Ommatius melasmus Daniels, 2017, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Daniels, Greg
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2017
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Diptera
Asilidae
Ommatius
Ommatius melasmus

description: Ommatius melasmus sp. nov.
(Figs 6, 69–84, 114)
Diagnosis. Immediately recognised by the black spot on the hind femur. The femoral pattern of O. melasmus is similar to O. flavicaudus Malloch but the latter species is larger, lacks an anepimeral bristle and has a spatulate apical extension on the epandrium.
Type material. HOLOTYPE ♂, AUSTRALIA. Queensland. GDCB Reg. / #19922 // meadow, NW of Mahogany / Forest, approx. 15.5 km NE / Rangers Stn, Mt Moffatt // Sect., Carnarvon Nat. Pk, / Qld 2454’59” S 14803 ’37”E / 23 November 2005 / G. Daniels 1180 m / (AM Reg. No. K 349466). PARATYPES. Queensland. 1 ♂, 24.887° Sx 147.445°E Carnarvon Stn, Ka Ka Mundi Rd. 693 m 10–15.x.2014. Flowering Budgeroo, C. Lambkin. Malaise T 229930 in 37257 (QM); 3 ♂, 24.857° Sx 147.528°E White Stallion Spring, Carnarvon Stn. malaise. 680m, 3–4.x.2013. Wright. 36155 flowering Melaleuca at spring (QM); 1 ♂, 24.857° Sx 147.527°E Carnarvon Stn, White Stallion Spr. 682 m. Malaise 10–15.x.2014 Dry reedy creek bed. Lambkin and Starick T 229933 in 37242 (QM); 4 ♂, 1 ♀, 24.837° Sx 147.632°E Carnarvon Station (CN3M1). 690 m 14.xii.2010 – 15.v.2011 Zwick & Wilson. Malaise trap Callitris stand edge nr damp area with forbs. 19432 T228407–11 (QM); 9 ♂, 1 ♀, same data except 25.xi.–14.xii.2010 690m C. Zwick. 19423 T228428–37 (QM); 1 ♀, 24.946° Sx 147.957°E Marlong Plain, Mt Moffatt NP 25–27.ix.2013. S.G. Wright. malaise. 780m grassland, nr creek 36150 (QM); 2 ♂, 2 ♀, 25.018° Sx 147.895°E Carnarvon NP, nr Marlong Arch (MM2M). 714m 4–13.xi.2010. 19397 Lambkin et al. Malaise. Callitris in flowering heath. T228404 (QM); 2 ♂, 1 ♀, 25.020° Sx 147.930°E Carnarvon NP, Mt Moffatt sect. nr HQ (MM3M). 13.xi.–13.xii. 2010. 765m Reeves, Sternberg & Spinaze Malaise trap. 19403 Callitris in flowering heath. T228426–7 (QM); 1 ♂, 3 ♀, 2401’ S 14747 ’E SCQ Mt Moffatt Nat. Pk Park Headquarters 25.xi. 1995, 740 m. C.J. Burwell (QM); 2 ♀, Ranger's Stn, Mt Moffatt Sect., Carnarvon Nat. Pk, 2501’06” S 14757 ’08”E 23.xi.1999 G. Daniels 720 m malaise trap (AM); 1 ♂, same data except 24.xi.2005 malaise trap (AM); 1 ♂, same data except 20.xi.2005 Eucalyptus populnea woodland, on grass (AM); 2 ♂, 2404’39” S 14800 ’30” E Mt Moffatt Nat. Pk, 3 km SE Park Headquarters 20.xi. 1995, 740 m. SCQ C.J. Burwell (QM); 1 ♂, 25.0447°S 147.9038°E Carnarvon NP, Mt Moffatt sect. Landing Ground Rd (MM12). 19–26.ix. 2012. 690 m. Lambkin, Starick & Wright. Sandy gully. Malaise 19483 (QM); 1 ♂, 2404’54” S 14730 ’37” E Mt Moffatt Nat. Pk, SCQ base of the Tombs 19.xi. 1995, 700 m Irwin, Gaimari, Yeates, Burwell. Malaise (QM); 2 ♂, 1 ♀, 2452’26” S 14801 ’19” E Mt Moffatt Nat. Pk, SCQ Kennifs Cave, 840 m 22.xi.1995 C.J. Burwell (QM); 3 ♂, 24.923° Sx 148.008°E Carnarvon NP, Mt Moffatt sect nr Kennifs Lkt (MM1M). 13.xi.