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Research Article
The genus Blepharicera Macquart, 1843 newly recorded from Sichuan, China with descriptions of three new species (Diptera, Blephariceridae)
expand article infoXiao Zhang‡, Zehui Kang‡
‡ Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China

Corresponding author: Zehui Kang ( kangzehui1987@163.com )

Academic editor: Gunnar Kvifte
© 2022 Xiao Zhang, Zehui Kang.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation: Zhang X, Kang Z (2022) The genus Blepharicera Macquart, 1843 newly recorded from Sichuan, China with descriptions of three new species (Diptera, Blephariceridae). ZooKeys 1085: 51-68. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1085.75885
ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6CC903FD-C011-4C19-9058-BE0D35172286
Open Access

Abstract

The genus Blepharicera Macquart, 1843 is recorded from Sichuan, China for the first time with the following three new species: B. gengdica sp. nov., B. balangshana sp. nov. and B. kongsica sp. nov., increasing the number of Chinese Blepharicera species to eleven. The new species are distinguished from congeners mainly by their male genitalia. Descriptions and illustrations for the new species and an updated key to Chinese Blepharicera species are presented.

Keywords

Blepharicerinae, chinese fauna, net-winged midge, taxonomy

Introduction

Family Blephariceridae, also called the net-winged midge, is a kind of slender delicate fly in lower Diptera. Compound eyes of blepharicerids are transversely divided into dorsal divisions and ventral divisions. Mandibles are absent in males and present in most females. Wings of blepharicerids have a net-like pattern of folds in the wing membrane. Larvae and pupae are often found on rocks in swiftly moving streams or waterfalls (Hogue 1981). Adults are usually found close to the natal stream resting on vegetation or logs (Courtney 2000a).

Blephariceridae is considered a small family with approximately 320 described species in 28 genera (Jacobson et al. 2011). Seven genera of Blephariceridae are known to occur in China (Kitakami 1931, 1950; Mannheims 1938; Kang and Yang 2012, 2014, 2015). Agathon Röder, 1890, Bibiocephala Osten Sacken, 1874 and Neohapalothrix Kitakami, 1938 are found in northeast China, Apistomyia Bigot, 1862 in Taiwan, Horaia Tonnoir, 1930 in southwest China, and Philorus Kellogg, 1903 in three provinces of China (Hebei, Sichuan and Taiwan). Blepharicera Macquart, 1843 is the most widely distributed genus of blepharicerids recorded from China, in seven provinces in both south and north China. Eight species of Blepharicera are known to occur in China (Kang and Yang 2014): B. asiatica (Brodsky, 1930) distributed in Yunnan and Guangxi Provinces, B. dimorphops Alexander, 1953 in Fujian, B. hainana Kang & Yang, 2014 and B. macropyga Zwick, 1990 from Hainan, B. hebeiensis Kang & Yang, 2014 in Heibei and Shanxi, B. taiwanica Kitakami, 1937 and B. uenoi Kitakami, 1937 in Taiwan, and B. yamasakii Kitakami, 1950 in Heilongjiang.

Blepharicera can be easily distinguished from other genera of Blephariceridae by the following features: head normally dichoptic in male and subholoptic in female; antennae with 13 flagellomeres; middle coxa of female with setose median outgrowth; base of hind basitarsus with obvious black setae; claws nonsetate dorsally; vein R with 3 branches, veins R4 and R5 separate for entire length; absence of cross vein bm-cu, presence of M2 (Zwick 1990; Courtney 2000b; Jacobson et al. 2011).

Sichuan province is situated in southwestern China; it includes Sichuan Basin, and parts of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and the Hengduan Mountain region, which has been designated as one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots (Zhang and Ma 2008; Zhang et al. 2009). As a region of high biodiversity, however, the blepharicerid species in this area has been poorly described. Only one species belonging to Philorus was described by Kang and Yang (2012).

