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Амурский зоологический журнал, 2023, т. XV, № 2
Amurian Zoological Journal, 2023, vol. XV, no. 2
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https://www.doi.org/10.33910/2686-9519-2023-15-2-284-292 http://zoobank.org/References/244A979C-3E8D-40E4-AD52-5C0C475076DB
UDC 595.773.4
Notes on the Palaearctic fauna of Limnia (Diptera, Sciomyzidae)
N. E. Vikhrev
Zoological Museum of Moscow University, 2 Bolshaya Nikitskaya Str., 125009, Moscow, Russia
Author
Nikita E. Vikhrev
E-mail: [email protected]
SPIN: 1266-1140
Scopus Author ID: 32467511100
Abstract. The Palaearctic fauna of the genus Limnia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 is reviewed. Recently Pherbina testacea has been transferred back to the genus Limnia, while Neodictya jakovlevi is transferred to Limnia herein. The reasonableness of these transfers is discussed. Two synonyms are newly proposed: L. unguicornis Scopoli, 1763 = L. paludicola Elberg, 1965, syn. nov. and L. pacifica Elberg, 1965 = L. japonica Yano, 1978, syn. nov. The negative consequences of using the structure of genitalia as the only diagnostic character are discussed. A new identification key for both sexes of Palaearctic Limnia is proposed.
Copyright: © The Author (2023). Published by Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia. Open access under CC BY-NC License 4.0.
Keywords: Diptera, Sciomyzidae, Limnia, taxonomy, synonyms
Заметки по палеарктической фауне Limnia (Diptera, Sciomyzidae)
Н. Е. Вихрев
Зоологический музей МГУ им. М. В. Ломоносова, Большая Никитская ул., д. 2, 125009, г. Москва, Россия
Сведения об авторе Вихрев Никита Евгеньевич E-mail: [email protected] SPIN-код: 1266-1140 Scopus Author ID: 32467511100
Аннотация. Дан обзор палеарктической фауны рода Limnia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830. Недавно Pherbina testacea была вновь переведена в род Limnia; Neodictya jakovlevi переведена в Limnia в данной работе. Обсуждена обоснованность этих переводов. Предложены два новых синонима: L. unguicornis Scopoli, 1763 = L. paludicola Elberg, 1965, syn. nov. и L. pacifica Elberg, 1965 = L. japonica Yano, 1978, syn. nov. Обсуждены негативные последствия использования структуры гениталий как единственного диагностического признака. Предложен новый определительный ключ для самцов и самок палеарктических видов рода Limnia.
Права: © Автор (2023). Опубликовано Российским государственным педагогическим университетом им. А. И. Герцена. Открытый доступ на условиях лицензии СС BY-NC 4.0.
Ключевые слова: Diptera, Sciomyzidae, Limnia, систематика, синонимы
Introduction
Everyone who has ever worked with European Sciomyzidae knows Limnia unguicornis, one of the most common species of the family. At the moment, authors regard as valid the following seven species in the genus Limnia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 (in the description time order):
L. unguicornis Scopoli, 1763 L. testacea Sack, 1939 L. jakovlevi Elberg, 1965, stat. nov. (previously, Neodictya jakovlevi) L. pacifica Elberg, 1965 L. paludicola Elberg, 1965 L. japonica Yano, 1978 L. kassebeeri Mohamadzade Namin, 2017 In the present work I offer two new synonyms: L. unguicornis Scopoli, 1763 = L. paludicola Elberg, 1965, syn. nov. and L. pacifica Elberg, 1965 = L. japonica Yano, 1978, syn. nov. Newly proposed synonymies, generic affiliation of L. testacea and L. jakovlevi, and taxonomic difficulties with L. kassebeeri are discussed in the annotated list below, each under respective species listed in the same order as description dates.
