As an unjustified new name for Megarhina, Helius was adopted for stability (Sabrosky 1999; Oosterbroek 2023).

Holotype : China • ♂; Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Wuming County, Mount Damingshan; 11 May 2014; Xiumei Lu leg.; CAU. Paratypes: China • 2 ♂, 1 ♀; same data as holotype; CAU.

Antenna with basal flagellomeres oval. Rostrum about equal in length to remainder of head. Prescutum and presutural scutum pale brown with a narrow darker median line. Femora of legs pale brown with base paler. Wing with oval brown stigma; Sc ending shortly before fork of Rs; m-cu beyond fork of M. Outer gonostylus slightly curved, inner spine flat apically. Interbase nearly globular, laterally with narrow, apically dilated outgrowth. Distal 2/3 of aedeagus arched dorsally.

Male (Fig. 2a). Body length 5.6–6.0 mm (excluding rostrum), wing length 6.5–6.9 mm, rostrum length 0.5–0.6 mm, antenna length 1.1–1.2 mm.

Figure 2. 

Helius (Helius) damingshanus sp. nov. a habitus of male, lateral view b male head, lateral view c male thorax, dorsal view d male wing e female ovipositor, lateral view. Scale bars: 2.0 mm (a); 0.5 mm (b, c); 1.0 mm (d); 0.4 mm (e).

Head (Fig. 2b). Dark brown. Setae on head brownish black. Antenna brown. Scape long cylindrical, 2.5 times as long as wide; pedicel oval; basal flagellomeres oval, with short brownish black verticils, outer flagellomeres tapering apically and elongated, with long brownish black verticils that exceed length of corresponding flagellomere. Rostrum about equal in length to remainder of head, brown with brownish black setae. Palpus brown with brownish black setae.

Thorax (Fig. 2c). Pronotum brown. Prescutum and presutural scutum pale brown with a narrow darker median line. Postsutural scutum pale brown, each lobe with a white spot. Scutellum brown, paler medially. Mediotergite pale brown. Pleuron (Fig. 2a) brownish yellow with anepisternum darker. Setae on thorax brownish black. Fore and mid coxae brownish yellow, hind coxa pale yellow; trochanters pale brownish yellow, tips narrowly black; femora pale brown with base paler; tibiae and tarsi pale brown. Setae on legs brownish black. Wing (Fig. 2d) tinged with pale brown. Stigma oval and brown. Veins brown. Venation: Sc long, ending slightly before fork of Rs; sc-r close to tip of Sc; distance between tips of R₄ and R₅ about 3 times as long as distance between tips of R₁ and R₄; cell dm short, about 1.5 times as long as wide; m-cu variable in position, from fork of M to 1/4 of cell dm. Halter brown with knob brownish yellow.

Abdomen (Fig. 2a). First abdominal segment short, brownish yellow, segments 2–5 yellow, segment 6 brownish yellow, segments 7–9 brown. Setae on abdomen brownish black.

Hypopygium (Fig. 3). Brown. Posterior margin of tergite 9 with a broad U-shaped emargination (Fig. 3a). Gonocoxite nearly cylindrical, base narrowed, inner margin distinctly swollen, produced into rounded protrusion, outer side with long brown setae (Fig. 3a, b). Outer gonostylus (= clasper of gonostylus in Ribeiro 2006) slightly curved, distal half blackened; tip weakly bispinous, inner spine flat apically (Fig. 3a, b, e). Inner gonostylus (= lobe of gonostylus in Ribeiro 2006) arched, broad at base, gradually narrowing towards apex, middle of inner side with long brown setae (Fig. 3a, b, e). Aedeagal complex with semen pump spherical (Fig. 3c, d); ejaculatory apodeme elongated, widened at base (Fig. 3c, d); aedeagus wide at base, distal 2/3 arched dorsally (Fig. 3a–d). Parameres apically fused, basal parts flattened, in the shape nearly triangular plate (Fig. 3c, d). Interbase globular laterally, producing into narrow, apically dilated outgrowth, beak-shaped in lateral aspect (Fig. 3c, d, f, g).

Figure 3. 

Helius (Helius) damingshanus sp. nov. a male hypopygium, dorsal view b male hypopygium, ventral view c aedeagal complex, dorsal view d aedeagal complex, ventral view e gonostyli, dorsal view f interbase, dorsal view g interbase, lateral view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm (a, b); 0.1 mm (c, d); 0.05 mm (e, f, g).

Female. Body length 8.0 mm (excluding rostrum), wing length 6.5 mm, rostrum length 0.5 mm. Generally similar to male by body coloration. Ovipositor (Fig. 2e) with tergite 10 brown. Cercus pale brownish yellow, long and slender, distal part curved dorsally, tip acute. Sternite 8 brown. Hypogynial valve pale brownish yellow, long and slender, tip reaching approximately middle of cercus.