Several insect diversity investigations in Sichuan Province were initiated by the authors and other entomologists from 2013 to 2016, and the genus Blepharicera was found in Sichuan province for the first time (Fig. 1). In this paper, descriptions and illustrations for three new species from Sichuan, B. gengdica sp. nov., B. balangshana sp. nov. and B. kongsica sp. nov. are provided, and a key to Chinese Blepharicera species modified from Kang and Yang (2014) is also presented.

Figure 1. 

Distribution map of Blepharicera from Sichuan.

Material and methods

Adults were collected by insect net and light trap. Type specimens of the new species in this study were deposited in the Entomological Museum of China Agricultural University, Beijing, China (CAU) and the Entomological Museum of Qingdao Agricultural University, Shandong, China (QAU). Studies were based on whole-animal preparations and dissections. Photographs were captured by a Canon EOS 90D digital camera through a macro lens. Genitalia were prepared by immersing the apical portion of the abdomen in warm lactic acid for 0.5–1 hours. Specimens were examined and illustrations prepared by using a ZEISS Stemi 2000-C stereomicroscope. After examination, the removed abdomen was transferred to fresh glycerine and stored in a microvial pinned to the respective specimen. Structural terminology is based primarily on Courtney (2000b).

Taxonomy

Key to adult males of Chinese species of Blepharicera

Adult unknown in B. uenoi Kitakami

1 Dorsal division of compound eye large, at least 1/2 of ventral division (Fig. 5a, b) 2
– Dorsal division of compound eye small, at most 1/10 of ventral division (Figs 3a, b, 8a, b) 5
2 Gonostylus bifurcated 3
– Gonostylus not bifurcated 4
3 Ultimate flagellomere shorter than penultimate flagellomere; Rs 1.5 times as long as r-m; ventral branch of gonostylus glabrous (Kitakami 1937: figs 7, 8) B. taiwanica (Taiwan)
– Ultimate flagellomere longer than penultimate flagellomere; Rs as long as or slightly longer than r-m; ventral branch of gonostylus with two tufts of short dense setae (Kang &Yang 2014: figs 23, 24) B. macropyga (Hainan)
4 Dorsal division of compound eye as large as ventral division (Fig. 5a, b); epandrium trapeziform, posterior margin concave; cercus triangular; gonostylus without a semicircular inside lobe near base (Fig. 5a, b) B. balangshana sp. nov. (Sichuan)
– Dorsal division of compound eye 1/2 as large as ventral division; epandrium semicircular, posterior margin rounded; cercus semi-elliptical; gonostylus with a semicircular inside lobe near base (Kang and Yang 2014: figs 14, 15) B. hainana (Hainan)
5 Cercus triangular, posterior margin tapered medially (Figs 3c, 5c, 8c) 6
– Cercus semicircular or semi-elliptical, posterior margin round medially 8
6 Outer gonocoxal lobe straight B. asiatica (Yunnan, Guangxi; Afghanistan; India; Pakistan; Russia; Sri Lanka)
– Outer gonocoxal lobe S-shaped 7
7 Ultimate flagellomere shorter than penultimate flagellomere (Fig. 8a); dorsal branch of gonostylus broader than ventral branch (Fig. 8c); inner gonocoxal lobe fusiform (Fig. 8c, d); dorsal carina inapparent (Fig. 8f) B. kongsica sp. nov. (Sichuan)
– Ultimate flagellomere longer than penultimate flagellomere (Fig. 3a); dorsal branch of gonostylus as broad as ventral branch (Fig. 3c); inner gonocoxal lobe digitiform (Fig. 3c, d); dorsal carina apparent (Fig. 3f) B. gengdica sp. nov. (Sichuan)
8 Mid coxa with a conical projection, conical projection about half as long as trochanter and densely with stiff black bristles towards tip (Kitakami 1950: fig. 49) B. yamasakii (Heilongjiang)
– Mid coxa without projection like above 9
9 Posterior margin of epandrium not distinctly concaved medially; cercus semicircilar; gonostylus bifurcated and strongly notched apically (Kang and Yang 2014: figs 8, 9, 11) B. dimorphops (Fujian)
– Posterior margin of epandrium concave medially, V-shaped; cercus semi-elliptical; gonostylus not bifurcated and slightly notched apically (Kang and Yang 2014: figs 18, 19, 20) B. hebeiensis (Hebei, Shanxi)