With two synonyms newly proposed and L. kassebeeri postponed for the future reconsideration, four remaining species of Limnia may be reliably distinguished in both sexes as proposed in the key below. Examination of the rich material of Zoological Museum of Moscow University (not indicated in the text) and Zoological Institute of Saint Petersburg (indi-
cated as ZIN) significantly clarified the distribution of Limnia in the eastern part of Palaearctic.
Material and methods
Localities are given as follows: country, region/province (in italics), and geographical coordinates in the decimal-degree format (in brackets, if not indicated on the original label). The full names of regions of Russian administrative subdivisions are an entangled result of political and historical events of no interest for zoology, so they are listed as a name and the word "Region" (abbreviated in the text as "Reg.").
Illustrations are original unless otherwise credited. When referring to figures, to avoid confusion I capitalize the first letter (Fig. or Figs.) for those appearing in this paper and use lowercase (fig. or figs.) for those published elsewhere.
Annotated list of examined material with
distributional data and taxonomic remarks
Limnia unguicornis Scopoli, 1763 Figs. 1-4, 12, 13
Limnia paludicola Elberg, 1965, syn. nov. Male holotype and female paratype of L. paludicola: ESTONIA, Parnu County, Tuhu marsh (58.57°N, 23.84°E), 16.06.1961, K. Elberg (ZIN).
ARMENIA, Lichk (« 39.058°N, 46.175°E, 1800 m), 10.06.1955, L. Zimina, 1?. AUSTRIA, Hallein distr., Haunsperg — Hammer (« 47.65°N, 13.19°E), 17.07.2007, G. Pen-nards, 1?.
Fig. 1. Surstyli of the same specimen of L. unguicornis photographed under different angles of view
Рис. 1. Сурстили одного и того же экземпляра L. unguicornis, снятые под разными углами зрения
Figs. 2-8. Hypandrium of Limnia: 2-4, L. unguicornis: 2 — our photo; 3 — L. paludicola; 4 — L. unguicornis (3, 4 from Elberg 1965: figs. 16, 17); 5-8 — L. pacifica: 5 — our photo; 6 — (from Elberg 1965: fig. 18); 7 — (from Przhiboro 2016: fig. 13); 8 — (from Yano 1978: fig. 9)
Рис. 2-8. Гипандриум Limnia: 2-4, L. unguicornis: 2 — наше фото; 3 — L. paludicola; 4 — L. unguicornis (3, 4 из Elberg 1965: figs. 16, 17); 5-8 — L. pacifica: 5 — наше фото; 6 — (из Elberg 1965: fig. 18); 7 — (из Przhiboro 2016: fig. 13); 8 — (из Yano 1978: fig. 9)
BELARUS: Gomel Reg., Mozyr env., 52.05°N, 29.31°E, 11-14.06.2019, N. Vikhrev, 10$, 6?; Vitebsk Reg., Orsha env. 54.58°N, 30.45°E, 2.08.2019, N. Vikhrev, 1$, 1?. FRANCE, Occitanie Reg., Gers dep., Pichoy (Fources) (« 43.995°N, 0.208°E): 2.06.2006, G. Pennards, 1$; 10.05.2007, G. Pennards, 1$; 23.05.2007, G. Pennards, 1$, 1?. KAZAKHSTAN, South Kazakhstan Reg., Aksu-Zhabagly Nat. Res. («42.5°N, 70.5°E): 9.06.1965, L. Zimina, 1?; 20.06.1965, L. Zimina, 1?.
KYRGYZSTAN, Chuy Reg., Tokmak (« 42.82°N, 75.32°E), 9.08.1969, E. Narchuk, 4$, 2? (ZIN); Issyk-Kul Reg., Ananjevo (« 42.73°N, 77.69°E), 28.07.1961, L. Zimina, 1?. MOLDOVA, Chishinau env. (« 47.01°N, 28.86°E): 1.07.1970, R. Kamenskaya, 1?; 2.07.1970, R. Kamenskaya, 1?. NETHERLANDS: Beek (« 50.93°N, 5.80°E), 13.06.1999, G. Pennards, 1?; Kwade Hoek («51.832°N, 4.004°E), 21.05.2005, G. Pen-nards, 1$.