The specific name refers to the type locality Mount Damingshan.

China (Guangxi).

Similar to many Palaearctic and Oriental species, H. (H.) damingshanus sp. nov. has also a simple gonocoxite and curved aedeagus, but can be distinguished from its congeners by the details of the outer gonostylus and the interbase (Fig. 4). In H. (H.) apophysalis Alexander, 1967, H. (H.) haemorrhoidalis, H. (H.) oxystylus (Alexander, 1967), H. (H.) taos Alexander, 1967 and H. (H.) tienmuanus, the size of the two spines at the tip of the outer gonostylus is significantly unequal (Fig. 4b, j, k, p, q), while in H. (H.) catreus Alexander, 1967 and H. (H.) franckianus, the spines are almost equal in size, noticeably thin and pointed (Fig. 4e, g). In the remaining species, including the new species, the two spines are relatively stout and the difference in their sizes is not very noticeable, but these species can be distinguished by the tip of the outgrowth of the interbase, which is elongated and with acute apex in H. (H.) arunachalus Alexander, 1975, H. (H.) pluto and H. (H.) tanyrhinus Alexander, 1964 (Fig. 4c, m, o), short and obtuse in H. (H.) costosetosus Alexander, 1932 and H. (H.) perflavens Alexander, 1964 (Fig. 4f, l), and rounded in H. (H.) anamalaiensis Alexander, 1967, H. (H.) attenuatus, H. (H.) fuscoangustus Alexander, 1967, H. (H.) garcianus Alexander, 1972, H. (H.) serenus Alexander, 1967 and H. (H.) verticillatus Alexander, 1967 (Fig. 4a, d, h, i, n, r).

Figure 4. 

Tips of outer gonostyli (upper) and interbases (lower) of some Palaearctic and Oriental Helius (Helius) species a H. (H.) anamalaiensis Alexander, 1967 b H. (H.) apophysalis Alexander, 1967 c H. (H.) arunachalus Alexander, 1975 d H. (H.) attenuatus (Alexander, 1929) e H. (H.) catreus Alexander, 1967 f H. (H.) costosetosus Alexander, 1932 g H. (H.) franckianus (Alexander, 1940) h H. (H.) fuscoangustus Alexander, 1967 i H. (H.) garcianus Alexander, 1972 j H. (H.) haemorrhoidalis (Alexander, 1937) k H. (H.) oxystylus (Alexander, 1967) l H. (H.) perflavens Alexander, 1964 m H. (H.) pluto (Alexander, 1932) n H. (H.) serenus Alexander, 1967 o H. (H.) tanyrhinus Alexander, 1964 p H. (H.) taos Alexander, 1967 q H. (H.) tienmuanus (Alexander, 1940) r H. (H.) verticillatus Alexander, 1967. After Alexander 1929a (d), 1932a (f), 1932b (m), 1937 (j), 1940a (g), 1940b (q), 1964 (l, o), 1967 (a, b, e, h, k, n, p, r), 1972 (i), 1975 (c).

Only H. (H.) attenuatus and the new species have similar outgrowth of interbase with tip flattened (Figs 3f, g, 4d), but the new species have tip nearly beak-shaped in lateral aspect while H. (H.) attenuatus has tip rounded. Helius (H.) damingshanus sp. nov. can be also distinguished by the pale brown prescutum and presutural scutum having a narrow median darker line (Fig. 2c), the brownish yellow abdomen with darker terminal segments (Fig. 2a), and the inner spine of the outer gonostylus being flat apically (Fig. 3e). In H. (H.) attenuatus, the prescutum and presutural scutum is uniformly brownish black, the abdomen is uniformly black (Alexander 1929a), and the inner spine of the outer gonostylus is acute apically (Fig. 4d). In addition, in H. (H.) attenuatus, the body color is generally darker (Alexander 1929a), and the outgrowth of the interbase is more expanded (Fig. 4d).

China • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Jinxiuyao Autonomous County, Mount Dayaoshan, Silver Fir Park; 1170 m a.s.l.; 21 July 2015; Yan Li leg.; light trap; CAU.

Antenna with basal flagellomeres cylindrical. Rostrum about equal in length to remainder of head. Prescutum and presutural scutum brownish yellow with three broad brown stripes; median stripe longest, broadest, darker in front; lateral stripes extending onto lobes of postsutural scutum. Femora of legs brownish yellow to brown. Wing with stigma very indistinct; Sc ending near fork of Rs; m-cu beyond fork of M. Outer gonostylus curved with subtip slightly expanded; outer spine small, inner spine large and bent outwards. Interbase horn-like. Aedeagus straight.