Blepharicera gengdica sp. nov.

http://zoobank.org/C46F8572-AFF6-45C0-A8D8-5783D5B8015B
Figs 2, 3

Diagnosis

Compound eye with dorsal division 1/20 as large as ventral division in male. Rs 1.5 times as long as r-m. Cercus triangular. Dorsal branch of gonostylus short; ventral branch longer and broader than dorsal branch, round apically. Outer gonocoxal lobe transparent, S-shaped; inner gonocoxal lobe digitiform. Dorsal carina apparent, tip slightly blunt.

Description

Male. Body length 4.50 mm, wing length 5.75 mm, wing width 2.00 mm.

Head (Figs 2a, 3a, b) pruinose, uniformly brownish black with black hairs. Compound eyes dichoptic, interocular ridge absent; each compound eye divided, callis oculi absent; dorsal division contiguous with ventral division, 1/20 as large as ventral division; dorsal division with 6–7 rows of ommatidia, ommatidia red-orange, larger in diameter, with omatrichia; ventral division black with omatrichia. Ocelli black. Scape and pedicel oval, brown with dark brown hairs; first flagellomere conical, basal 1/2 light brown, apical 1/2 brown, with brownish black hairs; other flagellomeres cylindrical, brown with brownish black hairs; ultimate flagellomere 1.3 times length of penultimate flagellomere. Clypeus oval, brownish black, twice as long as the width; labrum brown; labellum brown with brownish black hairs; proboscis about 0.67 times length of head width. Palpus with five segments, 1st segment almost invisible; 2nd and 3rd segments cylindrical, brownish yellow with brown hairs; 4th segment cylindrical, slightly swollen apically, brownish yellow with brown hairs; 5th segment slender, brownish yellow with brown hairs; relative length of distal four segments as 1.0: 1.2: 1.5: 2.9.

Figure 2. 

Blepharicera gengdica sp. nov. a habitus of male, lateral view b thorax, dorsal view c wing. Scale bars: 1.0 mm (a); 0.25 mm (b, c).

Thorax (Fig. 2b) pruinose. Pronotum and propleuron brown without hairs. Mesonotum dark brown with middle area of posterior margin light brown; scutellum dark brown with middle area light brown, with numerous hairs grouped at posterolateral corner; episternum dark brown; anepimeron light brown, katepimeron dark brown. Relative length of femur, tibiae and 1st to 5th tarsomeres in fore leg as 15: 15: 10.5: 4.3: 2.8: 1.3: 1, in mid leg as 15.5: 14.5: 9.0: 4.0: 2.5: 1: 1, in hind leg as 19.6: 17.6: 7.4: 2.4: 1.6: 1: 1. Fore coxa dark brown with brown hairs; mid and hind coxae pale with brownish black hairs; trochanters pale, anterior margin with black spot apically, with brownish black hairs; fore and mid femora light yellow basally and gradually darkened to dark brown apically, with brownish black hairs; hind femur light yellow basally and gradually darkened to brownish yellow apically, with brownish black hairs; fore and mid tibiae dark brown with brownish black hairs; hind tibia brownish yellow with brown hairs; tarsomeres dark brown with brownish black hairs; claw dark brown. Tibial spurs 0–0–0. Wing (Fig. 2c) slightly brown apically, apical 1/3 of sc brown; veins brown. Sc rudimentary, not ending at base of Rs; Rs straight, 1.5 times as long as r-m; R4 wavy, the length from end of R1 to end of R4 shorter than length from end of R4 to end of R5; r-m straight, including angle between r-m and Rs less than 90 degrees; the length from end of M1 to end of M2 longer than the length from end of M2 to end of CuA1. Base of halter pale, apex of halter grey with brownish black hairs.