RUSSIA: Altai Republic Reg., Seminsky pass env., Sarlyk R., 1200 m, 28-30.06.2016, N. Vikhrev, 1$;
Amur Reg., Zeya env. (« 53.71°N, 127.19°E), 1.09.1981, A. Shatalkin, 1$;
Arkhangelsk Reg.: Arkhangelsk, 64.55°N, 40.60°E, 4.07.2011, D. Gavryushin, 1$; Solvy-chegodsk, 61.333°N, 46.922°E, 11.08.2010, D. Gavryushin, 2$;
Bashkortostan Reg.: Abzakovo, 53.82°N, 58.62°E, 500 m, 15-19.06.2020, N. Vikhrev, 7$, 1$; Beloretsk distr., Makhmutovo, Belaya R., 54.33°N, 58.81°E, 15.07.2015, D. Gavryushin, 1$, 1$;
Buryatia Reg., Kyren env., 51.7°N, 102.1°E, 750 m, 16-19.06.2021, E. Makovetskaya, 1$; Dagestan Reg., Samur forest, 41.86°N, 48.56°E, 25.06.2021, O. Kosterin, 1$; Donetsk Reg., Volnovakha distr., 10 km E of Donskoe (47.50°N, 37.65°E), K. Tomkovich, 20-31.08.2008, 3$, 1$; Irkutsk Reg., Yurty (« 56.05°N, 97.63°E), 11.06.1912, Mishin, 1$ (ZIN); Karelia Reg., Myaranduksa L., 62.3°N, 33.1°E, 14.07.2018, D. Astakhov, 1$; Khakasia Reg., Shira distr., Borets, 54.46°N, 90.36°E, 29.06.2011, K. Tomkovich, 1$; Khanty-Mansi Reg., Seliyarovo env., 61.467°N, 70.731°E, 17-20.07.2010, K. Tomkovich, 1$, 1$;
Krasnodar Reg. (Krasnaya Polyana), Al-pika-service, 43.682°N, 40.236°E, 600 m, 11-13.06.2008, K. Tomkovich, 5$, 4$;
Krasnoyarsk Reg., Krasnoyarsk, West bank (of Yenisei R.), Udachniy distr. env. (« 55.978°N, 92.710°E), 28.07.2009, K. Tomkovich, 1?; Kursk Reg., Selikhovy Dvory (« 51.58°N, 36.07°E), 25.05.2007, N. Vikhrev, 2$, 3?; Mordovia Reg., Pushta vill. env., 54.71°N, 43.22°E, 22-26.06.2020, M. Yanbulat, 5$, 3?; Moscow Reg.: Burtsevo env. (55.981°N, 35.597°E): on parsley, 1-15.07.2008, M. Krivo-sheina, 1$, 3?; on hogweed, 6-14.07.2008, M. Krivosheina, 1?; Izmaylovo (« 55.564N, 37.649E): 5.06.1983, A. Ozerov, 1$; 2.07.1983, A. Ozerov, 1$;
North Osetia Reg., S of Alagir (42.90°N, 44.15°E, 1700 m), 28-30.06.1990, A Shatalkin, 2$, 3?; Alagir (43.04°N, 44.21°E, 800 m), 9.07.1990, A. Ozerov, 1$, 1?; Novosibirsk Reg., Akademgorodok, 54.87°N, 83.05°E, 18-19.06.2016, N. Vikhrev, 1$; Akademgorodok, Zyryanka R., Botanical garden, 54.825°N, 83.115°E, 14.06.2008, O. Kos-terin, 4$, 3?;
Omsk Reg., Omsk distr., Fadino vill., 54.79°N, 73.34°E, 9.06.2007, O. Kosterin, 1$, 2?; Saint Petersburg Reg., Kiperort Penins., 60.48°N, 28.56°E, 15-25.05.2012, K. Tomko-vich, 1$;
Tuva Reg., Uyuk R., 800 m, 52.07°N, 94.04°E, 1-3.07.2017, N. Vikhrev, 1$; Tver Reg., Ostashkov (57.15°N, 33.10°E), 14.07.1936, B. Rodendorf, 1$. SERBIA, Crni Vrh env., 43.396°N, 22.605°E, 1000 m, 4.07.2015, A. Ozerov, 1$. TURKEY, Bolu prov., 6 km S of Kartalkaya Ski Resort, 40.642°N, 31.763°E, 1480 m, 16-18.06.2010, N. Vikhrev, 1$. UK, Oxford, 5-20.09.1998, M. Krivosheina, 1$. UKRAINE, Zakarpatskaya Reg.: Uzhgorod distr., Turja Polyana (« 48.70°N, 22.80°E), 25.06.1964, L. Zimina, 1?. DISTRIBUTION. One of the most common Sciomyzidae in Europe, less common in W. Siberia, uncommon in Central Siberia, ranges to the east to Xinjiang province of China (Li et al. 2019) and Lake Baikal SE periphery, the single easternmost specimen available is from Amur region. The southern limit of distribution is the Northern Mediterranean (Italy, Greece, Turkey), also present in Central Asia;
