The subgenus Loxocera can be recognized by the following combination of character states: frontal vitta desclerotized, dull, velvety; lunule sclerotized, broadly exposed between antennal base and anterior margin of frons; fore wing with alula glabrous except margin; hind femur with a subapical patch of microtomentum on ventral surface; male sternite 8 broadly exposed and setulose, fused to tergite 6 and epandrium; female tergite 10 and cerci separated. For details on the character states used to define the subgenus, see Buck and Marshall (2006b).

Holotype (♂): China, Hubei, Shennongjia, Guanmenshan, 1560 m, 2019.viii.12, leg. Ding Yang (CAU).

Generally blackish brown; face blackish; antennal scape and pedicel subequal in length; apex of antennal first flagellomere not produced beyond base of arista; arista laterally compressed and very high, arising at apex of first flagellomere and 1.8 times as long as the latter; wing with broad, transverse, dark band at level of posterior crossvein; hypandrial lobe small, short, covered with long setae; pregonite stout, lobate, apically blunt with rounded processes; phallus tongue-like, relatively short, with rounded posterior margin.

Male. Body length 9.0 mm, wing length 7.2 mm, length of antenna 2.5 mm. Generally blackish brown, moderately shining (Fig. 1). Frontal vitta black, with anterior part yellowish brown (Fig. 2); parafacial, gena and posterior eye margin yellowish brown; proboscis and palpus pale brown. Wing slightly infumated, with broad, transverse, dark band at level of posterior crossvein, band more or less interrupted along center of cells r₄₊₅ and dm (Fig. 1); wing veins yellowish brown to brown. Halter white with base slightly darkened. Legs with trochanters, apical half of fore and mid femora, fore and mid tibiae, basal half of hind tibia, and tarsomere I pale brown. Bristles on head and thorax black.

Figures 1–4. 

Loxocera (Loxocera) chikuni sp. nov., holotype, male 1 habitus, lateral 2 head, dorsal 3 left antenna, dorsal 4 same, lateral. Scale bars: 3 mm (1); 0.5 mm (2); 1 mm (3, 4).

Head (Figs 1, 2) transverse oblong in dorsal view, largely glabrous; length along midline 0.8 times as long as width across eyes, width across eyes 1.9 times as broad as interocular space. Frons slightly protruding beyond level of anterior eye margin; frontal vitta with shallow depression at middle; frontal orbit with some short, scattered hairs. Ocellar triangle broad, smooth, with silvery tomentose stripes along lateral margins. Face strongly slanting, with weakly elevated median carina. Parafacial narrow, with a tomentose golden patch between anterior eye margin and lunule. Gena swollen; postgena covered with silvery tomentum. Occiput with a large silvery tomentose patch at middle above foramen. Head chaetotaxy: 1 ocellar seta, 1 postvertical seta, 1 inner vertical seta, 1 outer vertical seta. Antenna (Figs 3, 4) long and thick, with short dense setulae; scape nearly as long as pedicel, gradually widened towards apex of segment; first flagellomere about 2.1 times as long as pedicel, apex very weakly curving ventrally; arista laterally compressed and very high, arising at apex of first flagellomere, 1.8 times as long as first flagellomere, divided into small aristomere 1 and large aristomeres 2+3. Palpus elongate oval, with short, dense setulae and long, scattered setae.

Thorax (Fig. 1) robust, with short, dense, whitish-yellow setulae, except anepisternum (anterior half), anepimeron, katatergite, meron, scutellum and mediotergite (middle portion) glabrous; anatergite with fine tomentum; disc of scutellum with fine wrinkles. Scutum 1.4 times as long as wide. Scutellum subtriangular, slightly swollen, and wider than long. Thoracic chaetotaxy: 1 dorsocentral seta, 1 notopleural seta, 2 posterior supra-alar setae, 1 apical scutellar seta. Wing (Fig. 1) with last sector of M₁ strongly curved; apex of M₄ nearly reaching wing margin. Legs with dense, whitish-yellow setulae, except ventral surface of fore and mid femora largely glabrous; femora subfusiform, slightly compressed laterally; tibiae gradually widened towards apex, fore and mid tibiae straight, hind tibia finely curved.