Figure 3. 

Blepharicera gengdica sp. nov. a male head, frontal view b male head, lateral view c male genitalia, dorsal view d male genitalia, ventral view e aedegal complex, dorsal view f tip of dorsal paramere, lateral view. Scale bars: 0.25 mm (a, b); 0.10 mm (c–f). Abbreviations: cerc = cercus; d ca = dorsal carina; d pa = dorsal paramere; ep = epandrium; gl = gonocoxal lobe; gs = gonostylus; gx = gonocoxite; hyd = hypandrium.

Abdomen. First tergum dark brown with middle area pale, 2nd tergum dark brown, 3rd to 5th terga dark brown with basal 1/3 brownish yellow, 6th to 8th terga dark brown; 1st to 7th sterna brownish yellow with brownish black stripes laterally; abdomen with brownish black hairs. Male genitalia (Fig. 3c–f) dark brown. Epandrium trapeziform, posterior margin concaved medially, with several brown hairs. Cercus triangular, inner margin bulge, with several brown hairs; anal cone round with two long hairs apically. Gonostylus bifurcated, dorsal branch short, slightly swollen apically, with hairs; ventral branch longer and broader than dorsal branch, round apically, with long hairs. Gonocoxal lobe bifurcated, outer gonocoxal lobe transparent, S-shaped, round apically; inner gonocoxal lobe digitiform, transparent. Hypandrium nearly triangular, twice as long as the width, round and slightly narrow basally, middle of each lateral margin slightly concave, posterior margin concave, with several brown hairs laterally. Dorsal paramere with posterior margin round; dorsal carina apparent, tip slightly blunt.

Female. Unknown.

Type material

Holotype : male (CAU), China: Sichuan Province, Wenchuan County, Gengda, Fuyuan inn (Light trap), 2016.V.24, Zehui Kang.

Distribution

Currently known only from China (Sichuan).

Etymology

The specific name refers to the type locality Gengda.

Remarks

This new species is very similar to B. parva Zwick & Arefina, 2005 from the Russian Far East but can be separated by the cercus being tapered posteriorly and the outer gonocoxal lobe being S-shaped. In B. parva, the cercus is round, and the outer gonocoxal lobe is digitiform (Zwick and Arefina 2005). This new species is also similar to B. yamasakii from China, but it can be separated from the latter by the mid coxa without hairy projection in male, and the triangular cercus. In B. yamasakii, the mid coxa has a conical projection in the male which is about half as long as trochanter and has densely stiff black bristles towards tip, and the cercus is semicircular (Kitakami 1950).

Blepharicera balangshana sp. nov.

http://zoobank.org/5A4EDC48-D0B5-48B9-819E-A5796ADF6C02
Figs 4, 5, 6

Diagnosis

Compound eye with dorsal division as large as ventral division in the male. Scutellum pale brown with anterior margin yellow. Rs as long as r-m. Cercus triangular. Gonostylus slightly swollen and notched apically. Dorsal carina apparent, tip nearly perpendicular. Genital fork X-shaped in female.

Description

Male. Body length 4.50–5.00 mm, wing length 6.00–6.50 mm, wing width 2.00–2.50 mm.

Head (Figs 4a, 5a, b) pruinose, uniformly brown with dark brown hairs. Compound eyes dichoptic, interocular ridge absent; each compound eye divided, callis oculi absent; dorsal division contiguous with ventral division, as large as ventral division; dorsal division with 20 rows of ommatidia, ommatidia red-orange, larger in diameter, with omatrichia; ventral division black with omatrichia. Ocelli brownish yellow. Scape and pedicel oval, brown with brownish black hairs; first flagellomere constricted at base, flared at apex, basal 1/2 brownish yellow, apical 1/2 brownish black, with brownish black hairs; other flagellomeres cylindrical, brownish black with brownish black hairs; ultimate flagellomere 1.6 times length of penultimate flagellomere. Clypeus oval, brownish yellow, twice as long as the width; labrum brownish yellow; labellum brownish yellow with brown hairs; proboscis about 0.63 times length of head width. Palpus with five segments, 1st segment almost invisible; 2nd and 3rd segments cylindrical, yellow with brown hairs; 4th segment cylindrical, slightly swollen apically, basal 1/2 yellow, apical 1/2 brownish black, with brown hairs; 5th segment slender, brownish yellow with brown hairs; relative length of distal four segments as 1.0: 1.0: 1.1: 2.3.