the northern limit of distribution is about 65°N (Karelia, Arkhangelsk, Khanty-Mansi regions).
SYNONYMY. L. paludicola Elberg, 1965 was described from a large series of specimens collected from E Europe (Estonia) to Central Siberia. Thus, Elberg (1965: 195-197) hypothesized that this series belongs to a new species which is sympatric to L. unguicornis on a vast territory of Palaearctic. It was claimed to differ from L. unguicornis in males only by the fine structure of surstylus and hypandrium (posterior surstyli in Elberg), in females by a darker brown median stripe on the mesonotum. For more than 50 years Sciomyzidae experts have supported this hypothesis, but I would like to express my opinion that the description of L. paludicola was quite groundless.
Concerning females, Elberg (1965) did not discuss on what basis he "married" L. palu-dicola males to females with a darker but not with a lighter mesonotal stripe, so, I suppose that this character was chosen arbitrarily. Indeed, median vitta on female mesonotum may be brownish or yellowish, I regard their colour as intraspecific variability of L. ungui-cornis until someone presents a justification to the contrary.
Let us concentrate on male genitalia.
Apart from my doubts that the shape of the weakly sclerotized surstyli of L. ungui-cornis is really important for reproductive isolation of specimens, there is no difference in that shape between L. unguicornis and L. paludicola. Figure 1 shows that the same surstylus may look, depending on the angle of view, as "hyper-paludicola" (a), as paludicola (b) or as unguicornis (c) (compare with Figs. 3, 4).
The shape of the hypandrium also depends on the angle of view. I will not tire myself and the reader with examples of how unrecognizably its appearance can change in a photo. Even when I did my best to orient it in such a way (Fig. 2) that it looks as similar as possible to Elberg's drawings (Figs 3, 4), it is unclear how to interpret what we see.
This case contrasts the difference between the hypandrium of L. unguicornis and
L. pacifica, which may be verbalized. In L. un-guicornis the median projection of the hypan-drium sprouts from its base (Figs. 2-4), while in L. pacifica the median projection sprouts from the posterior projection (Figs. 5-8). (L. pacifica is listed below, but I believe that the form of its hypandrium is appropriate to discuss here, together with L. unguicornis.) Again, I did my best to orient the hypandri-um of L. pacifica in such a way (Fig. 5) that it looks as similar as possible to Elberg's drawings (Fig. 6). However, after choosing a different angle of view, other authors (Przhiboro 2016: fig. 13) or (Yano 1978: fig. 9, as L. japonica) got a different shape of the hypandrium, similar to each other (Figs. 7-8), but not very similar to the shape from Elberg or mine (Figs 5-6). It shows how easy a new species may be described by the apparent "difference" in a fine structure of the genitalia.
