ZOOSYSTEMATICA ROSSICA, 20(2): 340–349 25 DECEMBER 2011 Grassflies of the family Chloropidae (Diptera) of A.P. Fedchenko’s Turkestan collection with description of new taxa Злаковые мухи семейства Chloropidae (Diptera) из туркестанской коллекции А.П. Федченко с описанием новых таксонов E.P. NARTSHUK Э.П. НАРЧУК E.P. Nartshuk, Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 1 Universitetskaya Emb. St Petersburg 199034, Russia. E-mail: [email protected] Sixteen species are found in the chloropid collection made by A.P. Fedchenko in Turkestan in 1869–1871 and three more species were identified to the generic level only. A new genus, Ala- jichlorops, and four new species, A. fedchenkoi, Chlorops kirghisicus, Ch. olgafedchenkoae, and Polyodaspis palpata are described. A key for the palaearctic species of the genus Polyodaspis Duda, 1933 is presented. В коллекции Chloropidae, собранной А.П. Федченко в Туркестане в 1868–1871 гг. най- дено 16 видов и три вида определены только до родового уровня. Описаны новый род Alajichlorops и четыре новых вида A. fedchenkoi, Chlorops kirghisicus, Ch. olgafedchen- koae (Chloropinae) и Polyodaspis palpata (Oscinellinae). Дана таблица для определения палеарктических видов рода Polyodaspis Duda, 1933. Key words: Central Asia, A.P. Fedchenko, Diptera, Chloropidae, Alajichlorops, new genus, new species Ключевые слова: Средняя Азия, А.П. Федченко, двукрылые, злаковые мухи, Alajichlo- rops, новый род, новые виды INTRODUCTION ined soon after the expeditions and results were published. Hermann Loew and Alek- Chloropidae from Central Asia are insuf- sey P. Fedchenko were responsible for Dip- ficiently studied hitherto. Rather long ago tera from Fedchenko’s expeditions (Leonov, Nartshuk (1966) gave a short review that 1972). Loew described some new species of included 76 species from 39 genera record- flies, but did not include the Chloropidae. ed from Kirghizia (now Kyrgyzstan), Tajiki- Aleksey P. Fedchenko published nothing stan, Uzbekistan and southern Kazakhstan. because of his early death. Later, some new species were described and some species were recorded from this terri- MATERIAL tory in other papers. They are included in the Catalogue of Palaearctic Diptera (Nart- Insects from the Turkestan collection shuk, 1984). done by Fedchenko are kept in the Zoo- Aleksey P. Fedchenko was the first logical Museum of Moscow University in Russian explorer who collected insects in Moscow, Russia. The fly specimens in this Turkestan (partly coinciding with an area collection are on pins with labels which are now commonly called Central Asia or Mid- very peculiar: they are square and of dif- dle Asia) during his expedition in 1869– ferent colour that refers to a month of col- 1871. Some groups of insects were exam- lecting (lilac – April, pink – May, bluish © 2011 Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Scienсes E.P. NARTSHUK. NEW TAXA FROM A.P. FEDCHENKO’S TURKESTAN COLLECTION 341 green – June, yellow – July, blue – August, Dicraeus bothriochloae Nartshuk, 1978 orange – September); the day of the month is given in figures but the year is not being Osh, 6 Aug. 1871, one male. “coded” in the following way: no year means Distribution. Central Asia (Tadjikistan, 1869, a black line in the lower part of the Turkmenia). The first record from Kyrgyz- label – 1870, and a red line in the upper part stan. Recently Deeming (2011) recorded of the label – 1871. A map of the routes of this species for UAE: very lightly coloured Fedchenko’s expedition was published by specimens were collected on grasses Pen- Leonov (1972). I found 59 specimens of nisetum and on flowering Saccharum undetermined Chloropidae flies within the griffithii. However Deeming (2011: 789) Fedchenko’s collection. Three specimens mentioned that “the identification must re- from the collection were earlier included by main tentative”. me into the paratypes of two described spe- Larvae develop in unripe seeds of Botrio- cies: two females of Xena straminea Nart- chloa ischaemum (L.) Kend. (Poaceae). shuk, 1964 and a female of Eutropha crocea Nartshuk, 1973 (Nartshuk, 1964, 1973). Dicraeus ingratus (Loew, 1866) A list of other species and descriptions of new taxa are given in the present paper. Jagnob, 21 June1869, one male. Some specimens of Chlorops kirghisicus Distribution. The species is widely dis- sp. nov., collected by the author in Kirghizia tributed, known from Europe to Kazakh- in 1965 were used for the description, too. stan, West Siberia, Israel and in North Most specimens are kept in the collection America. of the Zoological Museum of Moscow Uni- Larvae develop in unripe seeds of Bro- versity in Moscow (ZMUM), and a part in mopsis sp. (Poaceae). the Zoological Institute (formerly Zoologi- cal Museum), Russian Academy of Sciences Elachiptera rufifrons