Figure 4. 

Blepharicera balangshana sp. nov. a habitus of male, lateral view b thorax, dorsal view c wing. Scale bars: 1.0 mm (a); 0.25 mm (b, c).

Thorax (Fig. 4b) pruinose. Pronotum and propleuron brown without hairs. Mesonotum dark brown with middle area of posterior margin yellow; scutellum pale brown with anterior margin yellow, with numerous hairs grouped at posterolateral corner; metanotum brown; episternum brown; epimeron yellow. Relative length of femur, tibiae and 1st to 5th tarsomeres in fore leg as 15: 13: 7.4: 3.4: 2: 1: 1, in mid leg as 15.4: 12.8: 7.4: 2.6: 2.4: 1: 1, in hind leg as 23: 20: 7.2: 2: 1.4: 1: 1. Fore coxa pale with basal margin brownish yellow, with brownish yellow hairs; mid and hind coxae pale with brownish black hairs; trochanters pale, anterior margin with black spot apically, with brownish black hairs; femora yellow basally and gradually darkened apically, with brownish black hairs; fore and mid tibiae brown with brownish black hairs; hind tibia brownish yellow with brownish black hairs; tarsomeres brown with brownish black hairs; claw brown. Tibial spurs 0–0–0. Wing (Fig. 4c) slightly brown apically, apical 1/3 of sc brown; veins brown. Sc rudimentary, not ending at base of Rs; Rs slightly curved basally, as long as r-m; R4 wavy, the length from end of R1 to end of R4 shorter than length from end of R4 to end of R5; r-m straight, included angle between r-m and Rs less than 90 degrees; the length from end of M1 to end of M2 as long as the length from end of M2 to end of CuA1. Base of halter pale, apex of halter brown with brownish black hairs.

Abdomen. First tergum brown with middle area pale, 2nd tergum brown, 3rd to 5th terga brown with basal 1/3 brown, 6th to 8th terga brown; 1st sternum pale, 2nd to 6th sterna pale with brown stripes laterally, 7th sternum pale; abdomen with brown hairs. Male genitalia (Fig. 5c–f) brown. Epandrium trapeziform, posterior margin concave, with several brown hairs. Cercus triangular, inner margin bulge, with several brown hairs; anal cone round with two long hairs apically. Gonostylus slightly swollen and notched apically, outer side with a wide triangular lobe folded ventrally, with hairs. Gonocoxal lobe bifurcated, outer gonocoxal lobe transparent, rod-shaped, slightly curved; inner gonocoxal lobe transparent, rod-shaped, nearly straight, slenderer than outer gonocoxal lobe. Hypandrium rectangular, twice as long as the width, slightly narrow basally, posterior margin concave, with several brown hairs. Dorsal paramere with posterior margin round; dorsal carina apparent, tip nearly perpendicular.

Figure 5. 

Blepharicera balangshana sp. nov. a male head, frontal view b male head, lateral view c male genitalia, dorsal view d male genitalia, ventral view e aedegal complex, dorsal view f tip of dorsal paramere, lateral view. Scale bars: 0.25 mm (a, b); 0.10 mm (c–f).

Female. Body length 6.00 mm, wing length 7.50 mm, wing width 2.75 mm.

