Smyga distincta Dworakowska, 1995 by original designation.

Body relatively robust. Pale yellow; head with a brown patch anteriorly (Figs 1, 9); face with anteclypeus brown distally (Fig. 2), sometimes with more extensive brown marking (S. divergens); pronotum with a brown transverse narrow band at midlength, pale yellow anterior to band and silvery posterior to band (Figs 1, 9); mesonotum with yellow to brown basal triangles (Figs 1, 9).

Head including eyes broader than pronotum in dorsal view, crown short and broad, round anteriorly, length along midline shorter than one-half width between eyes; coronal suture well developed, extended onto face, and terminating at level of antennal bases (Fig. 2). Ocelli distinct, well separated from eyes (Fig. 2). Face moderately broad; lateral frontal suture well developed, curved mesad above antennal pit and meeting coronal suture at midline ventromesad of ocelli; anteclypeus slightly convex, not expanded (Fig. 2). Pronotum large with sinuate transverse depression (Figs 1, 9). Forewing narrow, rounded apically; apical cells occupying almost one-third of total length; vein R2 and RM dissociated at bases, joined by cross-vein, both arising from r cell; vein ScP+RA is not detectable; vein MCu almost parallel with vein RM apically. Hindwing with MP+CuA confluent. Front femur seta AM1 stout, situated near ventral margin; intercalary row with one large basal seta and eight or nine smaller setae near tip of femur. Hind femur with macrosetal formula 2 + 1 + 1; tibia row AV with six or seven preapical macrosetae.

Male basal abdominal sternal apodemes (2S apodemes) well developed (Fig. 3). Male pygofer elongated, strongly narrowing caudad, posterior margin acute with few rigid microsetae distally, dorsal margin with macrosetae, long fine ventrolateral setae present, ventral appendage absent (Figs 4, 10). Anal tube process elongate, extended to ventral margin of genital capsule (Figs 4, 10). Subgenital plate broadest near base (Fig. 10) or subapically (Fig. 4), all categories of setae well differentiated; basal setae encompassing mid-length of plate; marginal setae well defined; macrosetae uniserate; feeble microsetae arranged in 2–4 irregular rows apically (Fig. 4). Connective with media sclerotization, anterior margin and posterior margin deeply emarginated (Fig. 7). Style short, sinuate, with tiny teeth and microsetae preapically (Fig. 11). Aedeagus shaft short, tubular, with basal apodeme long (Figs 5, 13) or laterally compressed with basal apodeme short (Figs 6, 12); gonopore apical on ventral surface (Fig. 12).

Smyga superficially resembles Dapitana Mahmood, 1967 in the features of the head and wings (coronal suture extended onto face and terminating at level of antennal bases (Fig. 2), forewing with vein R2 and RM dissociated at bases, joined by cross-vein, both arising from r cell and vein ScP+RA is not detectable). It differs from Dapitana in color pattern (see generic description) and in having the male pygofer with one or two dorsal macrosetae and long fine ventrolateral setae (Figs 4, 10) (pygofer without macrosetae and long fine setae in Dapitana). Both genera occur on both sides of Wallace’s Line, separating the Oriental from Australian regions.

Smyga includes five previously known species, all from Borneo, described by Dworakowska (1995). In her treatment of the type species, S. distincta, Dworakowska also described and illustrated some “aberrant specimens” that she excluded from the type series because she considered the small, ventrally positioned aedeagal shaft to be “not functional.” Here we recognize these specimens as a valid species: S. brevipenis sp. nov., as similar specimens of two new species have been seen in Xu’s (2019) PhD thesis.

As most Smyga species are from similar localities in Borneo (see Checklist) and as males are needed for identification, the female paratypes of two species (S. distincta and S. zonata) must be regarded as of uncertain identity (see also comments under S. distincta and S. zonata). It is also of some interest that, compared to males, the number of known females is very low.

Oriental Region (Brunei, Malaysia).

Holotype. ♂, Brunei, Ulu Temburong; 300 m elev.; Feb–Mar. 1982; M.C. Day leg.; B.M. 1983-75 (NHM).