Abdomen elongate, with short, dense, whitish-yellow and black setae; syntergite 1+2 with several long, hair-like setae laterally.

Male genitalia : Sternite 8 (Figs 5, 6) broad, relatively flattened, with long, dense setae. Cerci (Figs 5, 6) small, simple in shape, with short, dense setae. Hypandrium (Fig. 8) well developed; hypandrial arms fused posterodorsally, posteriorly produced into small, short, convex lobes covered with long setae (Figs 5–8). Hypandrial bridge present and robust. Pregonite (Figs 5–7) stout, lobate, apically blunt, with some rounded processes. Phallus (Figs 5–7) tongue-like, relatively short, with rounded posterior margin. Phallotrema (Fig. 7) large, flanked by some peculiar, tiny processes. Ejaculatory apodeme (Fig. 6) small, hook-like, strongly curved.

Figures 5–8. 

Loxocera (Loxocera) chikuni sp. nov., male genitalia 5 sternite 8 to genitalia, caudal 6 same, lateral 7 pregonite and phallus, ventral 8 hypandrium and associated structures, ventral. Abbreviations: ce = cercus, ea = ejaculatory apodeme, ep = epandrium, ha = hypandrial arm, hb = hypandrial bridge, hl = hypandrial lobe, pg = pregonite, s8 = sternite 8, ph = phallus, pt = phallotrema.Scale bar: 0.25 mm.

Female. Unknown.

The specific epithet is dedicated to the Chinese entomologist Chikun Yang (1925–2006), in honor of his excellent contribution to Chinese insect taxonomy.

China – Hubei: Shennongjia (Fig. 37).

This new species is similar to L. (L.) fujiana (Wang, 1999) and L. (L.) maculithorax sp. nov. by sharing the laterally compressed and high arista which arises at the apex of the antennal first flagellomere, and the broad, transverse, dark band on the wing. The new species differs from L. (L.) fujiana by the following character states: head blackish brown with anterior part of frontal vitta, parafacial, gena, and posterior eye margin yellowish brown [vs head blackish brown with gena slightly paler in L. (L.) fujiana]; arista 1.8 times as long as antennal first flagellomere [vs 2 times in L. (L.) fujiana]; hind tibia pale brown in basal half and blackish brown in apical half [vs uniformly dark brown in L. (L.) fujiana]; transverse dark band on wing interrupted along cell r₂₊₃ [vs not interrupted in cell r₂₊₃ in L. (L.) fujiana]. The new species can be separated from L. (L.) maculithorax sp. nov. by the following character states: apex of antennal first flagellomere not produced beyond base of arista [vs produced beyond base of arista in L. (L.) maculithorax sp. nov.]; arista 1.8 times as long as antennal first flagellomere [vs 2.1 times in L. (L.) maculithorax sp. nov.]; mesonotum uniformly blackish brown [vs largely blackish with irregular brownish margin in L. (L.) maculithorax sp. nov.]; abdomen uniformly blackish brown [vs reddish brown with both ends darkened in L. (L.) maculithorax sp. nov.]; male sternite 8 flattened [vs with a small blunt protrusion in L. (L.) maculithorax sp. nov.]; hypandrial lobe of male small and short [vs large and broad in L. (L.) maculithorax sp. nov.].

Lectotype (♀): China, Fujian, Wuyishan, Guadun, 1991.x.7, leg. Hong Wu (CAU).

Generally blackish brown; face black; antennal scape and pedicel subequal in length; apex of antennal first flagellomere not produced beyond base of arista; arista laterally compressed and very high, arising at apex of antennal first flagellomere and 2 times as long as the latter; wing with broad, transverse, dark band at level of posterior crossvein; segment 8 of female with shallowly emarginated posterodorsal margin and deeply incised posteroventral margin.

China – Fujian: Wuyishan (Fig. 37).

For redescription and photographs of this species, see Zhou et al. (2022).

