Howickia subsinuata
Creators: name: Kuwahara, Gregory K.
name: Marshall, Stephen A.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2022
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Diptera
Sphaeroceridae
Howickia
Howickia subsinuata

description: Howickia subsinuata (Richards)
(Figs. 3.16, 19.1–19.9)
Leptocera (Biroina) subsinuata Richards, 1973: 331.
Biroina subsinuata (Richards), Marshall, 1989: 602; Roháček et al., 2001: 126.
Howickia subsinuata (Richards), Marshall et al., 2014.
Description. Body length: Males 2.3–3.5 mm, females 2.4–3.7 mm.
Head: Brown, dark brown from back of head to around ocellar triangle and around bases of orbital bristles; frontal vitta, interfrontal plates and orbital plates with golden microtomentose stripes (5 total), microtomentum extends from orbital plates to meet top of frontal vitta (M-shape); gena reddish; antenna yellow. Frontal width 1.7x interfrontal height. Three pairs of large interfrontal bristles, preceded by a smaller pair (0.7x length of posterior pairs); 2 lateroclinate orbital bristles, anterior bristle 0.8x length of posterior bristle. Gena with very strong upcurved bristle and 7–8 smaller setae, finely and densely striate, shiny, lower half microtrichose; vibrissal angle with 4 subvibrissal setae. Face with a small flattened triangle along ventromedial margin; palpus clavate with 1 large apical and 1 larger preapical seta. Eye height 2.2x genal height.
Thorax: Brown; scutum shiny despite microtrichia, posterolateral edge thinly lighter and with pale spot on posterior notopleural lobe; katepisternum with lighter posterior spot, anepimeron with lighter ventral spot. Two pairs of dorsocentral bristles (anterior pair 0.6x length of posterior pair); 11–12 rows of long, fine acrostichal setulae. Prosternum narrow, linear, posteriorly expanded. Scutellum microtrichose, large, semicircular, its length 0.5x its width; 4 scutellar bristles long, apical pair 1.5x length of basal pair.
Legs: Brown, tibiae proximally and distally pale brown; first 2 tarsomeres of fore leg brown, distal 3 yellowish white, tarsi of other legs pale brown. Male mid tibia with a large apicoventral bristle. Basal half of mid tibia with 6 dorsal bristles (3 anterodorsal and 3 posterodorsal), distal half with 3 dorsal bristles (2 anterodorsal and 1 posterodorsal).
Wing/halter: Weakly infuscate, darkest around R 2+3. CS2 subequal to CS3. R 2+3 sinuate, distal curve sharper than basal curve and meeting costa at an angle of 60˚ and sometimes with a very small appendage; R 4+5 gently upcurved, meeting costa well before wing tip; costa ending at R 4+5. Halter pale; knob brown and apically white; stem pale brown.
Male abdomen: Dark brown, heavily sclerotized, shiny despite microtrichia. T2–5 and S2–4 uniformly longsetose in posterior half with large posterolateral setae. S5 broad (width 4.0x length), heavily microtrichose, densely, posteromedially desclerotized with many small setulae above a row of 21–22 short, flat teeth. Epandrium large, wedge-shaped, and densely long-setose; cercus bulging, subquadrate with 2 very long seta and numerous smaller setae. Hypandrium medially upcurved apically; ventral lobe absent; posterodorsal lobe evenly curved and originating from just anterior to connection with arms to medial part. Surstylus bilobed and complex: anterior lobe somewhat triangular with numerous ventrolateral setulae on a slightly outwardly-projecting tab and several larger seta on a medioventral tab; posterior lobe constricted basally and subrectangular with a ventral patch of large stout setae and numerous smaller lateral setulae. Postgonite broad, boot-shaped, proximally with a pair of anterior setulae, middle part sinuate, posteroventral corner serrate. Phallapodeme gently sinuate, apex curved downwards into a slight hook; basiphallus elongate, sinuate, gradually tapered toward apex which is abruptly curved upwards. Distiphallus odd and complex, tubular, elongate, moderately sclerotized, V-shaped in ventral view, apically with 2 large, diverging lobes, each anteroventrally notched with the dorsal part larger than the ventral part, posteriorly connected via a wedge-shaped rectangular lobe extending distinctly from the basal part of the phallus.
