D. A. BARRACLOUGH
School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, Howard College, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
A NEW SPECIES OF KATACAMILLA (DIPTERA: SCHIZOPHORA: CAMILLIDAE) FROM THE ARABIAN PENINSULA, WITH DISCUSSION OF FAUNAL RELATIONSHIPS
Barraclough, D. A. 2005. A new species of Katacamilla (Diptera: Schizophora: Camillidae) from the Arabian Peninsula, with discussion of faunal relationships. – Tijdschrift voor Entomologie 148: 351-354, figs. 1-2. [ 0040-7496]. Published 1 December 2005. The genus Katacamilla Papp is briefly reviewed and its biology discussed. A new species, Katacamilla vanharteni, is described from the Arabian Peninsula (Yemen, Saudi Arabia). The camillid fauna (two species of Katacamilla and one of Afrocamilla Barraclough) of the Arabian Peninsula is discussed. K. vanharteni is the sister species of K. ctenidia Barraclough, 1998 from Nigeria, suggesting a strong relationship with the African fauna (an undescribed Yemeni species of Afrocamilla appears to be the sister species of A. artopenna Barraclough, 1997 from South Africa). The following synapomorphies unite ctenidia + vanharteni: distiphallus with hair-like vestiture present on most surfaces, male forefemur with a conspicuous apical ctenidium of short, strong spines on the posteroventral surface. Correspondence: D. A. Barraclough, School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, Howard College, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4041, South Africa. E-mail: [email protected] Keywords. – Camillidae; Katacamilla; Arabian Peninsula; new species, faunal relationships.
The Camillidae are a small family of drosophilid- 1998 (South Africa) are of particular interest as both like acalyptrate Diptera which are known mainly species are troglophilous. It appears that the from Africa (see e.g. Barraclough 1997a, b, 1998a, troglophilic habit is a specialisation (Barraclough b, c) and the Palaearctic Region (Papp 1982), but also 1998a). occur in the Nearctic Region and the northern Katacamilla is one of four genera known from Neotropics (Barraclough & Wheeler 1995, the Afrotropics. It was known only from the holotype Barraclough & Fitzgerald 2001). Although most of K. cavernicola from northern Namibia until species are small or tiny flies, which are invariably Barraclough’s 1998a revision treated more than missed by collectors, they have interesting life histo- 400 specimens in five species. These species are ries, being associated mostly with the dung of various now known to be distributed as follows: K. braacki small mammals, birds and bats, where the immature (Northern Province, South Africa); K. cavernicola stages of most taxa presumably develop (Kirk-Spriggs (various Namibian localities); K. ctenidia Barra- et al. 2002). Barraclough (1992) reared the South clough, 1998 (Nigeria); K. gallagheri Barraclough, African species Afrocamilla stuckenbergi Barraclough, 1998 (Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen). 1992 from the droppings of the rock hyrax Procavia The discovery of an undescribed species from capensis (Pallas, 1766), whilst Kirk-Spriggs et al. southwestern Saudi Arabia and western Yemen is of (2002) reared the Namibian species Katacamilla particular interest for three reasons. Firstly, it con- cavernicola Papp, 1978 from guano of the rock firms that the Arabian Peninsula has a notable en- pigeon Columba guinea Linnaeus, 1758 and of the demic fauna of Camillidae. Three species are now slit-faced bat Nycteris thebaica Geoffroy, 1818. recorded from there: K. gallagheri, K. vanharteni K. cavernicola (Namibia) and K. braacki Barraclough, sp. n. and a species near Afrocamilla artopenna (see
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Figs 1-2. Morphology of male Katacamilla vanharteni sp. n. – 1, Forefemur, male, showing apical ctenidium, comprising 7-8 spines; 2, Terminalia, profile, showing elongate aedeagal apodeme, epiphallus and postgonites concealed behind epandrium, and slender, coiled aedeagus with prominent hair-like setulae.
Barraclough 2004). Secondly, although none of these M species is recorded from Africa, two of them have strong African affinities. K. vanharteni (see below) is The type material is deposited in the Entomology the sister species of K. ctenidia (Nigeria), whilst the Section of the National Museums and Galleries of undescribed species of Afrocamilla is closely related to Wales, Cardiff, United Kingdom. Holotype label a South African species. The final point of interest is data are quoted exactly as they appear; a slash denotes that these two species pairs are unusually disjunct ge- the end of a line of print and a semicolon separates ographically, suggesting that Camillidae are likely to data on different labels. occur in extensive intervening areas of Africa where The apical half of the abdomen was cleared in the family has hitherto been unrecorded. This in- warm and then rinsed in alcohol. After examina- cludes the Sudan, Democratic Republic of the tion, the dissected terminalia and associated abdomi- Congo, the Central African Republic and Cameroon, nal parts were stored in glycerine in a microvial as well as Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and pinned beneath the specimen. Zambia. I have already seen unidentified material Morphological terminology mainly follows from Ethiopia. Our knowledge of Arabian Peninsula Barraclough (1998a); reference should be made to the Camillidae may also be of interest to zoogeographers, annotated figures in this publication, particularly the who are in dispute about the exact boundary between male terminalia. the Palaearctic and Afrotropical Regions (see Bilaterally symmetrical structures are described in Barraclough 2004). The most recent catalogue of the singular. Head and thorax length was measured Afrotropical Diptera (Crosskey 1980) suggests for from the anterior margin of the third antennal seg- example that only Yemen be included in the ment to the abdominal base. Wing length was mea- Afrotropics. sured from the humeral crossvein to the wing tip. The measurements of the holotype are placed in parenthe- ses at the end of the range for specimens examined.
