Empis (Enoplempis) aphela Sinclair, Brooks & Cumming, 2025, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Sinclair, Bradley J.
name: Brooks, Scott E.
name: Cumming, Jeffrey M.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Diptera
Empididae
Empis
Empis aphela

description: Empis (Enoplempis) aphela sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 5DE83A61-E5A9-4776-94B0-D0A1988A999D
(Figs 286, 292, 293, 307)
Type material. HOLOTYPE ♂, labelled: “USA: CA: Contra Costa Co. / 0.3km N Cave Point, pasture/ oak edge, ex: Malaise, 563m,/ 22.iv.2012, K.Will, 37°50′38″N / 121°52′51″W./ [CAL.2012.iv.22.1]/ 10394, CNC / CSCA ”; “ HOLOTYPE / Empis (Enoplempis) / aphela Sinclair,/ Brooks & Cumming [red label]” (CSCA). PARATYPES: USA. California: Alameda County: Cedar Mtn [37.559°N 121.606°W], 3.iii.1968, P.A. Opler (1♂, EMEC). Contra Costa County: same data as holotype (1♂, CNC). Tuolumne County: Tuolumne City [37°57′N 120°14′W], 3 mi. NE, 23.iii.1966, R. L. Langston (1♂, EMEC).
Diagnosis. This species is distinguished from others of the subgenus by the grey body and males are dichoptic, with unmodified hindleg (Fig. 286), swollen hind tarsomere 1, mid tibia with biserial row of strong ventral setae, hind tibia without long, slender anterior setae and cercus not greatly expanded dorsally, posterior margin projecting and tapered (Fig. 292).
Description. Wing length 5.7–5.8 mm. Male. Similar to E. (En.) californica sp. nov., except as follows: head with antennal scape and pedicel yellowish, paler than postpedicel. Frons below ocellar triangle slightly broader than width of ocellar triangle.
Thorax with antepronotum with 2–4 pairs of dark setae.
Legs short, slender, orange brown, apical segments of tarsi darker brown; coxae with or without dense greyish pruinescence. Femora with white ventral pile, longest on hind femur. Fore tibia with erect posterior setae on apical three-quarters, length subequal to width of tibia; without long dorsal and ventral setae; anterior face with short appressed setae. Fore tarsomere 1 swollen with dorsal setae, length subequal to width of tarsomere, with fine dense ventral setae; tarsomeres 2–5 with biserial row of spine-like ventral setae; tarsomeres 1–4 with apicolateral pair of spine-like setae, longer than width of segment. Mid femur similar to fore femur. Mid tibia with several long posterodorsal setae, without long apical setae; strong, spine-like biserial row of ventral setae on apical half; apex with pair of strong ventral setae. Mid tarsomere 1 without long dorsal setae; tarsomeres 1–5 with biserial row of spine-like ventral setae; tarsomeres 1–4 with apicolateral pair of spine-like setae, longer than width of segment. Hind femur slender without modified setae and processes; row of fine anteroventral setae, shorter than width of femur (Fig. 286). Hind tibia without processes or modified setae; long dorsal setae, length more than twice width of tibia on apical third; anterior face without long setae; fine erect ventral setae, length less than width of tibia (Fig. 286). Hind tarsus swollen with long dorsal setae, similar to tibia, with strong setae among finer dense ventral setae (Fig. 286); tarsomeres 2–5 similar to fore tarsus.
Terminalia (Figs 292, 293): epandrium brown, with cerci and phallus orange brown and shiny. Cercus slightly expanded dorsally, posterior margin not sloping; dorsal margin scalloped, with posteroventral elongation; setae shorter than width of cercus. Subepandrial process extending on either side of phallus. Epandrial lamella elongate, longer than height; posterior margin truncate, slightly upturned dorsally at apex; bearing long setae ventrally, longer than width of epandrium. Hypandrium expanded, width subequal to length; truncate dorsally; without setae. Phallus (Fig. 293) with basal half not strongly expanded, tapered apically, with distinct bend near mid-length; apical half gently arched, apex emerging beyond epandrium; apex with subapical flange, otherwise not expanded, with roughened subapical surface; ejaculatory apodeme more than half-length of epandrium, Y-shaped, with lateral apodemes positioned near the ventral margin with short medial apodeme.
Female. Unknown.
Geographical distribution and seasonal occurrence (Fig. 307). Empis (En.) aphela sp. nov. is known from central California. Adults have been collected in March and April.
Etymology. The species name is derived from the Greek apheles meaning even or smooth, in reference to the unmodified hind leg of this and similar species.
Nuptial gift presentation. Form unknown.
description: Published as part of Sinclair, Bradley J., Brooks, Scott E. & Cumming, Jeffrey M., 2025, Revision of the western Nearctic species of Empis subgenus Enoplempis (Diptera: Empididae), pp. 1-200 in Zootaxa 5615 (1) on pages 144-146, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5615.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/15217957