Let us compare two species described by Elberg in 1965. L. pacifica is very similar to L. unguicornis but these species are geographically isolated (1); may be reliably distinguished in both sexes (2); they have a small but reliable difference in the structure of male genitalia (3). At the same time, L. paludicola is sympatric with L. unguicornis from W Europe to Baikalia (1); without any non-genitalic difference (2); the genitalic difference is either absent or not intelligibly explained by anyone (3). So, L. unguicornis Scopoli, 1763 = L. paludicola Elberg, 1965, syn. nov.
Limnia testacea Sack, 1939 Fig. 9
Limnia testacea Sack, 1939 Pherbina testacea Sack, 1939 (Leclercq 1981) Limnia setosa Yano, 1978 (Mortelmans 2020) Limnia testacea Sack, 1939 (Mortelmans 2020) RUSSIA: Buryatia Reg.: Kyren env., 51.7°N, 102.1°E, 750 m, 16-19.06.2021, N. Vikhrev, 5$, 6?; E. Makovetskaya, 1$, 3?. Jewish Reg., Babstovo, 48.12°N, 132.48°E, 15-20.06.2013, I. Melnik, 1?; Khabarovsk Reg.: 4 km S Gur R. (near road P454), 50.01°N, 137.08°E, 21.06.2022, N. Vikhrev, 5$, 5?; Bychikha, 48.30°N, 134.82°E, 13.07.2014, N. Vikhrev, 3$, 1?; Khabarovsk suburb, 48.6°N, 135.1°E: 25.07.2014, N. Vikhrev, 1?; 27-30.06.2022, N. Vikhrev, 8$, 3?; Mayak env., 48.90°N, 136.19°E: 8.06.2022, 2$; 24.06.2022, 1$, 1?; Primorsky Reg.: Andreevka, 42.64°N, 131.13°E, 25-30.06.2014, N. Vikhrev, 3$; Khanka L., 45.06°N, 131.99°E, 15-19.06.2014, N. Vikhrev, 1$, 7?; Khasansky distr., Ryazanovka (« 42.79°N, 131.26°E), 8.06.1989, A. Shatalkin, 3$, 4?; Lotos L.: 42.46°N, 130.64°E, 1-3.07.2014, N. Vikhrev, 2$, 1?; 28.07.2018, 1$; Spassk-Dalny, 44.58°N, 132.85°E, 15.06.2014, N. Vikhrev, 2$. DISTRIBUTION. Described from China, Hei-longjiang province, Harbin. One ofthe most common Sciomyzidae in Primorsky and Khabarovsk regions, less common in the Japanese and Kuril Islands, the westernmost finding is SE Baikalia.
Figs. 9-11. General view: 9 — female Limnia testacea; 10 — male Limnia jakovlevi; 11 — female Trypetoptera punctulata
Рис. 9-11. Общий вид: 9 — самка Limnia testacea; 10 — самец Limnia jakovlevi; 11 — самка Trypetoptera punctulata_
REMARKS. L. testacea Sack, 1939 (Fig. 9) is a species with a complicated history; Leclercq (1981) transferred it to the genus Pherbina, Mortelmans (2020) transferred it back to Limnia. The same species was described as Limnia setosa Yano, 1978 and synonymized with L. testacea by Mortelmans (2020). I rather agree with Mortelmans's decision.
However, the presence of both unguicornis and testacea in the same genus makes it problematic to formulate the generic diagnosis for Limnia. These species have different wing patterns and share only few characters: anepisternum and anepimeron with at least some setulae; hind coxa with hairs on inner posterior margin. However, these characters are also present in Psacadina, Pherbina, Try-petoptera and even in Ilione, Elgiva or Dictya. At the same time, since most authors (Sack, Yano, Mortelmans) regarded the taxon testacea (= setosa) as belonging to Limnia, I believe that it is better to leave the existing division of Tetanocerini into genera where possible. Note also that the Nearctic Limnia species with unguicornis-like or testacea-like wing pattern are all included in the genus Limnia.