–13.xii.2010 859m Reeves, Sternberg, Spinaze Malaise trap. 19395 open Eucalyptus woodland T228412–3, T228466 (QM); 3 ♀, West Branch Camp, Mt Moffatt Sect., Carnarvon Nat. Pk, 2458’32 S 14800 ’52”E 23.xi.1999 800 m G. Daniels (AM); 2 ♀, same data except on low Compositae (AM); 1 ♀, same data except 21.xi.2005 on tall grass (AM); 1 ♀, same data except on Xanthorrhoea leaf (AM); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, same data except 26.xii.2005 (AM); 2 ♂, 2504’ S 14802 ’E One Mile Ck, Mt Moffatt Nat. Pk. 2.xii.1997 C. Lambkin, S. Evans, J. Skevington (QM); 2 ♀, One Mile Ck, 1 km WSW Mt Moffatt, Mt Moffatt Sect., Carnarvon Nat. Pk, 2503’49” S 14801 ’57”E 27–29.xi.1999 G. Daniels (AM); 1 ♂, 3 ♀, same data except 2501’06” S 14757 ’08”E 21.xi.2005 840 m on long grass (AM); 1 ♂, 3 ♀, nr Mt Moffatt, Mt Moffatt Sect., Carnarvon Nat. Pk, 2503’49” S 14801 ’57”E 1.xii.1999 G. Daniels malaise (AM); 1 ♀, Top Moffatt Camp, Mt Moffatt Sect., Carnarvon Nat. Pk, 2504’08” S 14803 ’03”E 25.xi.1999 G. Daniels mv lamp (AM); 1 ♂, 25.0672° Sx 148.0519°E Mt Moffatt NP, top Moffatt camp (MM23). 18275 730m. 25.ix.2012. Lambkin, Wright, Starick. Hand net. (QM);
Non-type material. Qld: 1 ♂, Davies Ck Nat. Pk nr Mareeba, 16°56’S 145°32’E 6.i.1992 L. Ring (AM); 1 ♂, 17°20’S 145°25’E Baldy Mtn Rd, 2.4 km from S. end 1130 m 1.xii.1997 C.J. Burwell (QM); 2 ♂, 4 ♀, Bluewater S.F. NW of Townsville, 19°14’18”S 146°24’E 13–14.i.1995 G. and A. Daniels 580 m (AM); 2 ♂, same data except 14.i. 995 mv lamp (AM); 1 ♂, 21.687° Sx 146.924°E Nairana NP (NR1M) 10.xi.–7.xii. 2010. 245 m R. Raven, H. & D. Hanrahan Malaise trap T 224575 in 18493 open euc wdlnd+ spinifex. (QM); 1 ♂, 22°39.5’ Sx 148°01.0’E Lords Table plateau, site 2 10.i.–7.iii.2006 Burwell eucalypt woodland. 460 m malaise 13373 (QM); 4 ♂, 22°40.5’ Sx 148°01.2’E Lords Table, SE base, site 2 13.i.–4.iii.2006 13362 C.J. Burwell malaise 640 m eucalypt woodland (QM); 1 ♀, 23°12’ Sx 149°45’E Boomer Ra, site 2 180 m 28–30.ix.1999, 7778 S. Evans, C.J. Burwell OF (QM); 1 ♂, Mt Archer nr Rockhampton, 23°20’S 150°59’E 25.xii.1993 G. and A. Daniels R. Eastwood (AM); 6 ♂, 8 ♀, 23.537° Sx 151.725°E Masthead Island, site 5. 5–7.x.2008. 17186 QM/ QPWS. Malaise 0 – 5 m. Beach, in Spinifex. (QM); 1 ♀, 23°56’49”S151°21’13”E Boyne Is, (CAS-1) 21.i.1995 DIP Grass sweep (QM); 2 ♂, 1 ♀, 23.860° Sx 148.157°E Goonderoo NR. (GNR1M) 31.x.–8.xii. 2010.262m. Lambkin, Starick & Raven. Malaise trap. 18537 Closed euc/ Acacia woodld. T228414–16 (QM); 5 ♂, 5 ♀, 24.440° Sx 148.458°E Albinia NP (ANP1M) 31.x.–17.xi. 2010. 226 m Lambkin, Starick & Spooner. Malaise trap. 18540 Melaleuca in grassland T228438–47 (QM); 3 ♂, 3 ♀, same data except 17.xi.–15.xii.2010. B. Spooner Melaleuca in grassld. Malaise. 19344 T228417– 23 (QM); 1 ♂, same data except 24.441° Sx 148.459°E 15.xii.2010 – 4.ii.2011. B. Spooner. Melaleuca stand/ grassland. Malaise. 19461 T228424 (QM); 1 ♂, 2 ♀, SEQ: 25°12’s 148°59’E Expedition Range NP. ‘ Amphitheatre’ camp 560 m 18.xii.1997 Evans Burwell, open forest (QM); 1 ♂, 28 km W of Eidsvold, 25°25’S 150°53’E 17.i.1991 G. and A. Daniels (AM); 1 ♀, 25°25’S 150°01’E Taroom District Boggomos 19 11.xi.1996 C.J. Burwell S. Evans 131 (QM); 2 ♀, 25°27’S 150°02’E Taroom District Boggomos 8 12.xii.1996 C.J. Burwell S.