Female abdomen: Dark brown, heavily sclerotized, shiny despite microtrichia. T2–5 uniformly long-setose in posterior half with large posterolateral setae, S2–5 uniformly long-setose along entire surface with large posterolateral setae. Preabdomen subequal in length to thorax. Postabdomen long, slender, 2.4x length of T5. T6 and T7 reduced to thin lateral plates, each bearing 3 apical setae. Epiproct rounded with a small posteromedial emargination, posterolaterally darkened and bearing a dorsomedial pair of setae. Cercus ovoid with 3 long sinuate setae (2 apical and 1 dorsal) and several smaller setulae. S6 and S7 reduced to “hollow” bell-shaped plates, anteriorly bare and shining, posteriorly microtrichose and bearing a row of 10 setae. S8 reduced to a triangular plate, medially shining and bare, laterally highly desclerotized and posteriorly microtrichose with a patch of larger setae. Hypoproct anteromedially deeply emarginated, posteriorly microtrichose with a row of setae. Spermathecae elongate, peanutshaped and lightly grooved in the apical two-thirds, smooth in the basal third; stem rather short (0.5x length of spermatheca) and cylindircal.
Type material. Holotype. AUSTRALIA: Australian Capital Territory: Black Mountain, Malaise trap, 10.v.1963, I.F.B. Common (♂, ANIC). Holotype photos provided by James Lumbers, ANIC.
Paratypes: AUSTRALIA: Australian Capital Territory: Black Mountain, light-trap, 19.xii.1962, I.F.B. Common (1 ♀, ANIC); Ginninderra Falls, 28.ii.1962, D.H. Colless (1 ♀, ANIC); Mount Gingera, 3.xii.1964, E.B. Britton (1 ♀, ANIC); Mount Majura, 2.iv.1963, D.H. Colless (1 ♂, 1 ♀, ANIC); same data as holotype (2 ♀, ANIC); New South Wales: Blue Mountains, Mount Wilson, 11.xii.1959, D.K. McAlpine (1 ♂); Blue Mountains, Mount Wilson, 17.iii.1961, D.K. McAlpine (1 ♀); Minnamurra Falls, 31.i.1962, D.H. Colless (1 ♀, ANIC); National Park, 15.xi.1955, D.K. McAlpine (1 ♂); National Park, 19.iii.1957, D.K. McAlpine (1 ♀); Northmead, at light, 10.ii.1962, M. & V. Gregg (1 ♂); Otford, 12.x.1957, D.K. McAlpine (1 ♂); Otford, 7.iii.1958, D.K. McAlpine (1 ♂); Queensland: Eungella, Broken River, 9.xii.1961, McAlpine & Lossin (1 ♀, AMSA); Kuranda, 23.xii.1958, D.K. McAlpine (1 ♀, AMSA). NSW paratypes deposited in AMSA and BMNH.