I hope that one day molecular data will clarify the phylogeny of Tetanocerini. So far, the molecular data (Chapman et al. 2012; To-thova et al. 2012) indicated a close relationship between genera Limnia, Trypetoptera, Pherbina and probable paraphyly of the genus Limnia. What is more, the data by Chapman et al. (2012) indicated that in the case of Nearctic Limnia, the species with ungui-cornis-like wing pattern are not congeneric with those with testacea-like (or in America boscii-like) wing pattern. If this is confirmed, then L. testacea and related species will move to another genus once again.
Limnia jakovlevi Elberg, 1965 Fig. 10
Neodictya jakovlevi Elberg, 1965
Limnia jakovlevi Elberg, 1965, stat. nov.
Type material: the holotype, male, Irkutsk
(52.28°N, 104.24°E, 1848, V. Yakovlev) (ZIN).
New material examined:
RUSSIA: Khakasia Reg., Shira distr., Borets,
54.46°N, 90.36°E, 29.06.2011, K. Tomkovich, 1$;
Tuva Reg., Uyuk R., 800 m, 52.07°N, 94.04°E, 1-3.07.2017, N. Vikhrev, 1$. DISTRIBUTION. Seems to be a rare species known from the south of Central Siberia: Irkutsk, Khakassia and Tuva regions of Russia and Inner Mongolia province of China (Li et al. 2019). REMARKS. This is another problematic taxon. It was previously known by the single male ho-lotype. I was lucky to examine two more specimens of this taxon, one of them is shown in Fig. 10. In 1965, L. testacea was well forgotten and L. setosa was not yet described, so Elberg placed jakovlevi in a separate genus Neodictya Elberg, 1965. Presently, there are three possible solutions regarding the generic status of this species: to leave it in the monotypic genus Neodic-tya (1); to transfer it to the genus Trypetoptera (2); to transfer it to the genus Limnia (3). Similar possibilities concerning the relationship of these genera were discussed in Murphy et al. (2018: 153). As follows from the identification key given below, the species jakovlevi shares more characters with Trypetoptera punctulata Scopoli, 1763 than with L. testacea, but generally it is very similar to the latter (see Figs. 9-11). I propose leaving the monophyletic genus Trypetoptera as it is, and place the Elberg's species in the genus Limnia for the time being seemingly artificial.
Limnia pacifica Elberg, 1965 Figs. 5-8, 14
Limnia japonica Yano, 1978 syn. nov. RUSSIA, Sakhalin Reg.: Kunashir Isl.: Alekhi-no (« 43.917°N, 145.528°E), 2.06.1968, E. Nar-chuk, 1?; Mendeleevo (43.957°N, 145.689°E), 29-30.07.1971, E. Narchuk, 1$, 1?; Serno-vodsk: (« 43.906°N, 145.642°E), 30.06.1971, E. Narchuk, 1?; I. Kerzhener, 26.08.1973, 1?; Tretyakovo (« 43.988°N, 145.644°E): 4-5.07.1968, E. Narchuk, 1$, 2?; 9.07.1971, E. Narchuk, 1$; V. Tanasiychuk, 6.09.1971, 1 ? (all ZIN); Mendeleev volcano env. (« 43.98°N, 145.73°E), 20.07.1985, S. Churkin, 1?; Stolb-chaty cape (« 44.02°N, 145.69°E), 13.07.1985, S. Churkin, 1?; Andreevsky Cordon, 43.54°N, 145.37°E, 6-8.07.2014, A. Gomyranov, 1$, 1?; Saratovsky Cordon, 44.15°N, 146.06°E, 19-23.07.2014, A. Gomyranov, 1?; Yuzhno-Kurilsk, 43.59°N, 145.38°E, 15-18.07.2014,
Figs. 12-14. L. unguicornis, 12, 13:12 — male, general view; 13 — wing; L. pacifica 14 — wings (from Przhiboro 2016: figs. 6, 7)
Рис. 12-14. L. unguicornis, 12, 13:12 — самец, общий вид; 13 — крыло; L. pacifica: 14 — крылья (из Przhiboro 2016: figs 6, 7)
A. Gomyranov, 1$; Shikotan Isl., Tserkov-naya Bay, 43.75°N, 146.70°E, 11-17.06.2012, Yu. Sundukov, 1$; Iturup Isl., Goryachie Kluchi, 45.0°N, 147.8°E, 17-29.08.2022, V. Savitsky, 1$.
