, bp) grossly expanded, forming extensive, extremely wide, sclerotised, half-moon-shaped plate, strongly concave on left side, arm of basiphallus discernable through plate cuticle for basal half and apical ⅔; distiphallus (Figs 74, 75, dp) extremely short, with relatively broad, sclerotised basal section (viewed laterally, Fig. 75, dp), right margin indented laterally, with crenulated margin, right lateral margin with membrane with short forked process (may have become detached from lateral margin during dissection), blade ending in acute point, left margin with black-brown sclerotised, apically recurved bar, with curved, downwardly-directed process at point of bend; sperm pump (Figs 74a, 74b) heavily sclerotised, brown, with rugose surface, capsulate, ovoid, with apical extension and distinct sclerotised lip around apical opening (this became detached during dissection and its position in relation to the rest of the terminalia complex cannot be accessed). Variation: Insufficient material is available to assess variability. Holotype: ♂ “ MADAGASCAR: / Ankarafantsika / (Forest Reserve) / near Marovoay / XII­1­1959 // E. S. Ross / Collector // HOLOTYPE ♂ / Curtonotum / rinhatinana sp. n. / A.H. Kirk-Spriggs 2010 [red card]” (CAS). In fair condition, mesonotum rubbed, some head setation missing and tarsi damaged; one wing detached and glued to card; card-pointed; dissected, abdomen and terminalia in micro-vial pinned beneath specimen. Distribution (Fig. 100): Apparently confined to the Western Dry Forest vegetation type in the Dry Deciduous Forest biome. In the North West biogeographical zone and Dry bioclimatic zone (Figs 105–107; Tables 1–3; Appendix II).Published as part of Kirk-Spriggs, Ashley H., 2011, A revision of Afrotropical Quasimodo flies (Diptera: Schizophora; Curtonotidae). Part III - the Malagasy species of Curtonotum Macquart, with descriptions of six new species, pp. 391 in African Invertebrates 52 (2) on pages 428-431, DOI: 10.5733/afin.052.0212, http://zenodo.org/record/834293

Figs 92–96 in A revision of Afrotropical Quasimodo flies (Diptera: Schizophora; Curtonotidae). Part III - the Malagasy species of Curtonotum Macquart, with descriptions of six new species

Figs 92–96. Distribution of Malagasy Curtonotom spp.: (92) C. keiseri; (93) C. stuckenbergi; (94) C. sternithrix; (95) C. irwini sp. n.; (96) C. parkeri sp. n.Published as part of Kirk-Spriggs, Ashley H., 2011, A revision of Afrotropical Quasimodo flies (Diptera: Schizophora; Curtonotidae). Part III - the Malagasy species of Curtonotum Macquart, with descriptions of six new species, pp. 391 in African Invertebrates 52 (2) on page 442, DOI: 10.5733/afin.052.0212, http://zenodo.org/record/834293

Curtonotum ndoki Kirk-Spriggs 2023, sp. n.

