Research Article |
Corresponding author: Lucia Pollini Paltrinieri ( lucia.pollini@ti.ch ) Academic editor: Patrick Rohner
© 2022 Lucia Pollini Paltrinieri, Jindřich Roháček.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Pollini Paltrinieri L, Roháček J (2022) Periscelis (Myodris) haennii sp. nov., a new species of Periscelididae (Diptera) from Ticino, Switzerland, with a new key to European species of the subgenus. Alpine Entomology 6: 39-49. https://doi.org/10.3897/alpento.6.85391
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A new Periscelididae species, Periscelis (Myodris) haennii sp. nov., is described from Losone near Locarno, Canton Ticino (Southern Switzerland). It has been found during a biodiversity survey using attractant traps in a Querco-Castagnetum forest. This new species is closely related and very similar to P. (M.) annulata (Fallén, 1813) occurring syntopically in the same traps. Interestingly, also P. (M.) piricercus Carles-Tolrá & Verdugo Páez, 2009 co-occurred with these species; consequently, all European species of the subgenus Myodris Lioy, 1864 were found in this locality. A new illustrated key to males of these species is presented. The DNA sequences of the barcoding region of COI for all these species are given.
new species, Querco-Castagnetum forest, Ticino, systematics, relationships, molecular barcoding
In an effort to increase the knowledge on forest insect diversity of Canton Ticino, the recent entomological research program carried out by the Natural history museum of Canton Ticino (Museo cantonale di storia naturale, MCSN) in Lugano (Switzerland) has been focusing on the natural areas around the city of Locarno. During the sampling plan, aimed at testing different sampling methods, a large amount of specimens of Periscelididae was captured (Pollini Paltrinieri et al., unpublished data) in which many individuals appearing as Periscelis (Myodris) annulata (Fallén, 1813) when using available identification keys (most recent in
To verify validity of the new species the male terminalia of both other European species of the subgenus, viz. P. (M.) annulata and P. (M.) piricercus Carles-Tolrá & Verdugo Páez, 2009 have been examined in detail and those of P. (M.) annulata (the closest relative of the new species) were redescribed and illustrated. Moreover, DNA sequences of the barcoding region of COI of all these species have been obtained and their genetic distances tested.
The new species is treated within the subgenus Myodris of the genus Periscelis Loew, 1858 following the classification adopted by
Three stations were surveyed in a Querco-castagnetum forest (Fig.
Attractant traps and habitat of Periscelis (M.) haennii sp. nov. 1. Transparent trap with wine, hanging on tree branch; 2. Same, yellow trap; 3. Habitat of the species (where wine traps were installed), a Querco-castagnetum forest at Losone near Locarno. Photos by L. Pollini Patrinieri.
Details of the male and female terminalia were drawn using Abbe’s drawing apparatus on a compound microscope (JENAVAL). Whole adult (dry-mounted) specimens were photographed by means of a digital camera Canon EOS 5D Mark III with a Nikon CFI Plan 4× /0.10NA 30 mm WD objective attached to Canon EF 70–200mm f/4L USM zoom lens. The specimen photographed by means of the latter equipment was repositioned upwards between each exposure using a Cognisys StackShot Macro Rail and the final photograph was compiled from multiple layers (35) using Helicon Focus Pro 7.0.2. The final images were edited in Adobe Photoshop CS6. Wings were photographed on a compound microscope Olympus BX51 with an attached digital camera (Canon EOS 1200D). Photographs of male terminalia in ethanol were taken with an Olympus UC50 camera mounted on a microscope Olympus SZX12, processed with Stream Essentials Olympus and by Auto Montage Software.
To demonstrate molecular differences between European Myodris species the barcoding region of COI was amplified (see below). One specimen of all three species and also that of Periscelis (s. str.) winnertzii Egger, 1862 (all from Switzerland, Canton of Ticino: Losone), preserved in 80% ethanol, were used for analysis. The DNA was extracted using NucleoSpin Tissue Kit (Macherey-Nagel, Düren, Germany) following manufacturer’s protocols. Individual flies were rinsed in PBS buffer, placed in sterile Eppendorf tubes and incubated overnight at 56 °C with proteinase K. PCRs (total volume = 20 μL) were performed using primers for barcoding region of COI gene LCO1490 LCO1490 (5′-GGTCAACAAATCATAAAGATATTGG-3′) and HC02198 (5′-TAAACTTCAGGGTGACCAAAAAATCA-3′) (
Genetic distances for COI (Kimura 2-parameter) among Periscelis species. The barcoding region of COI has been 658 pb long.