Holotype (♂): China, Shaanxi, Xi’an, Huyi, Zhuque Forest Park, 2606 m, 2020.vii.10, leg. Bing Zhang (CAU). Paratypes: China, Qinghai, Haibei, Menyuan, Deqian vill., 2725 m, 2019.vii.18, leg. Jinlong Ren (1♀, CAU); China, Qinghai, Haidong, Huzhu, Beishan Forest Farm, Zhalonggou, 2724 m, 2019.vii.2, leg. Qilemoge (1♂1♀, CAU); CHINA, Qinghai, Haidong, Huzhu, Yuanfugou, 2682 m, 2019.vii.3, leg. Qilemoge (1♀, CAU); same collection data as for holotype (5♂5♀, CAU); China, Shaanxi, Xi’an, Zhouzhi, Wangjiahe, 1165 m, 2020.vii.6, leg. Bing Zhang (1♀, CAU).

Generally brown to blackish brown; face yellowish brown; antennal pedicel distinctly longer than scape; antennal first flagellomere about 3 times as long as pedicel, gradually narrowed towards apex; arista whitish yellow, thin, arising near midpoint of antennal first flagellomere and 1.3 times as long as the latter; mesonotum blackish, with irregular brownish margin; wing without transverse dark band; hypandrial lobe large, broad, covered with short setae; pregonite short, simple in shape, apically blunt; phallus shovel-like, relatively long, abruptly widened apically with rounded posterior margin.

Male and female. Body length 7.7–9.5 mm, wing length 6.0–6.5 mm, length of antenna 1.6–1.8 mm. Generally brown to blackish brown, moderately shining (Figs 9, 10). Frontal vitta black, with anterior part brown (Fig. 11); ocellar triangle and face yellowish brown; parafacial, gena and posterior eye margin dark yellow (Figs 11, 12). Antenna with arista whitish yellow (Fig. 12). Proboscis and palpus pale brown. Postpronotum brown to dark brown. Mesonotum largely blackish brown, with irregular brown to dark brown margin as shown in Fig. 13. Scutellum yellowish brown (Fig. 13). Mesopleuron dark yellow with variable brown to dark brown mottling (Fig. 10), or largely blackish brown (Fig. 9). Wing slightly infumated; wing veins yellowish brown to dark brown. Halter white with base slightly darkened. Legs dark brown to blackish brown; coxae brown to blackish brown; trochanters, apex of femora, tibiae, and tarsi yellowish brown; mid tibia with indistinct, narrow, dark ring subapically (Figs 9, 10); hind tibia with wide dark ring at middle (Figs 9, 10). Abdomen yellowish brown; anterior half and posterior margin of syntergite 1+2 and posterior portion of tergites 3–5 in male blackish brown (Fig. 9); anterior half and posterior margin of syntergite 1+2 and posterior portion of tergites 3–6 in female dark brown, posterior half of tergite 7 and anterior half of tergite 10 blackish brown (Fig. 10). Bristles on head and thorax black.

Figures 9, 10. 

Loxocera (Loxocera) lonsdalei sp. nov., habitus, lateral 9 male, holotype 10 female, paratype. Scale bar: 3 mm.

Figures 11–13. 

Loxocera (Loxocera) lonsdalei sp. nov., paratype, female 11 head, dorsal 12 same, lateral 13 thorax, dorsal. Scale bar: 1 mm.

Head (Figs 11, 12) nearly rounded in dorsal view, largely glabrous; length along midline 0.9 times as long as width across eyes, width across eyes 2 times as broad as interocular space. Frons strongly protruding beyond level of anterior eye margin; frontal vitta with shallow depression at middle; frontal orbit with some short, scattered hairs. Ocellar triangle broad, smooth. Face strongly slanting, with weakly elevated median carina. Parafacial narrow, with a tomentose golden patch between anterior eye margin and lunule. Gena swollen; postgena covered with silvery tomentum. Occiput with a large silvery tomentose patch at middle above foramen. Head chaetotaxy: 1 ocellar seta, 1 postvertical seta, 1 inner vertical seta, 1 outer vertical seta. Antenna (Fig. 12) long and thick, with short dense setulae; pedicel distinctly longer than scape; first flagellomere about 3 times as long as pedicel, gradually narrowed towards apex; arista thin, arising near midpoint of first flagellomere, 1.3 times as long as first flagellomere, divided into small aristomere 1 and large aristomeres 2+3. Palpus elongate oval, with short dense golden setulae and long scattered black setae.