Curtonotum ndoki Kirk-Spriggs, sp. n. Figs 1–7. Etymology. The specific epithet ndoki is a noun in apposition, named after the type locality Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, Republic of Congo. Description: J (based on unique field-pinned holotype). As described for C. marriott Kirk-Spriggs, 2013 (see Kirk-Spriggs & Wiegmann 2013: 67), differing in the following respects: Measurements: Overall length unknown (abdomen removed for dissection); length of head and thorax combined 3.8 mm; length of thorax and scutellum combined 3.6 mm; wing length 5.4 mm. Head (Figs 1, 3). Eye height/length ratio: 14: 8; frons (Fig. 3) length/width ratio: 9: 12; arista with 11 dorsal branches and 4 ventral branches; face uniformly grey dusted, without silver fascia between eye margin and ptilinal fissure, edge adjacent to ptilinal fissure concolourous with face; 17 fine setae bordering genal groove; eye height/ genal height ratio: 14: 4. Thorax (Figs 1, 2). Postpronotum with 22 fine setulae; anepisternum with ca 40 fine setulae; dorsal katepisternal setae ca ½ length of ventral, with 26 short, fine setulae. Scutellum (Fig. 2). Concolourous with median part of scutum, apical marginal setae slightly shorter than lateral marginal setae. Legs. Uniformly pale yellow; fore coxa with 22 brown setulae; fore tibia with ctenidium of 16 short, weaklydeveloped spinules. Wing (Fig. 4). Membrane slightly darker in anterior ¼, bordering both sides of vein R 2+3 and over dm–m crossvein; dm–m crossvein with acute angle. Abdomen. Sternite 6 (Fig. 5) apically expanded, with sides evenly rounded, with relatively deep, wide, V-shaped apical excision, clothed in short black irregular brown setulae, those at apical margin longer and more prominent. Terminalia (Figs 5–7). Hypandrium (Fig. 6, hypd) with 2 setulae proximal to postgonite (obscured by epandrium on Fig. 6); postgonite (pgt); epandrium (epand); cercus (cerc); surstylus (sur) as illustrated in Fig. 6; phallus as illustrated in Fig. 7, phapod, basph, distph); ejaculatory apodeme missing from holotype; basiphallus (Fig. 7, basph) narrow and regular in basal ¼, then slightly narrowed, with moderately sclerotised spur-like extension of left side clearly visible through cuticle, inner lateral margin developed into convex, prominent acute spur-like projection (Fig. 7); distiphallus (Fig. 7, distph) short, subdivided into apically expanded, forked basoventral process (bv proc) with two finger-like processes. ♀ Unknown. Differential diagnosis. Based on wing venation (especially the similar shape of the dm–m crossvein) and the structure of the male terminalia (mainly the shape of the distiphallus and basoventral process), the new species appears to be most closely related to C. marriott. It significantly differs from its congeners, however, in the shape of the lateral extension of the basiphallus, which terminates in a sharp point. Type material examined. REPUBLIC OF CONGO: holotype ³, “REPUBLIC OF CONGO 349m / Likouala Prov., Nouabale-Ndoki / National Park, Makao forest / (Secondary forest) / 02°36′42.5′′N, 17°09′23.8′′E / 23– 28.ix.2022 Malaise Trap / Dérozier, V., Fouka,B., / Kirk-Spriggs,A., Takano, H. Leg. / ANHRT:2022.14 // HOLO- TYPE ³ / Curtonotum / ndoki / A.H. Kirk-Spriggs 2022 [printed; red border]” (deposited ANHRTUK # 00273380). In excellent condition; micro-pinned and staged; dissected, abdomen and terminalia in micro-vial pinned beneath specimen. Distribution: Republic of Congo. Bionomics: Occurring in disturbed Guineo-Congolian rainforest (Fig. 8). Amended couplets from the identification key provided by Kirk-Spriggs & Wiegmann (2013: 53). To avoid confusion, “fig.” or “figs” is applied below to denote figures in Kirk-Spriggs & Wiegmann (2013) and “Fig.” or “Figs” for figures in this paper. 