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T Extension Authority () research farm, just out- side the village of al-Kadan, at the foot of Jebel Genus Katacamilla Papp, 1978 Milhan (van Harten, pers. comm.). – Paratype : Type species: Katacamilla cavernicola Papp, 1978, by : Aseer, Maraba, 1–30.v.2004, Malaise original designation (afrotropical). trap, H. A. Dawah.
Katacamilla vanharteni sp. n. Description (figs 1-2) Male: Dimensions (mm): head/thorax length 1.2–1.4 (1.4); wing length 1.8–2.0 (2.0). Colour Diagnosis/Relationships and pollinosity: Head mostly pale yellow to pale Katacamilla vanharteni belongs to the clade yellow-brown, but apical four-fifths of arista, much of ctenidia + procavia [K. procavia Barraclough, 1998 is posterior half of frons (sometimes), and ocellar trian- a Namibian species], which is defined by the exten- gle somewhat darker brown; pollinosity not evident sively coiled aedeagal distiphallus (Barraclough (probably because of initial deposition in ethanol). 1998a). In other species the distiphallus is straight or Thorax pale yellow to pale yellow-brown (posterior only moderately furled. The relationship (ctenidia + half of mesonotum and scutellum slightly darker); vanharteni) + procavia is suggested by the following silver pollinosity sparse, evident only on pleuron. synapomorphies uniting the first species pair: Abdomen medium to dark brown, but noticeably distiphallus with hair-like vestiture present on most paler basally and sometimes apically; indistinct silver surfaces, and the male forefemur with a conspicuous pollinosity evident. apical ctenidium on the posteroventral surface, most Head. – Second antennal segments closely ap- spines of which are obviously short and strong. It is proximated, prominently exserted in profile. Epis- not certain that these spines are similarly developed tome poorly developed, barely visible in profile. in the female. K. vanharteni and K. procavia both One vibrissa, elongate, vibrissal pores closely ap- have paired, backwardly directed projections on the proximated, distance about 0.7 times length of vib- hypandrium, although this is a homoplastic charac- rissa apart. Gena with maximum depth about half ter state, occurring also in the clade braacki + maximum width of third antennal segment. Lower cavernicola. K. vanharteni is readily distinguished occipital bristles: one anteroventrally-directed and from K. ctenidia by having a pale forefemur (darker sometimes one very weak posterior backwardly- brown in ctenidia) and distinctive male terminalia. directed bristle. The terminalia differ notably from ctenidia as follows Thorax (fig. 1). – Forefemur with apical ctenidium (character states of ctenidia in parentheses): aedeagal strongly developed on posteroventral two- to three- apodeme elongate, length about 1.5 times length of fifths, with 7 to 8 spines, the basal four of which are epandrium (subequal in length); postgonites and noticeably short and strong; length of longest spines epiphallus subequal in length (postgonites longer one-quarter to one-third maximum depth of forefe- than epiphallus); epiphallus depressed in profile (not mur (fig. 1). Mid femur with weakly developed depressed, apically smoothly rounded); epiphallus dorso-apical bristle. Weakly developed prescutellar and postgonites concealed behind epandrium in pro- acrostichals absent or barely evident. file (epiphallus and postgonites prominently exposed Abdomen. – Appearing somewhat robust in pro- beyond anterior margin of epandrium); hypandrium file, not noticeably depressed, nor sharply deflexed at posteriorly with backwardly directed projections juncture of first and second terga. (hypandrium posteriorly without backwardly direct- Postabdomen (fig. 2). – T6 and T7 damaged, ed projections). In addition the cerci appear to be dimensions and armature not discernible. Terminalia more prominently exposed above the dorsal margin (fig. 2): Epandrial lobes well separated anterior to cer- of the epandrium in K. vanharteni, but examination ci. Ejaculatory apodeme elongate and broader poste- of additional material of both species is required to riorly. Aedeagal apodeme elongate, length slightly confirm this. more than 1.5 times that of epandrium. Postgonites closely approximated to epiphallus, each converging Type material. – : Holotype : ‘: / towards apex of epiphallus, broader basally, narrow- Al Kadan. [15º16’N:43º12’E] / i.2003, / light trap, / ing towards slender, depressed apex. Epiphallus A. van Harten & / T. Abdul Haq’; ‘ / reasonably well developed, subequal in length to Katacamilla / vanharteni / Barraclough, 2005’ postgonite, depressed and relatively broad apically; [rectangular card, red perimeter]. In fair condition; apices of postgonites and epiphallus not exposed in pinned to card point ex ethanol, head bristles profile, well concealed behind epandrium as in displaced. This specimen was collected at the meteo- K. cavernicola. Differentiated surstylus evident, most- rology station of the Agricultural Research and ly concealed by epandrium. Distiphallus slender,
