Notiphila paludia Mathis 1979

Notiphila (Dichaeta) paludia

DIAGNOSIS.—Externally, specimens of N. paludia are very similar to many members of the scalaris group; I cannot distinguish this species without recourse to characters of the male genitalia. The most diagnostic character I have found is the shape of the hypandrial process. See Figures 174–176.

DESCRIPTION.—Medium-sized to moderately large shore flies, length 3.4 to 4.2 mm; with light brown coloration and darker brown markings on the abdomen.

Head: Head ratio 1:0.75; postfrons ratio 1:0.60; frons mostly tan, median triangular area and lateral margins lighter in color, grayed, remainder of frons with charcoal tinges. Paravertical bristle not much larger than postocellar setae; 2 pair of proclinate, fronto-orbital setae. Antennal segments entirely dark, black; arista with 10–11 dorsal branches. Face light yellow, slightly dusted, prefrons ratio 1:0.68. Eye ratio 1:0.70; eye-to-cheek ratio 1:0.18. Gena narrow, concolorous with face anteriorly becoming grayer posteriorly, genal bristle approximately subequal to paravertical bristle. Maxillary palpus black.

Thorax: Mesonotum slightly darker than pleural areas, light brown, grayed anteriorly, immaculate. Mesopleuron immaculate. Femora and tibiae dark, mostly black but with some gray dusted areas, pale apically; tarsi usually pale, front tarsomeres often slightly darker. Setal fascicle of hind basitarsus pale. Wing ratio 1:0.44; costal vein ratio 1:0.46; M1+2 vein ratio 1:0.91.

Abdomen: Abdomen ratio of males 1:0.73; length of fourth tergum to fifth tergum of males 1:0.63; fifth tergum ratio of males 1:0.46. Fascia of abdominal terga 3 and 4 distinct, generally sharply contrasting with grayer posterior margin; fifth tergum mostly dark brown. Male genitalia as in Figures 174–176.

TYPE-MATERIAL.—Holotype male: “Nebraska Champion 12 July 1960, W. F. Rapp/HOLOTYPE Notiphila paludia Mathis (red).” Allotype female and 12 paratypes (4 , 8 ): with same label data as the holotype. Other paratypes as follows: 1 , 1 , Nebraska, Wellfleet, 12 July 1960, W. F. Rapp (UN). The holotype will be deposited with the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., type number 73546.

ETYMOLOGY.—The epithet paludia, derived from the Latin noun palus (“marsh,” “fen,” or “bog”), refers to the typical habitat of this species.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION.—This species is known only from the fens of Nebraska.