5. Lateral margin of basiphallus with angulate, sub-rectangular extension (fig. 224); male sternite 6 with lateral margins gently curved and U-shaped apical excision (fig. 218); dm–m crossvein as illustrated in fig. 163; spermatheca (fig. 213)..................................................................................... C. marriott Kirk-Spriggs, 2013 - Lateral margin of basiphallus either with finger-like, evenly-rounded extension and serrated edge (figs 225, 226), with fingerlike, evenly-rounded extension and shallow, wide apical excision (fig. 227), or with lateral margin terminating in acute spur-like process (Fig. 7); male sternite 6 with lateral margins rounded or straight with V-shaped apical excision (figs 219, 220; Fig. 5); spermathecae (figs 214, 215)............................................................................ 6 6. Lateral margin of basiphallus with finger-like, extension and serrated edge (figs 225, 226); male sternite 6 with shallow Vshaped apical excision (fig. 219); dm–m crossvein as illustrated in Fig. 164; spermatheca (fig. 214)................................................................................................. C. moffatt Kirk-Spriggs, 2013 - Lateral margin of basiphallus with finger-like, evenly-rounded extension and shallow, wide apical excision (fig. 227); male sternite 6 with narrow V-shaped apical excision (fig. 220); dm–m crossvein evenly curved as illustrated in fig. 165; spermatheca (fig. 215); female unknown........................................................... C. platyphallum Tsacas - Lateral margin of basiphallus terminating in acute spur-like process (Fig. 7); male sternite 6 with wide V-shaped apical excision (Fig. 5); dm–m crossvein angulate as illustrated in Fig. 4; female unknown.......................... C. ndoki sp. nov.Published as part of Kirk-Spriggs, Ashley H., 2023, A new species of the Curtonotum platyphallum species-group (Diptera: Curtonotidae) from Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, Republic of Congo, pp. 137-142 in Zootaxa 5227 (1) on pages 138-141, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5227.1.7, http://zenodo.org/record/751848

FIGURES 5–7 in A new species of the Curtonotum platyphallum species-group (Diptera: Curtonotidae) from Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, Republic of Congo

FIGURES 5–7. Male terminalia of holotype of Curtonotum ndoki sp. nov. 5. Sternite 6 (ventral view). 6. Hypandrium and epandrium (lateral view). 7. Phallus (right lateral view) (ejaculatory apodeme missing). Scale bars = 0.2 mm.Published as part of Kirk-Spriggs, Ashley H., 2023, A new species of the Curtonotum platyphallum species-group (Diptera: Curtonotidae) from Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, Republic of Congo, pp. 137-142 in Zootaxa 5227 (1) on page 140, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5227.1.7, http://zenodo.org/record/751848

Curtonotum keiseri : Tsacas 1974

<i>Curtonotum keiseri</i> Tsacas, 1974 <p>Figs 1, 14, 27, 55, 58, 61, 79, 92</p> <p> <i>Curtonotum keiseri</i>: Tsacas 1974: 706, 707 (figs 2e–f). Type locality: “ Madagascar, Joffreville ”.</p> <p> Differential diagnosis: This species is closely related to <i>C</i>. <i>stuckenbergi</i> Tsacas, differing in the colour of the frons (brown with distinct vittae in <i>C</i>. <i>keiseri</i> and yellow with indistinct vittae in <i>C</i>. <i>stuckenbergi</i>) the colour of flagellomere 1 and the shape of the male terminalia. Both share the deep brown, infuscate wing membrane, the dove-tailed sternite 6, and the straight, ventrally-directed, lateral spine and two smaller spines on the distiphallus. <i>Curtonotum keiseri</i> differ from <i>C</i>. <i>stuckenbergi</i>, however, in the angle and degree of curvature of the <i>dm–cu</i> crossvein of the wing, in the lateral margins of the phallus being only moderately sclerotised, and in the smaller spines of the distiphallus positioned in the basolateral region, rather than the left and right lateral regions. The ranges of the two species do not overlap, and they occur allopatrically.</p> <p>Redescription:</p> <p> <i>Male</i> (primarily based on field­pinned HT and PT).