Species | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | P. (Myodris) annulata | ||||
2 | P. (Myodris) piricercus | 6.88% | |||
3 | P. (Myodris) haennii sp. nov. | 7.58% | 9.12% | ||
4 | P. (Periscelis) winnertzii | 13.88% | 14.23% | 15.77% |
Morphological terminology follows that used for Periscelis spp. by
ac acrostichal (setae)
c costal cells
ce cercus
dc dorsocentral setae
dp distiphallus
dm-cu discal medial-cubital (= posterior, tp) cross-vein
ea ejacapodeme
ed ejaculatory duct
ep epandrium
hu humeral (seta)
hy hypandrium
M media
ma medandrium
npl notopleural (setae)
oc ocellar (setae)
ors fronto-orbital (setae)
pa postalar (seta)
pg postgonite
pha phallapodeme
pvt postvertical (seta)
r1 1st radial cell
r2+3 2nd radial cell
r-m radial-medial (= anterior, ta) cross-vein
S6 sternite 6
sa supra-alar (seta)
sc scutellar (seta)
ss surstylus
stpl sternopleural (= katepisternal) (seta)
vte external vertical (seta)
vti internal vertical (seta)
Switzerland, Canton of Ticino, Municipality of Losone, Forest reserve of “Parco Collina di Maia”, 46°09'53"N, 8°44'54"E, 419 m.
• ♂, pinned, labelled “SVIZZERA – TI; 701.168/113.372; Losone, Arcegno, Collina di Maia; Castagneto con querce; 419 m; 21–28.07.2015, prd. 1; VINO Bianca; ARC 2; Leg: L. Pollini P.& M. Abderhalden; DIPT04008, GBIFCH00559684. [Switzerland, Ticino; Losone, Arcegno, Collina di Maia; chestnut and oak forest; 419 m; 46°09'53"N, 8°44'54"E Wine trap White] (deposited in MCSN).
• 2♂♂; SVIZZERA – TI; Losone, Arcegno, Collina di Maia; Castagneto con querce; 420 m; 701.151/113.376 [46°09'51.337"N, 8°44'53.687"E]; ARC1; 20.05–06.06.2016; Vino Bianca. • 1♂; same, but 23.06–07.07.2016. • 1♂; same, but 701.013/113.741 [46°10'03.240"N, 8°44'47.535"E]; 411 m; ARC2; 20.05–06.06.2016. • 2♂♂ same but 06–23.06.2016; Vino gialla. • 2♂♂ same but, 701.307/113.196 [46°09'45.434"N, 8°45'00.812"E]; 366 m; ARC3; 21–28.07.2015. • 5♂♂ same but 20.05-06.06.2016; Vino Bianca. All L. Pollini & M. Abderhalden leg., all dried from ethanol and pinned (MCSN). • 15♂♂ Losone, Arcegno, Collina di Maia; Castagneto con querce; 411 m; 701.013/113.741 [46°10'03.240"N, 8°44'47.535"E]; ARC2; 06-20.05.2016. • 4 ♂♂; same but 701.307/113.196 [46°09'45.434"N, 8°45'00.812"E]; 366 m; ARC3; 23.06-07.07.2016.; all L. Pollini & M. Abderhalden leg.; all preserved in ethanol (MCSN). • 18♂ (3♂ with genit. prep., 1 intact ♂ photographed) 701.168/113.372; 419 m; ARC2; 13-27.07.2017, prd. 25; Vino bianca. • 2♂ same data but 10-23.08.2017, prd. 27; all L. Pollini & M. Abderhalden leg., all dried from ethanol and 16 mounted on pinned triangular cards, 4 double-pinned (on minutia pin in pinned plastic bricket) (
all other specimens from the same locality preserved in ethanol (deposited in MCSN). Same locality, 701.168/113.372, 419 m, ARC2,13–27.07.2017, 13–27.07.2017, prd. 25, vino bianca, 1♂, L. Pollini & M. Abderhalden leg., but with blue label “JR32, OM314931” (handwritten) in addition; specimen used for molecular study, with body (after DNA extraction) preserved in glycerine in pinned plastic vial (
A small species (1.3 mm) (Fig.
Periscelis (Myodris) species, adults. 4. P. (M.) haennii sp. nov., male paratype (dried from ethanol), thorax dorsally; 5. P. (M.) annulata (Fallén), male (dry mounted), thorax dorsally; 6. P. (M.) piricercus Carles-Tolrá & Verdugo Páez, male (dried from ethanol), thorax dorsally; 7. P. (M.) haennii sp. nov., male paratype (dried from ethanol), laterally; 8. P. (M.) haennii sp. nov., male paratype, right wing; 9. P. (M.) annulata (Fallén), male, right wing; 10. P. (M.) piricercus Carles-Tolrá & Verdugo Páez, male, right wing. Only Fig.
Periscelis (Myodris) haennii sp. nov., paratype, male genitalia. 11. Entire genitalia, laterally; 12. Cercus, laterally; 13. Aedeagal complex, laterally (only basal parts of distiphallus, phallapodeme and hypandrium depicted); 14. External genitalia caudally; 15. Surstylus, laterally; 16. External genitalia cranially (setosity of epandrium and cerci largely omitted). For abbreviations see p. 41. Scales: 0.05 mm (12, 15); 0.1 mm (11, 13, 14, 16).