Head (Fig. 6a) pruinose. Compound eyes subholoptic, interocular ridge present; each compound eye divided, callis oculi present; dorsal division separated from ventral division, as large as ventral division; dorsal division with about 20 rows of ommatidia, ommatidia red-orange, larger in diameter, with omatrichia; ventral division black with omatrichia. Scape oval, brown with brown hairs; pedicel conical, dark brown with brown hairs; first flagellomere constricted at base, flared at apex, basal 1/2 brownish yellow, apical 1/2 brownish black, with brownish black hairs; other flagellomeres cylindrical, tapering apically, brownish black with brownish black hairs; ultimate flagellomere 1.47 times length of penultimate flagellomere. Labrum brown; labellum pale with brown hairs; mandibles absent; proboscis about 0.74 times length of head width. Palpus with five segments, 1st segment almost invisible, yellow with brownish black hairs; 2nd segment cylindrical, yellow with brownish black hairs; 3rd and 4th segments cylindrical, brownish yellow with brownish black hairs; 5th segment slender, cylindrical, brownish yellow with brownish black hairs; relative length of distal four segments as 1.0: 1.5: 1.5: 2.2. Tibial spurs 0–0–0. Terminalia (Fig. 6b): 8th sternite bilobate, medial depression W-shaped, with six hairs laterally; genital fork X-shaped; hypogynial plate broad basally, bilobate posteriorly, each lobe round apically, intervalvular area U-shaped, with short hairs posteriorly; epiproct with two prominent hairs apically; spermathecae three in number.

Figure 6. 

Blepharicera balangshana sp. nov. a female head, frontal view b female terminal, ventral view. Scale bars: 0.25 mm (a); 0.10 mm (b). Abbreviations: gf = genital fork; hyp p = hypogynial plate; st 8 = eight sternite.

Type material

Holotype : male (CAU), China: Sichuan Province, Xiaojin County, Mount Balangshan, 2013.VII.9, 3281 m, Xiaoyan Liu; Paratypes: 5 males 1 female (QAU), same data as holotype.

Distribution

Currently known only from China (Sichuan).

Etymology

The specific name refers to the type locality Mount Balangshan.

Remarks

This new species is very similar to B. indica (Brunetti, 1911) from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India but can be separated by the apex of the gonostylus being slightly swollen and notched, the dorsal carina being apparent with nearly perpendicular tip. In B. indica, the apex of gonostylus is not swollen or notched, and the dorsal carina is inapparent (Zwick 1990). This new species is also similar to B. asiatica from Russia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India, but it can be separated from the latter by the scutellum being pale brown with anterior margin yellow, the sterna of abdomen being mostly pale, and the dorsal carina with nearly perpendicular tip. In B. asiatica, the scutellum and the sterna of abdomen are dark brown, the dorsal carina has a very pointed and downcurved tip which is almost parallel to plate sometimes (Zwick 1990).

Blepharicera kongsica sp. nov.

http://zoobank.org/BFAAE688-7006-4834-9F59-67716BDEAAB7
Figs 7, 8, 9

Diagnosis

Compound eye with dorsal division 1/15 as large as ventral division in male. Tibial spurs 0–0–2 in female. Rs 1.2 times as long as r-m. Cercus triangular. Dorsal branch of gonostylus short and broad, slightly swollen apically; ventral branch longer and slenderer than dorsal branch. Outer gonocoxal lobe transparent, S-shaped; inner gonocoxal lobe fusiform. Dorsal carina inapparent. Genital fork V-shaped.

Description

Male. Body length 4.00–4.50 mm.