</p> <p> As redescribed for <i>C</i>. <i>balachowskyi</i>, differing in the following respects: Measurements: Total length 5 mm; length of head and thorax combined 3 mm; length of thorax and scutellum combined 3 mm (<i>n</i> = 1, PT); wing length 3.8 mm (<i>n</i> = 1, N-T).</p> <p> <i>Head</i> (Figs 1, 14). As described for <i>C</i>. <i>gladiiformis</i> sp. n., except: eye height/length ratio: 13:8 (<i>n</i> = 1, PT); frons (Fig. 14), frons length/width ratio: 6:7 (<i>n</i> = 1, PT), orbital plates extending 0.9 length of frons; posterior orbital seta moderately strong, slightly shorter than outer vertical seta; flagellomere 1 yellow pruinose basally and along posterior margin, dark grey pruinose centrally and on anterior margin, arista with 10 or 11 long dorsal branches and 4 ventral branches in addition to terminal fork; gena narrow, eye height/genal height ratio: 12:1 (HT), silver pruinose, slightly darker beyond basal angle; vibrissae strongly developed; palpus pale brown.</p> <p> <i>Thorax</i> (Fig. 1). Mesonotum with 2 median vittae wide, 2 lateral vittae shorter, clearly defined; supra­alar seta, <i>ca</i> twice length of posterior dorsocentral seta; postalar setae, moderately strong, slightly exceeding length of acrostichal setae; postpronotum with 13 finer, black­brown setulae; anepisternum surface with 33 fine setulae, some larger and arranged in 2 groups of 3 and 5; anepimeron, laterotergite and meron silver-grey to yellow-grey pruinose; katepisternum silver-grey to yellow-grey pruinose, dorsal katepisternal seta <i>ca</i> 0.3 length of ventral katepisternal seta, with 18 short, fine setulae at base and along posterior margin.</p> <p> <i>Scutellum</i>. As described for <i>C</i>. <i>gladiiformis</i> sp. n.</p> <p> <i>Legs</i>. Fore coxa with 13 brown setulae on anterior surface; mid coxa with 6 brown setulae; fore tibia with ctenidium of 12–14 short, sharp, black spinules.</p> <p> <i>Wing</i> (as in Fig. 27). Long and broad, tip evenly-rounded, veins chestnut-brown, membrane deep-brown infuscate throughout, darker in <i>r 1</i> and anterior half of <i>r 2+3</i> and in region of <i>dm–cu</i> crossvein; <i>dm–cu</i> crossvein with even arc dorsally; haltere dirty yellow.</p> <p> <i>Abdomen</i>. Tergite 1 with oblique, small, subrectangular brown-black pruinose dorsolateral macula on either side and narrow medial facia; tergite 2with larger subrectangular brown-black maculae and similar medial facia; tergites 3–5 with very wide, V-shaped concolourous median fascia and large concolourous T-shaped dorsolateral macula, these fully merging with medial fascia in anterior third, lateral margin of tergites 2–5 with subelliptical, large, concolourous macula in basal half; sternites 4–5 as described for <i>C</i>. <i>coronaeformis</i> sp. n.; sternite 6 (Fig. 79) dove-tailed (may appear narrower than Fig. 79 in undissected specimens), narrowed in basal third, with deep triangular excision apically, apical lobes evenly rounded, with dark brown maculae laterally, clothed in short, black, irregular, brown setulae in apical ⅔, those at lateral and apical margins longer and more prominent.</p> <p> <i>Terminalia</i> (Figs 55, 58, 61). Hypandrium (Fig. 55, <i>hy</i>) long, with broad-based rounded-truncate dorsobasal lobe, posterior bridge dorsally and ventrally produced (subtriangular to slightly angulate in profile); hypandrial arm constricted medially (viewed laterally), with 2 parallel setulae proximal to postgonite, of similar length (obscured by epandrium on Fig. 55), sclerotised area of medial lobes (viewed dorsally), with margins evenly rounded, convex medially, closely abutting, overlapping; postgonite (Fig. 55, <i>pg</i>) long, thin and straight, with slight undulating anterior margin; epandrium (Fig. 55, <i>ep</i>) slightly broader dorsally than ventrally (viewed laterally), evenly rounded on dorsal margin, posterior margin slightly angled, ventral margin with extensive row of long, regular to irregular, apically-directed setae; cercus (Fig. 