Aphaniosoma freidbergi Ebejer 2023, sp. nov.

Aphaniosoma freidbergi sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 8B8A9A7B-7999-43A3-B76C-E801C07D6DF6 Figs 35–36 Diagnosis A pale yellow species with a rather elongated head and eyes; only the aedeagus is dark brown and with a globular distiphallus; in contrast to similar species, it has a broad, pale shiny epandrium appearing more or less round in posterior view. The pair of long frontal setae in front of the ocellar triangle are set far forward and 2 strong posterior fronto-orbital setae are present. Similar species: A. flavipyga sp. nov. shares a pale mediotergite and an elongate head and eyes. The afore mentioned species A. aldabrense, A. kirkspriggsi and A. micropygum have a long pair of setae on the frons, but all have a dark mediotergite. Furthermore, all these species differ from each other in the structure of the male hypopygium. Etymology The species is named in honour of the late Amnon Freidberg, and his contribution to the study of Diptera including his interest in this family and his unwavering support to students and colleagues. Material examined Holotype ISRAEL • ♂; ‘ Enot Zuqim; 7 Jun. 1996; A. Freidberg leg.; SMNHTAU 405824. Paratypes ISRAEL • 6 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; SMNHTAU • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; MJE • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; ‘ Enot Zuqim; 19 Mar. 1995; A. Freidberg leg.; SMNHTAU • 2 ♀♀; ‘ Iddan; 20 Jun. 1995; I. Yarom leg.; SMNHTAU • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; ‘ En Yahav; 24 Jul. 1995; A. Freidberg leg.; SMNHTAU • 3 ♂♂; ‘ Enot Zuqim; 25 Aug. 1995; A. Freidberg leg.; SMNHTAU • 1 ♂; ‘ En Gedi / N. Arugot; 31 May 2000; B. Merz leg.; MHNG. Description MEASUREMENTS. Body length: male 1 mm, female 1.1 mm. Wing length: male 1 mm, female 1.1 mm. Male (holotype) HEAD. Yellow including ocellar triangle and entire occiput; frons longer than broad, narrowed anteriorly, at level of antennae about 0.4 × as wide as at level of anterior ocellus; gena narrow in front, deeper behind, about 0.6 × as high as long oval eye below middle of eye, with numerous white setulae; occiput in profile narrowly visible behind eye, with pale postocular setulae in one row; 2 vibrissal setae well differentiated from buccal row of setulae; face short and narrow, depressed and poorly sclerotized; median carina not visible; antenna yellow, pedicel with short seta dorsally; basal flagellomere with fine pubescence along anterior margin that is shorter than diameter of basal segment of arista; basal ⅓ of arista pale, with fine pubescence; chaetotaxy: 2 posterior moderately developed fronto-orbitals with 2 very short setulae anterior to them; ocellars short; paraverticals short and convergent; 1 inner and 1 outer vertical; frons apparently bare except for pair of setae in front of anterior ocellus set forward beyond the middle of frons. THORAX (Fig. 35A). Entirely yellow, covered with pale golden yellow microtomentum especially on scutum; chaetotaxy: 1 postpronotal, 1 short inconspicuous intra-postpronotal setula, 1 presutural, 2 notopleurals, 0+3 intra-alars, 1 postalar, 2+5 dorsocentrals, only hindmost strong, 6 acrostichals with prescutellars not developed, 4 scutellars, 1 anepisternal with 2 short setulae below, 1 katepisternal at upper posterior corner. WING. Veins yellow; distance on costa between R 2+3 and R 4+5 about 0.4 × that between R 4+5 and M 1; distance between cross veins about 1.6 × as long as posterior crossvein, which lies slightly oblique and is about 0.3 × as long as apical section of M 4. Haltere creamy white. LEGS. Yellow; with numerous pale setulae, including longer setulae on fore femur; apico-ventral seta on mid tibia present; claws black in apical half, short, about ½ × as long as tarsomere, pulvilli normal; hind trochanter not modified. ABDOMEN. Tergites yellow and sparsely setulose but setulae more distinct on margins of tergites 5 and 6; tergite 6, in lateral view, exceptionally narrow and dorso-ventrally long (Fig. 36A); sternite 6 of distinctive shape with a midline, posteriorly directed narrow lobe (Fig. 36B). HYPOPYGIUM (Figs 35B–C, 36A). Epandrium large, pale, bearing short broad surstylus, cercus very pale and long setulose; pregonite setulose at apex and postgonites translucent, not easily seen; basiphallus brown and as narrow as proximal part of distiphallus, which is broader, almost globular at apex. Female Similar to male but without the secondary sexual characters. Variation Some specimens have pale brownish vittae along the dorsocentral and intra-alar lines, the former reaching the scutellum. Distribution Israel.Published as part of Ebejer, Martin J., 2023, The genus Aphaniosoma Becker, 1903 (Diptera: Chyromyidae) in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East, with descriptions of new species, pp. 1-161 in European Journal of Taxonomy 872 on pages 69-72, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2023.872.2131, http://zenodo.org/record/801830