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coiled, total length probably slightly more than R that of epandrium, without dentation but obvious Barraclough, D. A., 1992. Afrocamilla stuckenbergi, a new hair-like setulae visible as relatively dense pile on parts African genus and species of Camillidae (Diptera), with of surface, apex forked, one protrusion noticeably comments on its behaviour and biology. – Annals of the longer than the other. Hypandrium posteriorly with Natal Museum 33(1): 37-49.Barraclough, D. A., 1997a. backwardly-directed projections and internally with- New East and West African species of Afrocamilla Barra- out forwardly or downwardly-directed projections; clough (Diptera: Schizophora: Camillidae). – African En- anteriorly with poorly developed single, median, tomology 5(2): 181-193. Barraclough, D. A., 1997b. The South African species of upcurved, tooth-like projection. Afrocamilla Barraclough, 1992 (Diptera: Schizophora), a Female. – Unknown. genus of Camillidae associated with rock hyrax latrines. – Annals of the Natal Museum 38: 21-53. Etymology Barraclough, D. A., 1998a. Katacamilla Papp, 1978, a genus The species name honours Mr Tony van Harten, of Camillidae (Diptera: Schizophora) associated with the the co-collector of the holotype, and an intrepid col- dung of bats, birds and hyraxes in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. – African Entomology 6(2): 159-176. lector of Camillidae and other Diptera in Yemen. Barraclough, D. A., 1998b. The African Camillidae: a fauna revealed. – Abstracts, Fourth International Congress of Discussion Dipterology, Oxford, 1998: 12-13. Katacamilla vanharteni is currently recorded only Barraclough, D. A., 1998c. Two new species of Afrocamilla from the southwestern part of the Arabian Peninsula (Diptera: Schizophora: Camillidae) from South Africa. (the southwest of Saudi Arabia and the west coast of – Annals of the Natal Museum 39: 127-131. Barraclough, D. A., 2004. First record of the Camillidae Yemen). Little is known about the Saudi Arabian lo- (Diptera: Schizophora) from Yemen. – African cality, but the Yemeni specimen was collected on a Entomology 12(2): 275-277. farm with fruit crops (mango, banana), cotton, Barraclough, D. A. & T. A. Wheeler, 1995. Three new sesame, sorghum and vegetables (van Harten, pers. species of Camillidae (Diptera) from the southwestern comm.). As with two other camillid species previous- Nearctic Region, the first species of the family described ly recorded from Yemen (Barraclough 2004) there from the New World. – Proceedings of the Entomologi- cal Society of Washington 97(4): 737-745. is no apparent association with animal dung. Studies Barraclough, D. A. & S. J. Fitzgerald, 2001. A new investigating the life history of Camillidae in the Afrocamilla from Colorado, the third species of Camilli- Arabian Peninsula are therefore urgently required. dae (Diptera: Schizophora) from the United States. – Tijdschrift voor Entomologie 144: 1-4. Crosskey, R. W., 1980. Catalogue of the Diptera of the A Afrotropical Region. – British Museum (Natural History), London, 1437 pp. I am indebted to Dr J. Deeming (National Kirk-Spriggs, A. H., D. A. Barraclough & R. Meier, 2002. Museums and Galleries of Wales) who first drew my The immature stages of Katacamilla cavernicola Papp, the attention to the camillid material treated in this pa- first described for the Camillidae (Diptera: Schizophora), per. Mr A. van Harten, who collected the holotype of with comparison to other known Ephydroidea larvae, K. vanharteni, provided information about collection and notes on biology. – Journal of Natural History 36: localities. I am indebted to Prof. R. Slotow 1105-1128. Papp, L. 1978. Some cavernicolous Diptera of the Geneva (Department of Biological and Conservation museum. – Revue Suisse de Zoologie 85: 99-106. Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal) for contin- ued logistical support. The South African National Research Foundation is thanked for financial Received: 30 May 2005 support. Accepted: 2 August 2005
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