55, <i>ce</i>) not prominent, longest setae longer than setae on dorsal margin of epandrium; surstylus (Fig. 55, <i>ss</i>) long, widest basally, slightly curved in apical ⅔; phallus (as in Figs 58, <i>ph</i>, <i>bp</i>, <i>dp</i>, 61, <i>bp</i>, <i>dp</i>) C-shaped, moderately sclerotised, brown; phallapodeme (Fig. 58, <i>ph</i>) fused to basiphallus, subtriangular (viewed laterally), with basal margin developed into two flat, broad, subtriangular projections in basal fifth, bifurcated at point of connection with hypandrium; ejaculatory apodeme (Fig. 58, <i>ea</i>) free, duct inserted at junction of phallapodeme and basiphallus (missing from specimens illustrated in Fig. 58); basiphallus (Fig. 58, <i>bp</i>) broad basally and in region of first bend, then narrowed to apex, markedly narrowed in apical third (viewed dorsally); apical section (Figs 58, 61, <i>bp</i>) broad basally, sclerotised area extensive, abruptly narrowed towards apex, basal section with membranous window, with one narrow, but strong, straight, ventrally directed lateral spine (arrowed on Fig. 61) and two smaller spines, positioned in basolateral region, left margin of sclerotised area with irregular row of small tubules.</p> <p>Variation: Insufficient material is available to assess variability.</p> <p> Holotype (examined): ♂ MADAGASCAR: “ MADAGASCAR.D.­S. / Joffreville / 25.V.[19] 58 F. KEISER [pink paper] // HOLOTYPE [red card] // CURTONOTUM / <i>keiseri</i> n.sp. / Holotype / L. TSACAS DET. 1973 [printed & handwritten] // BM [handwritten] // MUSÉUM PARIS // <i>Curtonotum</i> / <i>keiseri</i> ♂ / Tsacas, 1974 / A.H. Kirk-Spriggs <i>vidit</i> 2006” [head missing] (MNHN). In poor condition, head and all legs except left fore femur, fore tibia, left hind femur and hind tibia missing; direct-pinned; dissected, abdomen and terminalia in micro-vial pinned beneath specimen.</p> <p> Paratype: ♂ “ MADAGASCAR.D.­S. / Mtge. D’Ambre [= Montagne d’Ambre] / 24.V.[19] 58 F. KEISER [pink paper] // PARATYPE [red card] // CURTONOTUM / <i>keiseri</i> n.sp. / paratype / L. TSACAS DET. 1973 [printed & handwritten] // <i>Curtonotum</i> / <i>keiseri</i> ♂ / Tsacas, 1974 / A.H. Kirk­Spriggs <i>vidit</i> 2008” (NHMB). Other material examined (labelled: “ <i>Curtonotum keiseri</i> Tsacas, 1974 ♂ det. A.H. Kirk­Spriggs 2011”): MADAGASCAR: 1♂ Madagascar N., Ambohitra, Joffreville, 800 m, 9–12.iv.1991, A. Freidberg & Fini Kaplan [left wing detached and glued to card] (TAU).</p> <p>Distribution (Fig. 92): Apparently confined to the Humid Forest vegetation type in the Evergreen Rainforest biome. In the North biogeographical zone and Dry bioclimatic zone (Figs 105–107; Tables 1–3; Appendix II).</p>Published as part of <i>Kirk-Spriggs, Ashley H., 2011, A revision of Afrotropical Quasimodo flies (Diptera: Schizophora; Curtonotidae). Part III - the Malagasy species of Curtonotum Macquart, with descriptions of six new species, pp. 391 in African Invertebrates 52 (2)</i> on pages 419-422, DOI: 10.5733/afin.052.0212, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/8342930">http://zenodo.org/record/8342930</a&gt

Figs 105–107 in A revision of Afrotropical Quasimodo flies (Diptera: Schizophora; Curtonotidae). Part III - the Malagasy species of Curtonotum Macquart, with descriptions of six new species

Figs 105–107. (105) The biomes of Madagascar (after Yoder & Nowak 2006); (106) biogeographic zonation of Madagascar, following Boumans et al. (2007) and partly Wilmé et al. (2006) (after Glaw & Vences 2007); (107) bioclimatic zonation of Madagascar, following Cornet (1974) and Schatz (2000) (after Glaw & Vences 2007).Published as part of Kirk-Spriggs, Ashley H., 2011, A revision of Afrotropical Quasimodo flies (Diptera: Schizophora; Curtonotidae). Part III - the Malagasy species of Curtonotum Macquart, with descriptions of six new species, pp. 391 in African Invertebrates 52 (2) on page 445, DOI: 10.5733/afin.052.0212, http://zenodo.org/record/834293

Curtonotum coronaeformis Kirk-Spriggs 2011, sp. n.