Head (Figs 7a, 8a, b) pruinose, uniformly dark brown with dark brown hairs. Compound eyes dichoptic, interocular ridge absent; each compound eye divided, callis oculi absent; dorsal division contiguous with ventral division, 1/15 as large as ventral division; dorsal division with 7–8 rows of ommatidia, ommatidia red-orange, larger in diameter, with brown omatrichia; ventral division black with omatrichia. Ocelli brownish yellow. Scape and pedicel oval, brown with brownish black hairs; first flagellomere conical, basal 1/2 brownish yellow, apical 1/2 brownish black, with brownish black hairs; other flagellomeres cylindrical, dark brown with dark brown hairs; ultimate flagellomere 1.2 times length of penultimate flagellomere. Clypeus rectangular, basal 1/2 brown, apical 1/2 brownish yellow, twice as long as the width. labrum brownish yellow; labellum brownish yellow with dark brown hairs; proboscis about 0.56 times length of head width. Palpus with five segments, 1st segment almost invisible; 2nd to 4th segments cylindrical, yellow with brown hairs; 5th segment slender, yellow with dark brown hairs; relative length of distal four segments as 1.0: 1.7: 1.4: 3.2.

Figure 7. 

Blepharicera kongsica sp. nov. a habitus of male, lateral view b thorax, dorsal view c wing. Scale bars: 1.0 mm (a); 0.25 mm (b, c).

Thorax (Fig. 7b) pruinose. Pronotum and propleuron dark brown without hairs. Mesonotum mostly dark brown, except middle area of posterior margin of scutum and middle area of scutellum light brown, scutellum with numerous hairs grouped at posterolateral corner; episternum dark brown; anepimeron yellow, katepimeron light brown. Relative length of femur, tibiae and 1st to 5th tarsomeres in mid leg as 10.0: 9.3: 5.3: 2.1: 1.3: 1: 1.3, in hind leg as 18: 15.8: 6.4: 2: 1.3: 1: 1.3. Fore coxa dark brown with dark brown hairs; mid and hind coxae pale with brownish black hairs; trochanters pale, anterior margin with black spot apically, with brownish black hairs; fore and mid femora brownish yellow basally and gradually darkened to dark brown apically, with dark brown hairs; hind femur yellow basally and gradually darkened to dark brown apically, with dark brown hairs; fore and mid tibiae dark brown with dark brown hairs; hind tibia brown with dark brown hairs. Tibial spurs 0–0–0. Wing (Fig. 7c) slightly brown apically; veins brown. Sc rudimentary, not ending at base of Rs; Rs slightly curved basally, 1.2 times as long as r-m; R4 wavy, the length from end of R1 to end of R4 shorter than length from end of R4 to end of R5; r-m straight, including angle between r-m and Rs less than 90 degrees; the length from end of M1 to end of M2 longer than the length from end of M2 to end of CuA1. Base of halter pale, apex of halter brown with dark brown hairs. Base of halter pale, apex of halter brownish yellow with dark brown hairs.

Abdomen. First tergum brown with middle area pale, 2nd tergum brown, 3rd to 5th terga brown with basal 1/2 light brown, 6th to 8th terga dark brown; 1st sternum pale, 2nd to 7th sterna brown with brownish black stripes laterally; abdomen with dark brown hairs. Male genitalia (Fig. 8c–f) brown. Epandrium trapeziform, posterior margin concaved medially, with several brown hairs. Cercus triangular, inner margin bulge, with several brown hairs; anal cone flat with two long hairs apically. Gonostylus bifurcated, dorsal branch short and broad, slightly swollen apically, with hairs; ventral branch longer and slenderer than dorsal branch, with long hairs. Gonocoxal lobe bifurcated, outer gonocoxal lobe transparent, S-shaped, pointed apically; inner gonocoxal lobe fusiform, transparent. Hypandrium nearly rectangular, 1.5 times as long as the width, slightly narrow basally, posterior margin concave, with several brown hairs laterally. Dorsal paramere with posterior margin round; dorsal carina inapparent.

Figure 8. 

Blepharicera kongsica sp. nov. a male head, frontal view b male head, lateral view c male genitalia, dorsal view d male genitalia, ventral view e aedegal complex, dorsal view f tip of dorsal paramere, lateral view. Scale bars: 0.25 mm (a, b); 0.10 mm (c–f).

Female. Body length 5.50–6.00 mm, wing length 6.50–7.00 mm, wing width 2.25–2.50 mm.