Thorax (Figs 9, 10, 13) robust, with short dense whitish yellow setulae, except anepisternum (anterior half), anepimeron, katatergite, katepisterum (middle portion), meron, scutellum and mediotergite (middle portion) glabrous; anatergite with fine tomentum. Scutum 1.2 times as long as wide. Scutellum (Fig. 13) subtriangular, slightly swollen and wider than long. Thoracic chaetotaxy: 1 dorsocentral seta, 1 notopleural seta, 2 posterior supra-alar setae, 1 apical scutellar seta. Wing with last sector of M₁ strongly curved; apex of M₄ nearly reaching wing margin. Legs with dense, whitish-yellow setulae, except ventral surface of fore and mid femora largely glabrous; femora subfusiform, slightly compressed laterally; tibiae gradually widened towards apex, nearly straight.

Abdomen elongate, with short, dense, whitish-yellow setae; syntergite 1+2 with several long hair-like setae laterally.

Male genitalia : Sternite 8 (Figs 14, 15) broad, relatively flattened, with long, dense setae. Cerci (Figs 14, 15) relatively slender, slightly curved, with short, dense setae. Hypandrium (Fig. 17) well developed; hypandrial arms posteriorly produced into very large, broad, convex lobes covered with short setae (Figs 14–17). Hypandrial bridge present and robust. Pregonite (Figs 14–16) short, simple in shape, apically blunt. Phallus (Figs 14, 15) shovel-like, relatively long, abruptly widened apically with rounded posterior margin. Phallotrema (Fig. 16) large, flanked by peculiar, short or long, simple or apically bifurcate processes. Ejaculatory apodeme (Fig. 15) small, hook-like, strongly curved.

Figures 14–17. 

Loxocera (Loxocera) lonsdalei sp. nov., male genitalia 14 sternite 8 to genitalia, caudal 15 same, lateral 16 pregonite and phallus, ventral 17 hypandrium and associated structures, ventral. Abbreviations: ce = cercus, ea = ejaculatory apodeme, ep = epandrium, ha = hypandrial arm, hb = hypandrial bridge, hl = hypandrial lobe, pg = pregonite, s8 = sternite 8, ph = phallus, pt = phallotrema. Scale bars: 0.25 mm (14, 15, 17); 0.1 mm (16).

Female terminalia : Segment 7 laterally compressed; sternite 7 keeled along midline. Segment 8 coriaceous and longitudinally striate, posterodorsal margin shallowly emarginate, posterolateral margin forming blunt angular protrusion, posteroventral margin with deep linear incision. Tergite 10 relatively long and broad, with tiny, scattered setulae. Cerci relatively broad, separate from tergite 10, with rows of long setulae on posterior margin.

The specific epithet is dedicated to the Canadian entomologist Owen Lonsdale (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Canada), for his outstanding contribution to the systematics of Acalyptratae, and his encouragement to the first author.

China – Qinghai: Haibei, Haidong; Shaanxi: Xi’an (Fig. 37).

This new species is most similar to L. (L.) omei Shatalkin, 1998, but it can be easily distinguished from the latter by the following character states: antennal pedicel distinctly longer than scape [vs subequal in length in L. (L.) omei]; antennal first flagellomere distinctly narrowed towards apex [vs weakly narrowed in L. (L.) omei]; mesonotum largely blackish with irregular brownish margin [vs uniformly blackish in L. (L.) omei]; abdomen yellowish brown with distinct ring-like markings [vs blackish brown with apical segments reddish in L. (L.) omei].

Antennal morphology similar to that of this new species also presents in L. (L.) hoffmannseggi Meigen, 1826 from Central and West Europe and L. (L.) matsumurai Iwasa, 1992 from Japan. However, the coloration of head, thorax, and abdomen of the new species is very different from that of the latter two species. Additionally, the head of the new species is nearly rounded in dorsal view with the frons strongly protruding anteriorly, while in the latter two species, the head is transverse oblong in dorsal view and the frons weakly protrudes anteriorly.

Holotype (♂): China, Shaanxi, Baoji, Longxian, Guanshan Grassland, 2034 m, 2020.viii.13, leg. Bing Zhang (CAU). Paratypes: same collection data as for holotype (1♂1♀, CAU).