DISTRIBUTION. Restricted to Pacific Islands: the Kuril Islands (Kunashir, Shikotan and Iturup) and Japan (known from Honshu and Kyushu).
REMARKS. Two females from Kunashir have strong (as in Psacadina) seta on anepister-num.
SYNONYMY. Alas, it is sometimes assumed that for describing a new species, it is enough to indicate a character not mentioned in the original description of a similar species, though this character well may be a result of intraspecific variability. In the worst case, not a single character is even indicated, as in the case of L. japonica. On the other hand, many colleagues are convinced that serious justifications are required for the suggestion of synonymy. With this approach, it becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish species, but biodiversity gets "enriched" every year. Meanwhile, in accord-
ance with the basic method of scientific knowledge (Occam's principle), any doubts should be
interpreted in favor of synonymy, so as not to
produce unnecessary entities. Synonymy is not a verdict but only a statement of the fact that there is no reason to consider some species as different, for example, the populations of un-guicornis-like Limnia in the Kuril and Japanese Islands. No comprehensible difference follows either from the original description or from other publications, while a short publication with an indication of reliable diagnostic characters would be enough for the resurrection of the synonymized species.
L. japonica was described from specimens collected from Honshu and Kyushu Islands of Japan. Yano (1978: 5-10) compared his other species (L. setosa) with hardly similar L. pacifica, but Yano compared L. japonica only with the W Palaearctic L. unguicornis but not with L. pacifica distributed in the Pacific Islands. According to Yano, L. japonica and L. ungui-cornis differ only in the male genitalia structure. Actually, as follows from the discussion under L. unguicornis and Figs. 5-8, L. japonica
has the same genitalia as L. pacifica. Rozkosny (1987: 66-67) tried to save the validity of L. japonica proposing brownish longitudal stripe in the middle of the face as a diagnostic character. However, Sueyoshi (2001: 497-498) found out, after examination of a large series, that there is a gradual intraspecific variability: the facial stripe is distinct in S Japan and indistinct in N Japan (we could add: usually absent in the Kuril Islands). So, L. pacifica Elberg, 1965 = L. japonica Yano, 1978 syn. nov.
Limnia kassebeeri Mohamadzade Namin, 2017 REMARKS. The species was described from a series of specimens from NW regions of Iran (Kurdistan, E Azerbaijan and Gilan provinces). According to the diagnosis, "... in some specimens of L. kassebeeri, anepisternum contains one small seta in addition to fine hairs. Hypan-drium in L. kassebeeri sp. n. has two ventral processes, whereas in L. unguicornis and L. paludi-cola the number of ventral processes of hypan-drium is three ...". In the photo of the holotype of L. kassebeeri (Sadr, Namin 2017: fig. 2A) we can see: (a) scutum with grey submedian vittae; (b) postpedicel about as long as pedicel; (c) costal margin of wing with distinct round dark spots; (d) rather strong seta on anepisternum.
Characters a and b are typical for L. ungui-cornis.
Character c is typical for L. pacifica. Some specimens of L. unguicornis have indistinct costal spots, only one female from S Dagestan (again Caspian region) has very distinct dark costal spots.
Character d was never found in L. ungui-cornis. Two our specimens of L. pacifica have remarkably strong anepisternal seta, several more specimens have shorter but still elongated setulae on anepisternum.
We have a female specimen from Lichk (Armenia), collected 30 km north of some specimens from E Azerbaijan province listed as L. kassebeeri by Sadr & Namin (2017). This female is typical L. unguicornis.