Head (Fig. 9a) pruinose. Compound eyes subholoptic, interocular ridge present; each compound eye divided, callis oculi present; dorsal division separated from ventral division, as large as ventral division; dorsal division with about 14 rows of ommatidia, ommatidia red-orange, larger in diameter, with omatrichia; ventral division black with omatrichia. Scape oval, brownish black with brownish black hairs; pedicel conical, brownish black with brownish black hairs; first flagellomere constricted at base, flared at apex, basal 1/2 brown, apical 1/2 brownish black, with brownish black hairs; other flagellomeres cylindrical, tapering apically, brownish black with brownish black hairs; ultimate flagellomere 1.8 times length of penultimate flagellomere. Clypeus brownish black; labrum brown; labellum brownish yellow with brownish black hairs; mandibles brown; proboscis about 0.8 times length of head width. Palpus with five segments, 1st segment almost invisible, brownish yellow with brownish black hairs; 2nd to 5th segments cylindrical, brownish yellow with brownish black hairs; relative length of distal four segments as 1.0: 1.2: 1.2: 1.5. Fore coxa dark brown with brownish black hairs; mid and hind coxae pale with brownish black hairs; trochanters pale, anterior margin with black spot apically, with brownish black hairs; fore and mid femora brownish yellow basally and gradually darkened to dark brown apically, with dark brown hairs; hind femur yellow basally and gradually darkened to dark brown apically, with dark brown hairs; fore and mid tibiae dark brown with brownish black hairs; hind tibia brown with brownish black hairs. Tibial spurs 0–0–2. Terminalia (Fig. 9b): 8th sternite bilobate, medial depression broadly U-shaped, with several hairs laterally; genital fork V-shaped; hypogynial plate broad basally, bilobate posteriorly, each lobe round apically, intervalvular area U-shaped; spermathecae three in number.

Figure 9. 

Blepharicera kongsica sp. nov. a female head, frontal view b female terminal, ventral view. Scale bars: 0.25 mm (a); 0.10 mm (b).

Type material

Holotype : male (CAU), China: Sichuan Province, Daofu County, Kongse, 2013.VIII.5, 2976 m, Xiaoyan Liu; Paratypes: 1 male 7 females (QAU), same data as holotype.

Distribution

Currently known only from China (Sichuan).

Etymology

The specific name refers to the type locality Kongse.

Remarks

This new species is very similar to B. japonica (Kitakami, 1931) from Japan but can be separated by the compound eyes being dichoptic in male and subholoptic in female, the facet of the dorsal division of the compound eye being larger than that of the ventral division, and the dorsal branch of the gonostylus being shorter than the ventral branch. In B. japonica, the compound eyes are broadly separated in both sexes, the facet of the dorsal division of the compound eye is smaller than that of the ventral division, and the dorsal branch of the gonostylus is longer than the ventral branch (Kitakami 1931; Zwick 1990). This new species is also similar to B. fasciata (Westwood, 1842) from Europe and Asia, but it can be separated from the latter by the dorsal division of the compound eye being contiguous with ventral division in male, the dorsal branch of the gonostylus being shorter than the ventral branch, and the concaved posterior margin of the hypandrium being flat. In B. fasciata, the compound eye has a narrow area between the dorsal and ventral divisions in male, the dorsal branch of the gonostylus is as long as the ventral branch, and the concaved posterior margin of the hypandrium is convex medially (Mannheims 1935; Zwick 1990).

Acknowledgements

We express our sincere thanks to Ding Yang (Beijing) for his great help during our study. We are grateful to all the collectors for collecting specimens. The map supporting this study is from https://www.d-maps.com/carte.php?num_car=18064&lang=en. This work was supported by the Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation, China [ZR2019BC034], the National Natural Science Foundation of China [41901061 and 32100356], the High-level Talents Funds of Qingdao Agricultural University, China [663-1119008] and the National Animal Collection Resource Center, China.

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