Generally dark brown; face brown; antennal scape and pedicel subequal in length; apex of antennal first flagellomere produced beyond base of arista; arista laterally compressed and very high, arising at apex of antennal first flagellomere and 2.1 times as long as the latter; mesonotum blackish, with irregular, brownish margin; wing with broad, transverse, dark band at level of posterior crossvein; hypandrial lobe large, short, covered with long setae; pregonite stout, lobate, apically blunt, with some rounded processes; phallus tongue-like, relatively short, with rounded posterior margin.

Male and female. Body length 8.8–10.5 mm, wing length 6.2–7.0 mm, length of antenna 1.9–2.3 mm. Generally dark brown, moderately shining (Figs 18, 19). Frontal vitta black, with anterior and median parts dark yellow (Fig. 20); face brown; parafacial, gena, postgena, proboscis, and palpus pale brown (Fig. 21). Postpronotum brown. Mesonotum largely blackish brown, with irregular, dark brown margin as shown in Fig. 22. Wing slightly infumated, with broad, transverse, dark band at level of posterior crossvein, band more or less interrupted along center of cells r₂₊₃, r₄₊₅ and dm; wing veins yellowish brown to brown. Halter white with base slightly darkened. Legs dark brown to blackish brown; trochanters, apex of femora, fore and mid tibiae, and tarsomere 1 yellowish brown; hind tibia in male dark brown except base and apex slightly paler (Fig. 18), in female yellowish brown, with wide, median, dark brown ring (Fig. 19). Abdomen reddish brown (♀, Fig. 19) to dark reddish brown (♂, Fig. 18); syntergite 1+2, tergite 6 and posterior portion of tergite 5 in male, and tergite 7 and posterior margin of tergite 6 in female blackish brown. Bristles on head and thorax black.

Figures 18, 19. 

Loxocera (Loxocera) maculithorax sp. nov., habitus, lateral 18 male, holotype 19 female, paratype. Scale bar: 3 mm.

Figures 20–22. 

Loxocera (Loxocera) maculithorax sp. nov., holotype, male 20 head, dorsal 21 same, lateral 22 thorax, dorsal. Scale bar: 1 mm.

Head (Figs 20, 21) transverse oblong in dorsal view, largely glabrous; length along midline 0.7 times as long as width across eyes, width across eyes 2 times as broad as interocular space. Frons slightly protruding beyond level of anterior eye margin; frontal vitta with shallow depression at middle; frontal orbit with some short, scattered hairs. Ocellar triangle broad, smooth, with silvery tomentose stripes along lateral margins. Face strongly slanting, with moderately elevated median carina. Parafacial narrow, with a tomentose golden patch between anterior eye margin and lunule. Gena swollen; postgena covered with silvery tomentum. Occiput with a large silvery tomentose patch at middle above foramen. Head chaetotaxy: 1 ocellar seta, 1 postvertical seta, 1 inner vertical seta, 1 outer vertical seta. Antenna (Fig. 21) long and thick, with short, dense setulae; scape nearly as long as pedicel, gradually widened towards apex; first flagellomere about 2 times as long as pedicel, apex strongly curving ventrally, produced beyond base of arista; arista laterally compressed and very high, arising at apex of first flagellomere, 2.1 times as long as first flagellomere, divided into small aristomere 1 and large aristomeres 2+3. Palpus elongate oval, with short, dense setulae and long, scattered setae.

Thorax (Figs 18, 19, 22) robust, with short, dense, whitish-yellow setulae, except anepisternum (anterior half), anepimeron, katatergite, meron, scutellum, and mediotergite (middle portion) glabrous; anatergite with fine tomentum. Scutum 1.4 times as long as wide. Scutellum (Fig. 22) subtriangular, slightly swollen, and wider than long. Thoracic chaetotaxy: 1 dorsocentral seta, 1 notopleural seta, 2 posterior supra-alar setae, 1 apical scutellar seta. Wing with last sector of M₁ strongly curved; apex of M₄ nearly reaching wing margin. Legs with dense, whitish-yellow setulae, except ventral surface of fore and mid femora largely glabrous; femora subfusiform, slightly compressed laterally; tibiae gradually widened towards apex, fore and mid tibiae straight, hind tibia finely curved.