Paratypes. Brunei, 8 ♂♂, same data as holotype; 10 ♂♂, same data as holotype except Ulu Temburong ridge; (NHM). Malaysia, Sarawak, Gunung Mulu National Park: 5 ♂♂, Gunung Api, 900 m elev., site 25, April; montane forest, mv and act light trap; J.D. Holloway leg.; 2 ♂♂, nr Long Melinau, 50 m elev., site 17, May; low secondary forest, mv light on river-bank; J.D. Holloway; 7 ♂♂, W. Melinau Gorge leg., 250 m elev., site 23, April; limestone forest, canopy/understory, mv light; J.D. Holloway leg.; 1 ♂, W. Melinau Gorge leg., Kerankas, 150 m elev., Mar.–Apr. 1978; J.D. Holloway leg.; 2 ♂♂, camp 2.5, 30 Apr. 1978, V.F. Eastop. All paratypes from Sarawak were collected on the RGS Mulu Expedition, B.M. 1978-206 (NHM).

Body length: 3.5–4.4 mm.

Color as in generic description (Fig. 1).

Male 2S apodemes not extending to end of segment V (Fig. 3). Anal-tube appendage hook-shaped at apex (Fig. 4). Male pygofer strongly emarginate dorsally in profile, and posteriorly extended into sharp point with spine-like setae; ventral appendage absent; bearing one long macroseta near dorsal margin (Fig. 4); dorsal bridge with a posterior lobe-like projection each side of midline, in dorsal view. Subgenital plate surpassing pygofer lobe, broadened medially in later view, all categories of setae represented (Fig. 4). Connective anterior margin with undeveloped median lobe, posterior margin notched medially (Fig. 7). Style sinuate (Figs 4, 8). Aedeagus without preatrium, basal apodeme well developed, plate-like; shaft with pair of lamellate lateral processes; gonopore subapical, ventrad (Figs 5, 6).

The name is derived from the Latin words brevis (short) and penis, which refers to the very short aedeagal shaft.

Brunei, Malaysia.

Specimens of S. brevipenis were considered aberrant specimens of S. distincta by Dworakowska (1995) and of uncertain status. However, based on the high degree of difference between these two species and the discovery of two similar new species from Papua New Guinea noted in Xu’s (2019) PhD thesis, we describe the above specimens as a new species. All type specimens listed here (with some amendments) were identified by I. Dworakowska as the aberrant form of S. distincta. All are male and most have a Dworakowska genitalia dissection affixed to a card placed beneath the specimen. Three females (NHM) with identical data to the males could be the same species but, as three other species are also from these localities (see Checklist), their identity is uncertain. See also the concluding comments under the genus description. In Dworakowska’s (1995) figure of the head and thorax there are some fine lines in the basal triangles of the mesonotum. These are seen in some specimens, but it is not clear if they are markings or perhaps caused by shrinkage of internal tissue during drying.

The type series was originally stated as holotype male from Brunei, Ulu Temburong and one paratype male and two females from three different localities in Sarawak, Gunung Mulu National Park; however, the paratype male is in fact female. The identity of these three females must remain uncertain until females in the genus can be identified, particularly as other species are sympatric with S. distincta (see Checklist).

Figures 1–13. 

Smyga species 1–8 S. brevipenis 1 head and thorax, dorsal view (holotype) 2 face (holotype) 3–8 male genitalia after Dworakowska’s (1995) figures of aberrant form of S. distincta 3 basal sternal apodemes 4 male genital capsule, left lateral view 5 aedeagus left lateral view 6 aedeagus, ventral view 7 connective 8 connective, style and subgenital plate 9–13 S. distincta 9 habitus (holotype) 10–13 male genitalia, after Dworakowska (1995) 10 genital capsule 11 style 12 aedeagus ventral view 13 aedeagus, left lateral view.

Aberrant specimens regarded as possibly this species in its original description are described above as a new species. Therefore, this species is known with certainty only from a single male, the holotype (NHM).

The type series was originally stated to include a holotype male from Sarawak, Gunung Mulu National Park and one male and two female paratypes from Brunei, Ulu Temburong. The identity of these two females must remain uncertain until females in the genus can be identified, particularly as other species are sympatric with S. zonata (see Checklist). Therefore, this species is known with certainty only from two male specimens (NHM).