Evans 137 (QM); 1 ♀, 25.490° Sx 148.832°E Lonesome NP nr Picnic area (LNP5M). 388 m. 19384 3–26.xi.2010 Malaise Trap C. Lambkin et al. Closed euc/ Eremophila woodland on rocky hill. T 228406 in 19384 (QM); 1 ♂, same data except 26.xi.2010 – 11.i.2011. D. Beard & B. Sigley. Malaise T228425 19386 (QM); 1 ♂, rain forest margin, Teddington Weir SE of Maryborough, 25°39’S 152°40’E 12.xi.1989 G. and A. Daniels (AM); 4 ♂, 1 ♀, nr Teddington Weir SE of Maryborough, 25°39’S 152°40’E 25.ix.1994 G. and A. Daniels C.J. Burwell (AM); 1 ♂, same data except 24.ix.1994 mv lamp (AM); 2 ♂, nr Teddington Weir SE of Maryborough 25°39’S 152°40’E 13.xi.1994 G. and A. Daniels vine forest margin (AM); 1 ♂, Sandy Ck S of Maryborough, 25°40’S 152°41’E 23.ii.1986 G. and A. Daniels (AM); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 26.026°S 151.184°E Allies Ck (Hwy), 400m, RF 6.ii.–3.iv.2014 G. Monteith, Malaise trap 25500 (QM); 1 ♀, 26.239S 151.679E Mt McEuen Rd, 540 m OF, 1–30.x.2013 G. Monteith, Malaise traps 35610 (QM); 1 ♂, The Beacon, Imbil St. For., 26°30’S 152°35’E 29.xii.1990 G. and A. Daniels (AM); 1 ♂, 2 km ENE of Sunday Ck Environ. Studies Centre, Jimna St. For., 26°42’12”S 152°33’42”E 4.iii.1995 850 m G. Daniels C.J. Burwell (AM); 2 ♂, Samsonvale Cemetery, 8.5 km SSE Dayboro, SEQ 27°16’S 152°52’E 10.xi.1995, C.J. Burwell (QM); 1 ♀, Mt Glorious; Scrub Creek Road; Brisbane Forest Park; 27°25’S 152°50’E 1.xi.1998; J. & A. Skevington (QM); 1 ♂, Brisbane. i.1962 J.H. Bryan UQIC7787 (QM); 1 ♂, same data except 3.x.1976 R. Brieze-Stegman UQIC 7335 (QM); 1 ♂, same data except 16.ii. [19]60 Haseler UQIC 7334 (QM); 1 ♀, 27.535° Sx 153.248°E Redlands, Hilliards Ck, nr Weippin Rd (RHC2) 204 m 21.xi.2008 QM Party. day hand collected 17408 heath/scribbly gum forest (QM); 1 ♂, Moggill 4.ii. [19]58 H.G. Greening UQIC 7333 (QM); 1 ♂, Sumner, Brisbane, 27°33’52”S 152°55’51”E 24.xi.2007 20 m urban G. Daniels (AM); 2 ♂, same data except 27.i.2008 (AM); 1 ♀, same data except 21.ix.2008 (AM); 1 ♀, same data except 23.xii. 2007 in plant house (AM); 1 ♀, same data except 6.i.2008 (AM); 1 ♂, 2 ♀, same data except 10–24.xii.2008 G. Daniels 20 m urban, on grass inflorescence (AM); 1 ♀, same data except 1.i.2009 (AM); 1 ♂, Leslie Dam nr Warwick, 28°13’S 151°55’E 27.i.1981 R. Eastwood (AM); 2 ♂, 2 ♀, same data except 12.ii. 993 G. and A. Daniels (AM); 2 ♀, Teviot Brook, nr Wilson’s Peak 28°13’S 153 [=152]°31’E 17–18.xi.1980 G. Daniels M.A. Schneider (QM); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Wildash nr Warwick, 28°18’S 152°03’E 13.ii.1993 G. and A. Daniels (AM); 1 (abdomen missing), 3 km S Tamborine Vill., 5.iii.1980, H.E. & M.A. Evans & A. Hook (QM). NSW: 1 ♂, Tregeagle 10 km SE of Lismore 27.xi.1979 D. Yeates (AM); 1 ♂, 29.29°S 152.22°E Summit Mtn, Gibralter Ra. NP, 1618. xii.1996. S. Winterton, C. Lambkin, D. Yeates, C. Palmer (QM); 1 ♀, Waratah Trig. track, Gibralter Ra. NP, 29.30°S 152.20°E 16.xii.1996., malaise D. Yeates, C. Lambkin, S. Winterton, C. Palmer (QM); 1 ♀, Mt Kaputar NP, Bullawa Ck, malaise, 30°14’S 150°06’E 16– 19.i.1994, M.E. Irwin, D.K. Yeates (QM); 6 ♂, 4 ♀, Mt Kaputar NP, Eulah Ck, malaise, 30°20’S 150°04’E 16– 19.i.1994, M.E. Irwin, D.K. Yeates (QM); 1 ♀, Warrumbungle Natl. Park, Woolshed, Wambelong Ck 31.xx.1992 M.E. Irwin 6 m gray malaise trap in vegetated old channel of Wambelong Creek no standing water (AM).
