Notiocoenia paniculata Mathis 1980

Notiocoenia paniculata

DIAGNOSIS.—Specimens of this species very closely resemble those of N. acutella, and I can distinguish them confidently only by comparing structures of the male terminalia. The latter differ as follows: Fourth abdominal sternum pentagonal, posterior margin shallowly pointed and with distinct clump of 15 or more larger setae near apex; ventral margin of epandrium lacking U-shaped median emargination in posterior aspect; aedeagus with gradual taper throughout its length; gonite lacking pointed process along posterior margin.

DESCRIPTION.—Moderately small to moderately large shore flies, length 2.91 to 4.17 mm; appearing dull, pollinose; coloration mostly light brown to brown; wing hyaline.

Head (Figures 19, 20): Frons width-to-length ratio averaging 1:0.33; coloration of frons uniform, slightly charcoalish brown. Antenna mostly brownish black to black, third segment of some specimens with rufous coloration posteroventrally along median surface. Coloration of face nearly concolorous with mesonotum, slightly lighter brown than frons; antennal fovea more grayish and with some greenish tinges. Eye height-to-width ratio averaging 1:0.95; eye-to-cheek ratio averaging 1:0.19. Gena unicolorous, whitish gray.

Thorax (Figure 21): Mesonotum dull, rather densely pollinose, light brown anteriorly, becoming darker and shinier posteriorly, with a pair of whitish brown vittae laterad of acrostichal setae, extending posteriorly no further than transverse suture, distinctiveness of vittae variable. Scutellum subshiny to shiny, darker colored than mesonotum, more blackish. Pleural areas lighter brown than mesonotum, becoming generally lighter ventrally; humeral callus, propleuron, part of mesopleuron, front coxa, and sternopleuron distinctly lighter colored, brownish gray to whitish gray, otherwise pleural areas mostly unicolorous, brown to light brown. Wing (Figure 68) mostly hyaline, shiny; slight infuscation anteriorly and particularly around posterior crossvein; costal vein index averaging 1:0.14; M1+2 vein index averaging 1:0.66. Legs rufous to orange, frequently with some infuscation; tarsi becoming darker, blackish, toward apical tarsomere. Halter yellowish to yellowish orange, unicolorous.

Abdomen (Figure 22): Coloration nearly unicolorous, brownish black with some bluish hues, subshiny to shiny. Male terminalia as in diagnosis and Figures 23–25; female ventral receptacle as in Figures 26, 27.

TYPE MATERIAL.—Holotype male, labeled: “CHILE: Osorno Prov. Aguas Calientes (1 km SE) 530 m. elev. 7–8 Feb. 1978 WNMathis/HOLOTYPE Notiocoenia paniculata Mathis [handwritten, red].” Allotype female and 16 paratypes (4, 12; USNM): with same label data as the holotype. Other paratypes as follows: CHILE: Antofagasta Province: Rincon El Arbol, Oct. 1969, L. E. Peña (1; MZUSP). Concepción Province: Concepción, Parque Botanico Hualpen, Jan 1970, L. E. Peña (1; MZUSP). Coquimbo Province: Tilama, El Naranjo, Oct 1967, L. E. Peña (16, 22; MZUSP). The holotype, allotype, and paratypes from the type-locality are in the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., type 76068. The holotype specimen is double mounted (minute nadel) and is in good condition.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION. (Figure 28).—This species occurs along the western slope of the Andes, mostly in the foothills, between 24° and 41° south latitude.

ETYMOLOGY.—The species ephitet, paniculata, is the diminutive form of panus (“ear of millet”), referring to the tuft of setae on the fourth sternum of males.

The pollinosa Group

DIAGNOSIS.—Specimens of this species-group are similar to those of the paniculata group but may be distinguished by the following combination of character states: Frons narrower, width at level of median ocellus about 2 times distance between ptilinal suture and median ocellus; arrangement of ocelli distinctly forming isosceles triangle, distance between posterior pair much larger than between either posterior ocellus and median one; outer vertical bristle well developed, subequal to inner vertical bristle; smaller fronto-orbital setae much less than one-fourth larger lateroclinate bristles, lacking a larger anterior pair of setae; arista macropubescent along most of length; interfoveal carina poorly developed, lacking a distinct dorsal crease; face between oral margin and dorsum of interfoveal carina shorter, length about equal to larger bristles along oral margin; coloration of face whitish gray, contrasting distinctly with brownish coloration of frons; mesonotum subshiny to shiny, pollinose vestiture sparse, not contrasting distinctly with appearance of scutellum; larger acrostichal setae not extending posteriorly much past level of transverse suture; humeral callus with 2–3 setae; scutellum flat and very sparsely setulose; 4–5 pair of dorsocentral bristles (1 + 3; 2 + 3); supra-alar bristle either lacking or much reduced; coloration of pleural areas becoming gradually grayer toward venter, but lacking patches of contrasting coloration; wing appearing dull, infuscated; 2 white spots on either side of posterior crossvein; legs black; front and hind femur swollen; coloration of abdomen blackish, shiny; fifth abdominal tergum as long or longer than fourth; male fourth tergum subequal to combined length of second and third terga; surstylus of male terminalia fused to ventral margin of epandrium but distinct, setose; aedeagus produced ventrally as 2 symmetrical narrow processes; gonite produced anteroventrally as curved parallel-sided slender process.