Curtonotum coronaeformis sp. n. <p>Figs 6, 19, 32, 66, 69, 72, 83, 97</p> <p> <i>Etymology</i>: From Latin <i>corona</i> (crown) and <i>formis</i> (in the form of), and refers to the crown-like lateral extension of the distiphallus of this species.</p> <p> Differential diagnosis: This species is closely related to <i>C</i>. <i>parkeri</i> sp. n.; the shape, maculae and setation of abdominal sternites 4 and 5 are virtually identical, the apical region of the basiphallus is markedly expanded in both species, with very similar left and right raised keels and both share the raised and spinose right sclerotised area of the basiphallus. In <i>C</i>. <i>coronaeformis</i> sp. n., however, the basiphallus is less markedly narrowed medially and less expanded in the apical third, and the raised and spinose right sclerotised area of the distiphallus is conspicuously developed, with a series of regular to irregular spines. The two species occur sympatrically.</p> <p>Description:</p> <p> <i>Male</i> (primarily based on ex spirit-preserved HT).</p> <p> As redescribed for <i>C</i>. <i>balachowskyi</i>, differing in the following respects: Measurements: Overall length unknown; length of head and thorax combined 2.9 mm; length of thorax and scutellum combined 2.4 mm; wing length 3.7 mm.</p> <p> <i>Head</i> (Figs 6, 19). Compound eye prominent, probably green-brown iridescent in living examples, eye height/length ratio: 10:7 (HT); frons (Fig. 19), slightly wider than long, frons length/width ratio: 5:6 (HT), markedly wider at vertex than at ventral margin, ground colour pale yellow to pale brown, darker brown towards vertex and between orbital plates forming conspicuous vittae that reach ventral margin; orbital plates and ocellar triangle golden-grey pruinose; orbital plates extending from vertex of head to <i>ca</i> 0.8 length of frons, margins regular; antennal scape and pedicel dirty pale brown, silver­grey pruinose, flagellomere 1 very long, <i>ca</i> 2.5× longer than wide, apex evenly-rounded, yellow basally, darkened apically, yellow-grey pruinose, arista with 8 or 9 long dorsal branches and 3 ventral branches in addition to terminal fork; lunule and face silver­grey pruinose, yellow pruinose beneath flagellomere 1; gena narrow, eye height/genal height ratio: 10:1 (HT), silver pruinose throughout; palpus pale brown.</p> <p> <i>Thorax</i> (Fig. 6). Mesonotum as described for <i>C</i>. <i>boeny</i>; acrostichal setae, much shorter than anterior dorsocentral seta; supra-alar seta, slightly shorter than posterior dorsocentral seta; postalar setae longer and stronger than acrostichal setae; postpronotum yellow­grey pruinose, with 6 finer black­brown setulae; anepisternum silver­grey pruinose, with yellow pruinose patches medially, surface with 18 fine setulae, some larger and arranged in 2 groups of 3 and 4; katepisternum silver-grey to silver-yellow pruinose, with 13 short, fine setulae at base and along posterior margin.</p> <p> <i>Scutellum</i>. As in mesonotum, with very faint medial brown pruinose vitta basally (under some lights), slightly paler yellow pruinose at posterior margin; weak intermediate scutellar setula inserted at 0.8 distance between medial and lateral scutellar setulae.</p> <p> <i>Legs</i>. Fore coxa with 22 brown setulae on anterior surface; fore tibia with ctenidium of 10 or 11 short, sharp black spinules.</p> <p> <i>Wing</i> (as in Fig. 32). Veins chestnut-brown, membrane very faintly infuscate brown throughout, very slightly darker in <i> r 1</i> and in region of <i>dm–cu</i> crossvein; <i>dm–cu</i> crossvein oblique, in shape of uninterrupted arc.</p> <p> <i>Abdomen</i>. Tergites 3–5 with broad V­shaped, median fascia adjoining and slightly merging with large, concolourous T-shaped dorsolateral maculae; lateral margin of tergites 2–5 with subelliptical concolourous macula in basal half to ⅔; sternite 4 with posterior and lateral margins evenly rounded, apical margin straight; sternite 5 rectangular, similarly shaped to sternite 4, slightly longer and wider medially, with 2 small ovoid basomedial maculae, sternites 4 and 5 unmodified, with long, dense, brown setulae arranged in irregular rows, those along lateral margins longer and stronger; sternite 6 (Fig. 83) narrowed basally, evenly rounded laterally (may appear narrower than Fig. 83 in undissected specimens), with broad, deep apical excision and brown maculae medially and fascia laterally, merging apically, clothed in long, black, irregular, medially-directed, brown setulae in apical 0.8, those at apical margin longer and more prominent.