Description. Male. Body length, 6.2–6.7 mm; thoracic length, 1.6–1.9 mm; wing length, 5.1–5.7 mm. Head. Face gently rounded, barely protruding beyond eyes in profile and with silvery-white tomentum. Mystax with two vertical rows of long thin black bristles admixed with smaller weaker setae on lower half of face and epistomal margin. Ocellar tubercle with a pair of long proclinate setae and a few smaller setae anteriorly. Occiput with several long black setae dorsally, weakening and becoming white ventrally. Beard with branched hairs. Flagellum about half as long as pedicel and often almost spherical. Style with setae in one rank on basal half, then two distally. Thorax. Black with grey tomentum on pleura. Mesonotum subshiny, dorsally with sparse mostly light brownyellow tomentum; laterally with grey tomentum. Scutellum with grey tomentum. Acrostichal setae short and weak, only visible in profile. Presutural dorsocentral bristles absent. Postsutural dorsocentral bristles present as 2–4 pairs and with weak setae present anteriorly and posteriorly. Two long marginal scutellar bristles present and a few weak setae on disc. Anepisternum bare, rarely with weak setae posteriorly. Anepimeral seta present; anepimeron with a group of fine setae anterior to the anepimeral cleft. Wing (Fig. 114). With microtrichia extending posteriorly to cell cua1 and present as a small isolated area in the discal cell and cell m3 and not extending proximally beyond junction of veins R4 and R5; microtrichia absent from cell br, cell bm and cell cup. Costal bulge absent. Vein R4+5 not fused basally to vein R3. Vein M1 sub-parallel with vein R5. Legs. Yellowish; fore femur brown-black anteriorly and dorsally along length; mid femur similarly marked but dark stripe absent basally and apically; hind femur with a preapical anterodorsal brown-black spot which can extend around femur; tibiae brownish apically; basitarsi brownish apically, other segments brownish. Coxae with grey tomentum and white bristles. Fore femur without stout bristles, a short black anterior bristle sometimes present near middle of femur; ventrally with a row of 5 or 6 long, weak, pale coloured bristles. Fore tibia posteroventrally with 2 long, weak, pale coloured bristles equally spaced along tibia; 2 long, dark ventral bristles positioned between posteroventral bristles; several stouter and shorter bristles around apex. Mid femur with 2 anterior bristles, one about mid-point, the other about apical fourth; a downwardly directed anteroventral bristle at about middle of femur and several long fine pale ventral bristles. Mid tibia with a long black anteroventral bristle at about basal third; a similar dorsal bristle at about apical third; ventrally with 2 long, weak, pale coloured bristles equally spaced along tibia and a shorter, stouter, black bristle at apical fourth. Hind femur with a pale subapical dorsal bristle, a pale anterior bristle at about midpoint, ventrally with a row of 5 or 6 long, weak, pale coloured bristles which are a little stouter than those on fore femur. Hind tibia