I tend to regard the above data as manifesting a curious variability of Limnia. However, if to correct wording by Sadr & Namin (2017) from "some specimens" to "those specimens which have seta on anepisternum and bilobed
hypandrium in male", then L. kassebeeri would at least have a comprehendible diagnosis with two independent diagnostic characters. Thus, my decision is to postpone L. kassebeeri for now for the future reexamination of the type material and examination specimens to be collected in the Caspian region.
Key to Palaearctic Limnia and Trypetoptera
tf?
1. Costal margin of wing (= cell R1) entirely darkened, without white areas (Figs. 1214). Katatergite much darker than adjacent pleura. (Prosternum always setulose. An-episternum without strong seta(e), only with setulae).......................... 2
— Costal margin of wing (= cell R1) with alternating black and white rectangular sections, some black sections have a white spot inside (Figs. 12-14). Katatergite con-colorous with adjacent pleura..........3
2. Mesonotum from scutellum to neck with a pair of distinct, wide, grey submedian vittae. Postpedicel longer, almost as long as pedicel. Costal margin of wing (= cell R1) more or less evenly darkened, usually unspotted (Figs. 12-13), rarely with indistinct spots. Anepisternal setulae minute. Palae-arctic from Europe to East Siberia. Common in Europe, less common in W Siberia, rare in E Siberia. tf: Median projection of hypandrium attached to its base (Figs. 2-4) .....................unguicornis Scopoli
— Mesonotum without distinct grey sub-median vittae, i.e., submedian vittae light brown, almost concolourous with the rest surface of mesonotum. Postpedicel distinctly shorter than pedicel. Costal margin of wing (= cell R1) darkened not evenly, with 7-8 rounded darker spots (Fig. 14). Anepisternal setulae longer, especially so a row of 3-5 setulae on the posterior margin. Far Eastern islands: the Kurils and Japan. tf: Median projection of hypandrium attached to its posterior projection (Figs 5-8) ..........................pacifica Elberg
3. Arista with sparse whitish hairs, stem of arista dark. Prosternum hairy. Anepister-num without strong seta, with setulae only.
Mesonotum without grey vittae. (Fig. 9) ..
....................................... 4
— Arista with dense white hairs, stem of arista also white. Prosternum bare. Ane-pisternum with strong seta apart from fine setulae. Mesonotum with a pair of distinct, wide, grey submedian vittae
........................... testacea Sack
4. Prosternum with only one pair of setulae. Abdomen with very wide and distinct lateral vittae. Wing pattern contrasting (Fig. 11). Mesonotum with several dark-brown spots ........Trypetoptera punctulata Scopoli
— Prosternum widely setulose. Abdomen with narrow and less distinct lateral vittae. Wing pattern much less contrasting (Fig. 10). Mesonotum without distinct dark spots.................. jakovlevi Elberg
Acknowledgements
I thank Oleg Kosterin (Novosibirsk) and Maria Yanbulat for useful discussion and valuable corrections of the text. I thank Olga Ovchinnikova and Galina Suleymanova (Saint Petersburg) for the opportunity to examine the important material in ZIN.
For citation: Vikhrev, N. E. (2023) Notes on the Palaearctic fauna of Limnia (Diptera, Sciomyzidae). Amurian Zoological Journal, vol. XV, no. 2, pp. 284-292. https://www.doi.org/10.33910/2686-9519-2023-15-2-284-292
Received 20 March 2023; reviewed 31 March 2023; accepted 3 April 2023.
Для цитирования: Вихрев, Н. Е. (2023) Заметки по палеарктической фауне Limnia (Diptera, Sciomyzidae). Амурский зоологический журнал, т. XV, № 2, с. 284-292. https://www.doi.org/10.33910/2686-9519-2023-15-2-284-292
Получена 20 марта 2023; прошла рецензирование 31 марта 2023; принята 3 апреля 2023.
References
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