</p> <p> <i>Terminalia</i> (Figs 66, 69, 72). Hypandrium (Fig. 66, <i>hy</i>) long, with broad-based rounded-truncate dorsobasal lobe, posterior bridge dorsally and ventrally produced (rounded to slightly angulate in profile); hypandrial arms constricted in apical ⅔ (viewed laterally), with 2 setulae proximal to postgonite, the more lateral ventrally directed, the medial ventromedially directed (obscured by epandrium on Fig. 66), sclerotised area of medial lobes (viewed dorsally), with margins evenly rounded, convex, closely abutting, not overlapping; postgonite (Fig. 66, <i>pg</i>) long, thin, spindle-like; epandrium (Fig. 66, <i>ep</i>) broad (viewed laterally), evenly-rounded on dorsal margin, posterior margin slightly angled, ventral margin with extensive row of long, regular to irregular, apically-directed setae; cercus (Fig. 66, <i>ce</i>) not prominent, longest setae longer than setae on dorsal margin of epandrium; surstylus (Fig. 66, <i>ss</i>) long and narrow, slightly curved in apical ⅔; phallus (as in Figs 69, <i>ph</i>, <i>bp</i>, <i>dp</i>, 72, <i>bp</i>, <i>dp</i>) C-shaped, moderately sclerotised, brown; phallapodeme (Fig. 69, <i>ph</i>) fused to basiphallus, subtriangular (viewed laterally), with basal margin developed into two flat, narrow, rounded projections in basal 0.4, bifurcated at point of connection with hypandrium; ejaculatory apodeme (Fig. 69, <i>ea</i>) free, duct inserted at junction of phallapodeme and basiphallus; basiphallus (Fig. 69, <i>bp</i>) broad basally, narrowed just beyond midlength; apical section (Fig. 72, <i>bp</i>) expanded and broad, right lateral margin with ventral projection, left margin with distinct raised keel; distiphallus (Figs 69, 72, <i>dp</i>) long, narrow and curved, with extensive broad membranous section, basolaterally with upturned, sclerotised, crown­like projection (subtriangular viewed laterally).</p> <p>Variation: The size and number of teeth and smaller serrations at the margin of the upturned, sclerotised, crown­like projection of the distiphallus are variable. This is here interpreted as intraspecific variation only, since other terminalia characters are constant.</p> <p> Holotype ♂ “ MADAGASCAR: Province / Fianarantsoa, near Isalo / National Park, in dry wash / east of Interpretive Center / 22°37.60’S, 45°21.49’E / 23.ii–5.iii. 2002, 885 m / M.E. Irwin & R. Harin’Hala / Malaise trap in open area / MA­02­11B­57 // HOLOTYPE ♂ / <i>Curtonotum</i> / <i>coronaeformis</i> sp. n. / A.H. Kirk-Spriggs 2010 [red card]” (CAS). In good condition; card-pointed; dissected, abdomen and terminalia in micro-vial pinned beneath specimen.</p> <p> Paratypes (all labelled: “ PARATYPE ♂ / <i>Curtonotum</i> / <i>coronaeformis</i> sp. n. / A.H. Kirk-Spriggs 2010 [blue card]”): 3♂ same data as holotype, except (1 labelled: “ BMSA (DNA)#0049”) [1 right wing detached and glued to card]; same except: 1♂ “ 12–22.vi.2002, MA­02­11B­32”; 1♂ “ 6–14 xii.2002, MA­02­11B­49” (all CAS).</p> <p>Distribution (Fig. 97): Apparently confined to the Wooded Grassland­Bushland vegetation type, in the Central Highlands biome. In the Central biogeographical zone and Subarid bioclimatic zone (Figs 105–107; Tables 1–3; Appendix II).</p>Published as part of <i>Kirk-Spriggs, Ashley H., 2011, A revision of Afrotropical Quasimodo flies (Diptera: Schizophora; Curtonotidae). Part III - the Malagasy species of Curtonotum Macquart, with descriptions of six new species, pp. 391 in African Invertebrates 52 (2)</i> on pages 406-409, DOI: 10.5733/afin.052.0212, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/8342930">http://zenodo.org/record/8342930</a&gt