Male (Fig. 5a). Body length 6.7 mm (excluding rostrum), wing length 7.0 mm, rostrum length 0.5 mm.

Figure 5. 

Helius (Helius) nipponensis (Alexander, 1913) a habitus of male, lateral view b male head, lateral view c male thorax, dorsal view d male wing e female ovipositor, lateral view. Scale bars: 2.0 mm (a); 0.5 mm (b, c); 1.0 mm (d); 0.4 mm (e).

Head (Fig. 5b). Dark brown. Setae on head brownish black. Antenna brown. Scape long cylindrical, twice as long as wide; pedicel oval; flagellomeres cylindrical, verticils brownish black, not exceeding flagellomere in length. Rostrum about equal in length to remainder of head, brown with brownish black setae. Palpus pale brown with dark brown setae.

Thorax (Fig. 5c). Pronotum dark brown with two sides brownish yellow. Prescutum and presutural scutum brownish yellow with three broad brown stripes; median stripe longest, broadest, darker in front; lateral stripes extending onto lobes of postsutural scutum. Postsutural scutum dark brown, middle area pale brownish yellow, each lobe with a yellow spot. Scutellum brown with margins paler. Mediotergite dark brown. Pleuron (Fig. 5a) brownish yellow with anepisternum brown. Setae on thorax dark brown. Fore and mid coxae pale brownish yellow, hind coxa yellow; trochanters pale brownish yellow, tips narrowly black; femora brownish yellow to brown; tibiae and tarsi brown. Setae on legs dark brown. Wing (Fig. 5d) tinged with yellow. Stigma very indistinct. Veins pale brown. Venation: Sc long, ending opposite fork of Rs; sc-r close to tip of Sc; distance between tips of R₄ and R₅ about 2.5 times as long as distance between tips of R₁ and R₄; cell dm about twice as long as wide; m-cu more than 1/3 its length beyond fork of M, near 1/4 of cell dm. Halter pale yellow with knob darker.

Abdomen (Fig. 5a). Tergites dark brownish yellow. Sternites brownish yellow with sternite 1 paler. Setae on abdomen brown.

Hypopygium (Fig. 6). Yellow. Posterior margin of tergite 9 with a V-shaped emargination (Fig. 6a). Gonocoxite conical, outer side with long brown setae (Fig. 6a, b). Outer gonostylus curved with subtip slightly expanded; tip blackened and bispinous, outer spine small, inner spine large and bent outwards (Fig. 6a, b, e). Inner gonostylus curved, broad at basal half (Fig. 6a, b, e). Aedeagal complex with semen pump spherical (Fig. 6c, d), ejaculatory apodeme short and flattened (Fig. 6c, d); aedeagus straight, rod-shaped (Fig. 6a–d). Parameres medially fused and expanded, basal parts short, apical elongated with tip bent outwards. Interbase horn-like (Fig. 6c, d, f).

Figure 6. 

Helius (Helius) nipponensis (Alexander, 1913) a male hypopygium, dorsal view b male hypopygium, ventral view c aedeagal complex, dorsal view d aedeagal complex, ventral view e gonostyli, dorsal view f interbase, dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm (a, b); 0.1 mm (c, d, e); 0.05 mm (f).

Female. Body length 7.3 mm (excluding rostrum), wing length 6.5 mm, rostrum length 0.4 mm. Generally similar to male by body coloration. Ovipositor (Fig. 5e) with tergite 10 pale brownish yellow. Cercus pale brownish yellow with dorsal area darker, distal part curved dorsally, tip acute. Sternite 8 yellow. Hypogynial valve pale brownish yellow with middle area yellow, tip reaching approximately 1/3 of cercus.

China (Guangxi, Zhejiang); South Korea; Japan.

Helius (H.) nipponensis is distributed in China, South Korea and Japan (Oosterbroek 2023). In China, this species was previously known in Zhejiang (Podenas et al. 2015) and is now recorded in Guangxi for the first time. For descriptions and illustrations of this species, also see Alexander (1913, 1920, 1929b) and Podenas et al. (2015).

China • 5 ♂, 2 ♀; Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Tianlin County, Cenwanglaoshan National Nature Reserve, Langping protection station; 1550 m a.s.l.; 23 May 2013; Guoquan Wang leg.; CAU.

Antenna with basal flagellomeres oval and crowded. Rostrum unusually long and slender, about equal in length to combined head (excluding rostrum) and thorax. Prescutum and presutural scutum brownish red with an indistinct darker median line, anterior region more or less infuscated. Femora of legs yellow with narrowly darker tips. Wing with oval brown stigma and inconspicuous dark seams; Sc atrophied, sc-r at its tip and ending slightly before fork of Rs; m-cu beyond fork of M. Outer gonostylus nearly straight; inner spine shorter and stouter. Interbase nearly globular with a curved, apically blackened spine-shaped outgrowth. Distal half of aedeagus curly dorsally.

