Empis (Enoplempis) deceptiva 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 deceptiva

description: Empis (Enoplempis) deceptiva sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: D038357D-F6C4-4FBE-804E-FF20B5EED783
(Figs 355–357, 359–361, 367, 368, 370)
Type material. HOLOTYPE ♂ (Fig. 355), labelled: “CAN: QC: Terrasse Vaudreuil / Molson Nature Reserve [45°23′41′′N 73°58′32′′W]/ Malaise, 16–25.vi.1999, S.E. Brooks ”; “ CNC1078534 ”; “E. (Enoplempis)/ tridentata Coquillett / det. Sinclair et al. 2013”; “ HOLOTYPE / Empis (Enoplempis) / deceptiva Sinclair,/ Brooks & Cumming [red label]” (CNC). PARATYPES: CANADA. Ontario: Nepean, 24 Gervin St, 45.317°N 75.720°W, 2.vii.2020, 90 m, MT, J.E. O’Hara (1♂, CNC). Quebec: Cté Vaudreuil, summit Mt. Rigaud [45.466°N 74.326°W], 16.vii.1993, D.M. Wood (1♀, CNC). USA. Massachusetts: Middlesex County: Melrose Highlands [42°28′07″N 71°04′11″W], 1.vii.1911, J.D. Tothill (1♂, CNC). New Hampshire: Strafford County: Durham [43°08′N 70°55′W], 1.vii.1981, K. Tacewski (1♀, CNC). Hillsborough County: Nashua, Long Hill, 20 m, N 42°42′59″ W 71°27′04″, 27.vi–5.vii.2004, MT, S.D. & A. V. Gaimari (7♂, 6♀, CNC).
Diagnosis. This species is included in the E. (En.) tridentata species group on the basis of three distinct scutal vittae, wings with clouding at base of R 4 and apex of the discal cell and robust ventral setae on the hind femur. Males of this new species are distinguished from E. (En.) tridentata by the more widely separated eyes (Fig. 357 vs Fig. 358), less tapered cercus and evenly arched phallus. Females are distinguished by the absence of short pennate scales on the mid and hind femora (Figs 359, 360 vs Figs 362, 363) and absence of a stub vein near the base of R 4 (Fig. 361 vs Fig. 364).
Description. Wing length 5.1–6.0 mm. Male. Similar to E. (En.) tridentata except as follows: head with eyes separated on frons by width of anterior ocellus (Fig. 357).
Terminalia (Figs 367, 368): cercus yellow, epandrium darker. Cercus short, broad, separate from anterior margin of epandrium, broader at anterior end; posterior end slightly narrower than anterior end, apex tapered; clothed in setae, longer apically. Subepandrial process slender, straight, extending to either side of phallus. Epandrial lamella subquadrate, posterior margin somewhat truncate, bearing short apical setae. Hypandrium very reduced, with truncate apical margin, about 0.5× as long as epandrium; lacking setae. Phallus with broad base, tapered, apically smoothly curved, not sinuous; apex emerging beyond cercus; ejaculatory apodeme shorter than epandrium; inverted Y-shaped, with short median keel.
Female. Similar to male, except as follows: frons broader, about twice width of anterior ocellus; spine-like setae of mid femur less numerous and slightly less stout; pennate scales on mid and hind femora absent (Figs 359, 360); base of R 4 without short stub vein (Fig. 361); cercus long and slender, slightly shorter than tergite 8.
Geographical distribution and seasonal occurrence (Fig. 370). Empis (En.) deceptiva sp. nov. is known from Ontario and Quebec and the New England states of New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Adults have been collected in June and July.
Etymology. The species name is from the Latin decipio, in reference to this species being overlooked among the specimens of E. (En.) tridentata.
Nuptial gift presentation. Form unknown.
Remarks. This species was found hidden among identified specimens of E. (En.) tridentata. While re-examining the legs of E. (En.) tridentata, it was discovered that northern specimens lacked rows of small pennate scales on the female mid and hind femora (Figs 359, 360), base of R 4 without short stub vein (Fig. 361) and the male eyes were significantly more widely separated (Fig. 357) compared to the lectotype of E. (En.) tridentata (Pennsylvania) and more southern specimens (Fig. 358). In addition, small differences in the male terminalia were discovered which supported the recognition of a new species despite the shared distinctive body colour pattern and wing clouding. These two species are assigned to the newly recognized E. (En.) tridentata species group based on the characters listed in the above diagnosis.
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 193-195, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5615.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/15217957