Duda, 1932 in St Petersburg (ZIN). Places of depositon Samarkand, 4 April 1869, one male. of holotypes and paratypes of new taxa are Distribution. From South Europe and listed below for each new species. North Africa to Israel and Central Asia. Larvae of the species are considered to ANNOTATED LIST OF SPECIES be a pest of rice shoots in Spain (Sevilla) AND DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW TAXA (Batella, 1978). Order DIPTERA Family CHLOROPIDAE Polyodaspis palpata sp. nov. (Figs 1, 2) Subfamily OSCINELLINAE Aphanotrigonum sp. Holotype, female, [Uzbekistan] Kysylkum, 29 June 1871, coll. Fedchenko, ZMUM. Chardara, 25 June1871, one female. Paratype, female, [Uzbekistan] Kysylkum, A small specimen (sex unknown) be- 30 June1871, coll. Fedchenko, ZIN. longing to the group of A. cinctellum Zetter- Description. Body black, shining. stedt, 1848. Frons nearly square, dark brown. Ocellar triangle black, nearly reaching anterior Conioscinella sp. margin of frons, greatly narrowing ante- riorly, its surface not smooth. A brownish Jagnob, 21 June1869, one male. keel absolutely separates the antennal fove- Dark-coloured specimen; more speci- ae, keel equals a triangle above and is linear mens are needed for a correct identification anteriorly. The brownish postpedicel is not of the species. of a discoidal form, as usual in many spe- © 2011 Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Scienсes, Zoosystematica Rossica 20(2): 340–349 342 E.P. NARTSHUK. NEW TAXA FROM A.P. FEDCHENKO’S TURKESTAN COLLECTION cies of the family, but onion-shaped. Arista specimens of the variable P. sulcicollis. Hal- very thin, bare, longer than the frons. Gena teres of holotype of P. laevicola are yel- wide, greatly protruding. Eyes bare, round. low, not “braunschwarz” as Becker (1913) Palpi stout, brownish, expanded over the stated. Two specimens of P. sulcicollis from edge of the oral cavity. Proboscis long ge- Iran were identified by Becker and labeled niculate. Chaelotaxy: orbital setae small as “Chorassan [Umgeburg von Dys] 15–17 and not distinguished from interfrontal July1901 [Zarudny]”. These specimens are hairs. Postocellar setae longer than exte- smaller than the holotype of P. laevicola rior and inner verticals. All setae and hairs and its gena and legs are slightly paler. To of head whitish. solve the question about the synonymy an Scutum and scutellum evenly covered additional material is needed, especially with whitish hairs. Notopleural setae 1+1, a dark coloured male from Iran in order whitish. Wings clear. First basal cell narrow. to examine male genitalia. However, it is Ratio of 1:2:3:4 sectors of costal vein equals worth mentioning that the P. laevicola ho- 57:35:25:12. Transverse vein r-m is situated lotype was collected in Iran in February proximal from middle of second basal cell. while both specimens of P. sulcicollis flew Abdomen black, covered with whitish hairs. in July. Legs black with brownish knees. Body length 2 mm. Key to Palaearctic species of the genus Etymology. The new species is named Polyodaspis palpata as it has strongly enlarged palpi. Comparative Remarks. The species is 1. First basal cell wide in the middle. Scutellum similar to P. sulcicollis (Meigen, 1839) and with many setae on lateral edge . 2 – First basal cell not widened. Scutellum with P. laevicollis (Becker, 1913) concerning its usual lateral setae . 3 wing venation with a narrow first basal 2. Surface of frons flat without of a swelling be- cell and strongly protruded gena. From the fore ocellar triangle. Postocellar setae paral- widely distributed P. ruficornis (Macquart, lel. Palaearctic and Oriental Regions . 1835) the new species is distinguished by . P. ruficornis (Macquart, 1835) a narrow first basal cell and the absence of (= P. tarsalis Frey, 1923; P. flavipila Duda, many lateral setae on the scutellum. The 1934; P. endogena de Meijere, 1938; P. fla- onion-shaped postpedicel, thin and long visetosa Nartshuk, 1991; P. similis Nartshuk, arista and thick palpi expanded from the 1991) (see Nartshuk, 2010) oral cavity in female distinguish the new – Surface of frons with a swelling before ocellar triangle. Postocellar setae slightly conver- species from the known Palaearctic spe- gent. Europa (Hungary) . cies of the genus. Lasiambia picardi (Sé- . P. convexa Ismay et Schulten, 2003 guy, 1946) from Nice (France) described in (only female known) the genus Polyodaspis Duda, 1933 (Séguy, 3. Postpedicel onion-shaped, arista longer than 1946), belongs to another genus. Becker frons. Central Asia . P. palpata sp. nov. (1913) described Siphonella laevicola from – Postpedicel not so thick, shorter than high . Beludzhistan (Iran) and compared it with . 4 Polyodaspis ruficornis (Macquart, 1835) 4. Ocellar triangle smooth and shining. Body and Lasiambia parallela