Male (Fig. 7a). Body length 8.0–8.2 mm (excluding rostrum), wing length 7.8–8.0 mm, rostrum length 2.3–2.4 mm, antenna length 1.4–1.5 mm.

Figure 7. 

Helius (Helius) stenorhynchus stenorhynchus Alexander, 1954 a habitus of male, lateral view b male head, lateral view c male thorax, dorsal view d male wing e female ovipositor, lateral view. Scale bars: 2.0 mm (a); 1.0 mm (b); 0.5 mm (c); 1.0 mm (d); 0.4 mm (e).

Head (Fig. 7b). Brownish black. Setae on head dark brown. Antenna brown, scape and pedicel brownish black, flagellomeres brown with basal segments darker. Scape long cylindrical, 3 times as long as wide; pedicel nearly oval, widened distally; basal flagellomeres oval and crowded, with short brown verticils, outer flagellomeres tapering apically and elongated, with long brown verticils that exceed length of corresponding flagellomere. Rostrum unusually long and slender, about equal in length to combined head (excluding rostrum) and thorax, brownish black with dark brown setae. Palpus pale brownish yellow with pale brown setae.

Thorax (Fig. 7c). Pronotum brownish red with middle darker. Prescutum and presutural scutum brownish red with an indistinct darker median line, anterior region more or less infuscated. Postsutural scutum brownish red, each lobe with a small white spot. Scutellum and mediotergite dark brown. Pleuron (Fig. 7a) dark brown. Setae on thorax dark brown. Fore and mid coxae pale yellow, hind coxa paler; trochanters pale yellow, tips narrowly black; femora yellow, tips narrowly darker; tibiae and tarsi dark yellow to pale brownish yellow. Setae on legs brown. Wing (Fig. 7d) tinged with grayish yellow. Stigma oval and brown; inconspicuous dark seams on cord, outer end of cell dm and CuA, darker on anterior cord. Veins pale brown to brown. Venation: Sc atrophied; sc-r at tip of Sc, ending slightly before fork of Rs; distance between tips of R₄ and R₅ 3–4 times as long as distance between tips of R₁ and R₄; cell dm about twice as long as wide; m-cu about 1/4 its length beyond fork of M. Halter yellow.

Abdomen (Fig. 7a). Brown with first abdominal segment short and paler, segments 6–9 slightly darker; caudal border of each segment narrowly brownish black. Setae on abdomen dark brown.

Hypopygium (Fig. 8). Pale brown. Posterior margin of tergite 9 with a very shallow emargination (Fig. 8a). Gonocoxite nearly cylindrical, outer side with long brown setae (Fig. 8a, b). Outer gonostylus nearly straight, distal half blackened; tip weakly bispinous, inner spine shorter and stouter (Fig. 8a, b, e). Inner gonostylus arched, broad at base and gradually narrow, middle of outer side with short and stout pale brown setae, middle of inner side with long pale brown setae (Fig. 8a, b, e). Aedeagal complex with semen pump spherical (Fig. 8c, d); ejaculatory apodeme distinctly flattened, nearly rectangular (Fig. 8c, d); aedeagus with distal half curly dorsally (Fig. 8a–d). Parameres fused forming flattened transverse plate with short basal and apical parts, tip of apical part bent dorsally. Interbase nearly globular with a curved, apically blackened spine-shaped outgrowth (Fig. 8c, d, f, g).

Figure 8. 

Helius (Helius) stenorhynchus stenorhynchus Alexander, 1954 a male hypopygium, dorsal view b male hypopygium, ventral view c aedeagal complex, dorsal view d aedeagal complex, ventral view e gonostyli, dorsal view f interbase, dorsal view g interbase, lateral view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm (a, b); 0.1 mm (c, d, e); 0.05 mm (f, g).

Female. Body length 7.8–8.0 mm (excluding rostrum), wing length 7.6–8.0 mm, rostrum length 2.2–2.3 mm. Generally similar to male by body coloration. Ovipositor (Fig. 7e) with tergite 10 brown. Cercus brownish yellow to brown, long and slender, distal part curved dorsally, tip acute. Sternite 8 brown. Hypogynial valve yellow with base brown, tip slightly before middle of cercus.

China (Guangxi); Myanmar.

Helius (H.) stenorhynchus stenorhynchus was previously known only from Myanmar (Oosterbroek 2023) and is now recorded in China for the first time. For descriptions and illustrations of this subspecies, also see Alexander (1954).