with 2 pale anteroventral bristles at about middle and apical fourth and 2 similarly positioned black dorsal bristles that are slightly inclined posteriorly; an anteriorly directed dorsal bristle at apical fourth and subbasally. Abdomen. Mostly brownish tomentose, segment one entirely and segments 2–7 grey tomentose on posterior margin and usually with a pale lateral marginal bristle; mostly pale setose laterally, black setose dorsally; tergite 7 with a small medial indentation on anterior margin; Sternites with pale, erect setae. Terminalia (Figs 69– 71, 79–84) usually pale orange-brown, contrasting with nearby tergites. Tergite 8 (Fig. 84) with 6–8 black bristles on posterior margin and weaker posterolateral bristles; posterior margin weakly concave, anterior margin strongly emarginate. Sternite 8 (Fig. 83) with strongly concave anterior margin; posterior margin almost straight, with several long black bristles. Epandrium (Figs 70, 71, 82) black setose; with a deep dorsal cleft which gives the appearance of a deformity; dorsally with a pointed distal lobe, another rounded lobe just before cleft and another distal lobe on dorsal margin; apically inturned and pointed; broadly rounded ventrally. Gonocoxite and hypandrium (Fig. 81) basally fused; gonocoxite with a dorsal apodeme about middle of length; hypandrium with a small apical carina. Subepandrial sclerite (Fig. 79) well sclerotized laterally, becoming less sclerotized medially. Cerci short and broad. Aedeagal complex (Fig 80): distiphallus short and curved, arising dorsally from basiphallus; basiphallus long, with an anterior dorsal hood and a pair of distal, flange-like processes below distiphallus; ejaculatory apodeme arising from base of basiphallus as do ventral aedeagal apodemes.
Female. Differs from male as follows: Body length, 7.4–8.0 mm; thoracic length, 2.1 mm; wing length, 6.4– 6.5 mm. Abdomen. Sternites 6 and 7 on posterior margin with 2 pairs of long, pale setae. Terminalia (Figs 72–78). Sternite 8 (Fig. 77) orange-brown with pale setae, becoming black distally; two weakly sclerotized submedial distal areas; a pair of short digitate posterolateral processes, slightly over-lapping membranous area. Tergite 8 (Fig. 78) usually orange-brown and about twice as wide as long; with 4 or 5 stout, black posterolateral marginal bristles; with a short medial carina on posterior margin and shallow medial sulcus across tergite (Fig 73). Tergite 9+10 (Figs 72, 73, 75) heavily sclerotized, narrowest dorsally, widening slightly laterally then becoming narrowing again. Hypoproct (Fig. 74) as long as cerci and fused posteriorly, posterior margin with a small, round indentation. Genital fork (Fig. 75) lacking anterior apodeme.
Etymology. Derived from the Greek, melasma, ‘a black spot’, referring to the black mark on the hind femur.
Distribution (Fig. 6). Widespread from northern Qld south into northern NSW.
description: Published as part of Daniels, Greg, 2017, Australian species of Ommatius Wiedemann (Diptera: Asilidae) with an anepimeral bristle, pp. 535-563 in Zootaxa 4231 (4) on pages 551-556, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4231.4.3, http://zenodo.org/record/292658