Material examined. AUSTRALIA: New South Wales: Brooklyn, Berowra, Glendale Road, 33˚35’56”S 151˚09’50”E, 205 m, Malaise trap, 14–27.xii.2012, P. Hebert (1 ♀, BIOUG); Crescent Head, Delicate Knobby, ForRest Cottage, 31˚15’53”S 152˚57’43”E, lower forest, dung, 25.iii.2019, S.A. Marshall (60 ♂, 56 ♀, DEBU); Crescent Head, Delicate Knobby, ForRest Cottage, 31˚15’53”S 152˚57’43”E, upper forest, dung, 25.iii.2019, S.A. Marshall (26 ♂, 23 ♀, DEBU); Darkwood Road, near New England National Park, ex. small carcass, 21.iii.2019, S.A. Marshall (1 ♂, DEBU); Limpinwood Gardens, 28˚18’23”S 153˚12’22”E, 1.iv.2019, S.A. Marshall (5 ♂, 1 ♀, DEBU); Quorrobolong, Cessnock Farm study site, 32˚55’38”S 151˚23’35”E, ex. large carrion, 10.i.2010, S.A. Marshall (5 ♂, 3 ♀, DEBU); Quorrobolong, Cessnock Farm study site, 32˚55’38”S 151˚23’53”E, ex. carrion trap (day 6), 14.i.2010, S.A. Marshall (2 ♂, 5 ♀, DEBU); Quorrobolong, Cessnock Farm study site, Heaton Road, 32˚55’38”S 151˚23’35”E, ex. large carrion, 11–14.i.2010, S.A. Marshall (19 ♂, 19 ♀, DEBU); Quorrobolong, Cessnock Farm study site, Heaton Road, 32˚55’38”S 151˚23’35”E, small carrion, 11–14.i.2010, S.A. Marshall (4 ♂, 5 ♀, DEBU); Smiths Lake, 32˚22’37”S 152˚30’14”E, Malaise trap, 17–24.xii.2010, P. Hebert (1 ♀, BIOUG); Warrumbungle National Park, 500 m, near creek, dung traps, 26–27.iii.1999, S.A. Marshall (1 ♀, DEBU); Watagans National Park, Georges Road S, 32˚58’11”S 151˚24’01”E, “RET”, carrion (stolen during interval), 11–14.i.2010, S.A. Marshall (1 ♂, 1 ♀, DEBU); Queensland: Baldy Mountain Road, start, 17˚21’S 145˚25’E, 860 m, open forest, fish pitfall, 3–6.ii.1999, Monteith & Cook (3 ♂, QMBA); Bartle Frere, 17˚23’S 145˚48’E, 1000 m, boulder cave, dung trap, 29–30.xi.1998, G.B. Monteith (2 ♂, 7 ♀, QMBA); Bellenden Ker, top station, 17˚16’S 145˚51’E, 1500 m, automatic dung trap, 6:15–7:15 pm, 30.xi–2xii.1998, Monteith & Cook (1 ♂, 2 ♀, QMBA); Buchan Point, 1 km NW, 16˚44’S 145˚39’E, 10 m, open forest, fish pitfall, 3–11.ii.1999, Monteith & Cook (1 ♂, QMBA); Carnarvon National Park, Mount Moffatt Section, Maranoa River, east branch, near Top Moffatt Camp, 10–13.x.2002, J.M. Cumming (1 ♀, DEBU); Conway National Park, Arlie Beach, Mount Rooper Trail, pans & dung, 2–3.iv.1999, S.A. Marshall (1 ♂, 1 ♀, DEBU); East Woodmillar, 25˚40’S 151˚35’E, red soil, wallaby dung, 8–11.x.1998, G.B. Monteith (2 ♀ QMBA); Flaggy Creek, 4 km S, 17˚29’S 145˚23’E, 930 m, dry open forest, dung trap, 17–18.iv.1999, G.B. & S.R. Monteith (1 ♂, QMBA); Hann Tbid Radar Station, 16˚55’S 145˚15’E, 950 m, dung trap, 2:00–6:00 pm, 26.xi.1998, G.B. Monteith (1 ♀, QMBA); Kjellberg Road, Malaan National Park (formerly Dirran State Forest) boundary, 17˚32’S 145˚35’E, 920 m, rainforest, dung pitfall, 6–9.ii.1999, G.B. Monteith (1 ♀, QMBA); Longlands Gap, three-ways road junction, 17˚28’S 145˚29’E, 1060 m, wet sclerophyll., fungus pitfall, 6.ii.1999, Monteith & Cook (2 ♂, 1 ♀, QMBA); Mill Creek, 17˚30’S 145˚27’E, 1000 m, open forest, fungus pitfall, 5–9.ii.1999, G.B. Monteith (3 ♂, 1 ♀, QMBA); Mill Creek, 17˚30’S 145˚27’E, 940 m, open forest, dung pitfall, 5–9.ii.1999, G.B. Monteith (4 ♂, 3 ♀, QMBA); Mount Glorious, 27˚19’54”S 152˚45’29”E, Malaise, 3–9.i.1998, T. Hiller (1 ♂, 1 ♀, DEBU); Mount Glorious, Malaise trap, 26.x–5.xi.1989, A. Hiller (1 ♂, DEBU); Mount Glorious, Malaise trap, 27.iv–26.x.1989, A. Hiller (1 ♂, DEBU); Mount Kooroomool, 7 km S summit, 17˚54’S 145˚41’E, 1050 m, dung trap (dusk), 4.xii.1998, G.B. Monteith (12 ♂, 5 ♀, QMBA); Ravenshoe, 16 km NW on road, 17˚30’S 145˚23’E, 940 m, open forest, dung trap, 17–18.iv.1999, G.B. Monteith (1 ♀, QMBA); Ravenshoe, 2 km SW, 17˚37’S 145˚28’E, 880 m, open forest, automatic dung trap night, 8–9.ii.1999, G.B. Monteith (1 ♂, QMBA); Ravenshoe, 2 km SW, 17˚37’S 145˚28’E, 880 m, open forest, automatic dung trap (dawn), 9.ii.1999, G.B. Monteith (3 ♀, QMBA); Ravenshoe, 3 km SE, 17˚38’S 145˚30’E, 960 m, open forest, dung pitfall, 4–6.ii.1999, G.B. Monteith (1 ♀, QMBA); Ravenshoe, 3 km SE, 17˚38’S 145˚30’E, 960 m, open forest, dung trap, 4–6.ii.1999, Monteith & Cook (1 ♂, QMBA); Ravenshoe, 3 km SW, 17˚38’S 145˚28’E, 860 m, open forest, automatic dung trap (night), 5–6.ii.1999, G.B. Monteith (6 ♂, 7 ♀, QMBA); Ravenshoe, 3 km SW, 17˚38’S 145˚28’E, 860 m, open forest, fungus pitfall, 3–5.ii.1999, Monteith & Cook (2 ♂, 1 ♀, QMBA); Sluice Creek, 17˚32’S 145˚32’E, 1100 m, rainforest, dung trap, 14–17.iv.1999, G.B. & S.R. Monteith (1 ♂, 1 ♀, QMBA); The Millstream, 10 km NNE Ravenshoe, 17˚32’S 145˚31’E, 1040 m, rainforest, fish pitfall, 3–5.ii.1999, Monteith & Cook (5 ♂, 2 ♀, QMBA); Tumoulin, 2.5 km NW, 17˚33’S 145˚26’E, 980 m, open forest, dung pitfall, 4–5.ii.1999, D.J. Cook (1 ♀, DEBU); Tumoulin, 2.5 km NW, 17˚33’S 145˚26’E, 980 m, open forest, fungus trap, 15–17.iv.1999, G.B. & S.R. Monteith (1 ♀, QMBA); Wonga Beach, 10 km S Daintree, low forest, dung, 15–16.iv.1999, S.A. Marshall (1 ♀, DEBU); Tasmania: Scottsdale, 20 km W, near creek, dung pans, 13–14.xii.2003, S.A. Marshall (4 ♂, DEBU).
Comments. Howickia subsinuata resembles H. pseudovittata and H. trivittata due to the yellow stripes on the frons (though the stripes in H. pseudovittata are caused by microtrichia rather than the colouration of the cuticle as in H. subsinuata). Howickia subsinuata differs from H. pseudovittata in having two pairs of dorsocentral bristles (three pairs in H. pseudovittata), a lightly infuscate wing with a more angulate R 2+3, and the male tibia with only a single enlarged apicoventral setae. It can be separated from H. trivittata by the larger body size (2.3–3.7 mm vs. 1.7–2.6 mm), CS2 subequal to CS3, and longer R 2+3.
description: Published as part of Kuwahara, Gregory K. & Marshall, Stephen A., 2022, A revision of the Australian species of Howickia Richards (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae: Limosininae), pp. 1-152 in Zootaxa 5192 (1) on pages 73-75, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5192.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7138639