Abdomen elongate, with short, dense, whitish-yellow setae; syntergite 1+2 with several long hair-like setae laterally.

Male genitalia : Sternite 8 (Figs 23, 24) broad, with long, dense setae, dorsally with a wide, blunt protrusion at middle. Cerci (Figs 23, 24) relatively broad, elongate, with short, dense setae. Hypandrium (Fig. 26) well developed; hypandrial arms fused posterodorsally, posteriorly produced into large, short, convex lobes covered with long setae (Figs 23–26). Hypandrial bridge present and robust. Pregonite (Figs 23–25) stout, lobate, apically blunt, with some rounded processes. Phallus (Figs 23–25) tongue-like, relatively short, with rounded posterior margin. Phallotrema (Fig. 25) large, flanked by some peculiar, tiny processes. Ejaculatory apodeme (Fig. 24) small, hook-like, strongly curved.

Figures 23–26. 

Loxocera (Loxocera) maculithorax sp. nov., male genitalia 23 sternite 8 to genitalia, caudal 24 same, lateral 25 pregonite and phallus, ventral 26 hypandrium and associated structures, ventral. Abbreviations: ce = cercus, ea = ejaculatory apodeme, ep = epandrium, ha = hypandrial arm, hb = hypandrial bridge, hl = hypandrial lobe, pg = pregonite, s8 = sternite 8, ph = phallus, pt = phallotrema. Scale bars: 0.25 mm (23, 24, 26); 0.1 mm (25).

Female terminalia : Segment 7 laterally compressed; sternite 7 keeled along midline. Segment 8 coriaceous and longitudinally striate, posterodorsal margin shallowly emarginate, posterolateral margin forming acute angular protrusion, posteroventral margin with deep linear incision. Tergite 10 relatively short and narrow, with scattered tiny setulae. Cerci relatively broad, separate from tergite 10, with rows of long setulae on posterior margin.

The specific epithet is derived from Latin macula (meaning spotted) and Greek thorax (meaning thorax), referring to the mesonotum of the new species, which is blackish with an irregular brownish margin.

China – Shaanxi: Baoji (Fig. 37).

This new species is similar to L. (L.) fujiana, but it can be readily separated from the latter by the different coloration of head, mesonotum, hind tibia, and abdomen, the apically curved and produced first flagellomere, and the shortened scutum. It also resembles L. (L.) chikuni sp. nov., and their differences are discussed above [see under L. (L.) chikuni sp. nov.]. The Japanese species L. (L.) monstrata Iwasa, 1992 shares a similar antennal morphology with the new species, but its arista is less than 2 times as long as the first flagellomere, and it has different coloration on thorax, legs and abdomen.

Holotype (♂): China, Shaanxi, Xi’an, Zhouzhi, Houzhenzi, 2009.ix.29, leg. Maoling Sheng (CAU). Paratypes: same collection data as for holotype (4♂♂, CAU).

Generally dark brown; face blackish; antennal scape distinctly longer than pedicel; antennal first flagellomere stick-like, weakly narrowed towards apex of segment; arista whitish yellow, thin, arising before midpoint of antennal first flagellomere and 1.4 times as long as the latter; wing without transverse dark band; hypandrial lobe very large, broad, covered with short, sparse setae on inner surface; pregonite rather long, slender, curved apically with sharp apex; phallus droplet-like, elongate, abruptly narrowed apically.

Male. Body length 8.9–10.2 mm, wing length 6.6–7.2 mm, length of antenna 2.2–2.5 mm. Generally dark brown, moderately shining (Fig. 27). Frontal vitta black except anterior and median parts brown (Fig. 28); face blackish brown; gena and postgena slightly paler (Fig. 29). Antenna with arista whitish yellow. Proboscis and palpus pale brown. Mesonotum blackish brown (Fig. 30). Scutellum brown (Fig. 30). Mesopleuron with anepimeron and katatergite slightly paler; portion above and below anterior spiracle yellow (Fig. 29). Wing slightly infumated; wing veins yellowish brown to dark brown. Halter white with base slightly darkened. Fore and mid legs dark yellow, with coxae dark brown, base of femora pale yellow, and mid tarsomeres 2–5 slightly darkened. Hind leg brown, with coxa, femur (except apex), and wide median ring on tibia dark brown. Bristles on head and thorax black.

Figures 27–30. 

Loxocera (Loxocera) obscura sp. nov., holotype, male 27 habitus, lateral 28 head, dorsal 29 same, lateral 30 thorax, dorsal. Scale bars: 3 mm (27); 1 mm (28–30).

Head (Figs 28, 29) nearly rounded in dorsal view, largely glabrous; length along midline nearly as long as width across eyes, width across eyes 2 times as broad as interocular space. Frons strongly protruding beyond level of anterior eye margin; frontal vitta with shallow depression at middle; frontal orbit with some short, scattered hairs. Ocellar triangle broad, smooth. Face strongly slanting, with moderately elevated median carina. Parafacial narrow, with a tomentose golden patch between anterior eye margin and lunule. Gena swollen; postgena covered with silvery tomentum. Occiput with a large silvery tomentose patch at middle above foramen. Head chaetotaxy: 1 ocellar seta, 1 postvertical seta, 1 inner vertical seta 1 outer vertical seta. Antenna (Fig. 29) long, relatively slender, with short, dense setulae; scape distinctly longer than pedicel; first flagellomere about 4.6 times as long as pedicel, stick-like, laterally compressed, weakly narrowed towards apex; arista thin, arising before midpoint of first flagellomere, 1.4 times as long as first flagellomere, divided into small aristomere 1 and large aristomeres 2+3. Palpus elongate oval, with short, dense, white setulae.

Thorax (Figs 27, 30) robust, with short, dense, white setulae, except anepisternum (anterior half), anepimeron, katatergite, meron, scutellum and mediotergite (middle portion) glabrous; anatergite with fine tomentum. Scutum 1.35 times as long as wide. Scutellum (Fig. 30) transverse, wider than long, with midportion distinctly swollen. Thoracic chaetotaxy: 1 dorsocentral seta, 1 notopleural seta, 2 posterior supra-alar setae, 1 apical scutellar seta. Wing with last sector of M₁ strongly curved; apex of M₄ nearly reaching wing margin. Legs with dense, whitish-yellow setulae, except ventral surface of fore and mid femora largely glabrous; femora subfusiform, slightly compressed laterally; tibiae gradually widened towards apex, hind tibia finely curved.

Abdomen elongate, with short, dense, white setae; syntergite 1+2 with several long, hair-like setae laterally.

Male genitalia : Sternite 8 (Figs 31, 32) broad, inflated, with long, dense setae. Cerci (Figs 31, 32) relatively broad, slightly curved, with short, dense setae. Hypandrium (Fig. 34) well developed; hypandrial arms posteriorly produced into very large, broad, convex lobes covered with sparse, short setae on inner surface (Figs 31–34). Hypandrial bridge present and robust. Pregonite (Figs 31–33) rather long, slender, curved apically with sharp apex. Phallus (Figs 31–33) droplet-like, elongate, abruptly narrowed apically. Phallotrema (Fig. 33) small, without processes. Ejaculatory apodeme (Fig. 32) small, V-like, strongly curved.

Figures 31–34. 

Loxocera (Loxocera) obscura sp. nov., male genitalia 31 sternite 8 to genitalia, caudal 32 same, lateral 33 pregonite and phallus, ventral 34 hypandrium and associated structures, ventral. Abbreviations: ce = cercus, ea = ejaculatory apodeme, ep = epandrium, ha = hypandrial arm, hb = hypandrial bridge, hl = hypandrial lobe, pg = pregonite, s8 = sternite 8, ph = phallus, pt = phallotrema.Scale bars: 0.25 mm (31, 32, 34); 0.1 mm (33).

Female. Unknown.

The specific epithet is derived from Latin obscura (meaning dark, indistinct), referring to the dark-brown body color of the new species.

China – Shaanxi: Xi’an (Fig. 37).

This new species is most similar to L. (L.) malaisei (Frey, 1955) (from Myanmar and Nepal) in having a relatively long antennal scape (longer than pedicel), a nearly parallel-sided and laterally compressed antennal first flagellomere, similar coloration of legs, and an enlarged and posteriorly inflated male sternite 8. It can be distinguished from the latter by the following character states: antennal scape about 1.5 times as long as pedicel [vs 2 times in L. (L.) malaisei]; antennal first flagellomere elongate, 4.6 times as long as pedicel [vs shorter, 4 times in L. (L.) malaisei]; arista slender [vs widened towards apex in L. (L.) malaisei]; phallus droplet-like with apex abruptly narrowed [vs elongate oval in L. (L.) malaisei].

Holotype (♂): China, Sichuan, Leshan, Emeishan, 1935.vii.21, leg. D.C. Graham (USNM).

Generally blackish brown; face yellowish brown; antennal scape and pedicel subequal in length; antennal first flagellomere laterally compressed, about 3.6 times as long as pedicel, weakly narrowed towards apex; arista whitish yellow, thin, arising near midpoint of antennal first flagellomere and 1.3 times as long as latter; wing without transverse dark band.

China – Sichuan: Leshan (Fig. 37).

This species was described based on one male (the holotype) from Sichuan, China (Shatalkin 1998). The habitus photographs of the holotype (Figs 35, 36) are provided here for facilitating the identification of this species.

Figures 35, 36. 

Loxocera (Loxocera) omei Shatalkin, 1998, holotype, male, habitus with labels 35 lateral 36 dorsal. Scale bar: 3 mm.

Figure 37. 

Known distribution of species of the subgenus Loxocera in China.

Holotype (♂): China, Hubei, Shennongjia, Dajiuhu, 1977.vii.9, leg. Huanguang Zou (CAU).

China – Hubei: Shennongjia.

Loxocera anulata was originally described as a member of the subgenus Loxocera based on one male (the holotype) from Hubei, China (Wang and Yang 1998a). The specific epithet of this species was spelled as anulata in its original description, where the authors (Wang and Yang 1998a) intend to create the name from the Latin adjective anulatus, -a, -um (meaning ringed, referring to the annulations on the abdomen of this species), therefore it is considered as the correct original spelling. The subsequent usage of the specific epithet annulata (Buck and Marshall 2006b) is treated as an incorrect subsequent spelling. Buck and Marshall (2006b) failed to assign this species (as L. annulata) to a certain subgenus based on its brief original description. This species was catalogued by Tang et al. (2021) without subgeneric placement.

Figures 38, 39. 

Loxocera (Imantimyia) anulata Wang & Yang, 1998, holotype, male 38 lateral habitus with labels 39 head and thorax, dorsal. Scale bars: 3 mm (38); 1 mm (39).

The holotype of L. anulata was examined during the present study. It satisfied the diagnosis of Loxocera s. lat. provided by Buck and Marshall (2006b). The sclerotized and sub-shining frontal vitta, the hiding lunule, the microtrichose on the alula, and the very reduced and bare male sternite 8 match the characters used to diagnose the subgenus Imantimyia Frey, 1925 (Buck and Marshall 2006b). Therefore, this species is herein transferred to Imantimyia.

Holotype (♂): China, Zhejiang, Lin’an, Xitianmushan, 350 m, 1987.ix.3, leg. Qun Ma (CAU).

China – Zhejiang: Lin’an.

Loxocera tianmuensis was originally described based on one male (the holotype) from Zhejiang, China (Wang and Yang 1998b), but the authors did not assign it to any subgenus. Buck and Marshall (2006b) mentioned that this species “cannot be confidently placed to subgenus” due to the inadequate original description. No new information has since been published on this species.

Figures 40, 41. 

Loxocera (Imantimyia) tianmuensis Wang & Yang, 1998, holotype, male 40 lateral habitus with labels 41 head and thorax, dorsal. Scale bars: 3 mm (40); 1 mm (41).

The holotype of L. tianmuensis was examined in the course of the present study. The date on the collection data label of the holotype does not match that in the original description. The authors (Wang and Yang 1998b) communicated personally with the specimen collector during the preparation of the manuscript, thus providing a precise date of specimen collection in the original description. Based on the examination of the holotype, this species matches the current concept of Imantimyia (Buck and Marshall 2006b) and is herein placed under this subgenus.