Periscelis (Myodris) annulata (Fallén), male genitalia (Slovakia). 17. Entire genitalia, laterally; 18. Cercus, laterally; 19. Aedeagal complex, laterally (only basal parts of distiphallus, phallapodeme and hypandrium depicted); 20. External genitalia cranially (setosity of epandrium and cerci largely omitted); 21. Surstylus, laterally; 22. External genitalia caudally. For abbreviations see p. 41. Scales: 0.05 mm (18); 0.1 mm (17, 19–22).
Male (Fig.
Thorax: dull, brown with a grey microtomentose pattern; mesoscutum grey with brown acrostichal and dorsocentral brown stripes little contrasting compared to the background colouring; pleural part of thorax brown, with an apical paler stripe on the anepisternum; scutellum distinctly (basally) wider than long, rounded trapezoidal.
Thoracic chaetotaxy: all setae and setulae blackish brown; ac setulae numerous and in 8 irregular rows, more numerous in the anterior half of scutum, 2 postsutural strong dc setae, the posterior one longer; 8–10 setulae in front of dc but no setulae between dc setae; 1 prescutellar ac; 1 strong hu (= postpronotal) seta plus 2 small setulae on humeral callus; 2 strong npl setae; 1 sa and 1 pa; 2 sc setae, the apical one very long; 2 stpl (= katepisternal) setae, the anterior one shorter, and numerous short setulae on sternopleuron (katepisternum).
Wing (Fig.
Legs yellow and brown variegated. Base of fore coxa brown, ventrally apically yellow, coxae 2 and 3 brown. Fore femur dark brown with base yellow. Femora 2 and 3 yellow with two not well bounded brown rings; tibiae with two dark brown rings, the distal one longer than the proximal; tarsi yellow with two last segments brown. Femur 1 with a series of 7–8 long and thicker distal posteroventral setae and other finer upright posterodorsal setae; femur 2 posteroventrally with a row of short and thicker setae; tibia 2 with 1 distinct and thicker ventroapical seta.
Abdomen brown, sternites lighter; tergites 3–6 with a pair of anterolateral small silvery spots. Postabdomen: pregenital sternite (sternite 6) simply transversely suboblong but posteromedially with small and shallow emargination (Fig.
Male genitalia (Figs
Based on structures of male genitalia, Periscelis (M.) haennii sp. nov. is clearly different from all known Palaearctic relatives of the subgenus Myodris (cf. diagnosis above and
The study of long series of all three European Periscelis (Myodris) species obtained from the same area and habitat revealed the formerly unknown external variability both in thoracic micropubescence and colour pattern, and, particularly, in clouding of wing membrane and veins. The latter was particularly variable in P. (M.) annulata. Based on these findings we found that these three species cannot be safely recognized from only external features and their identification should always be verified by study of male genitalia. Consequently, females of these species cannot be unambiguously recognized at present from morphology. However, they can now be identified by means of the molecular barcoding.
The new species seems to be the closest relative of P. (M.) annulata. The most obvious putative synapomorphy of these two species is the markedly elongated and slender male cercus (being distinctly shorter and basally more dilated in all other species of Myodris, including P. (M.) piricercus and P. (M.) kabuli L. Papp, 1988, see
Unknown but probably similar to that of P. (M.) annulata which is associated with sap runs on wounded trees, particularly oaks and elms (most often in their crowns) having larvae developing in fermenting tree sap (cf.
Hitherto only known from southern Switzerland. However, it can be presupposed that P. (M.) haennii will also be found elsewhere in Europe, particularly in more southern areas simply because it has not been formerly distinguished from P. (M.) annulata.
The specific name is dedicated to the eminent Swiss dipterist and our friend Jean-Paul Haenni.
Epandrium (Figs
Male S6 and structures of genitalia of European Periscelis (Myodris) species. 23–26. P. (M.) haennii sp. nov., paratype: 23. S6; 24. Cercus laterally; 25. Surstylus laterally; 26. Postgonite laterally; 27–30. P. (M.) annulata (Fallén), Slovakia: 27. S6; 28. Cercus laterally; 29. Surstylus laterally; 30. Postgonite laterally; 31–34. P. (M.) piricercus Carles-Tolrá & Verdugo Páez, Switzerland: 31. S6; 32. Cercus laterally; 33. Surstylus laterally; 34. Postgonite laterally. Scales: 0.05 mm (24, 28, 32); 0.1 mm (23, 25–27, 29–31, 33, 34).
1 | Pregenital sternum sparsely setose (Fig. |
P. (M.) piricercus Carles-Tolrá & Verdugo Páez, 2009 |
– | Pregenital sternum more densely setose (Figs |
2 |
2 | Cercus longer (longer than anal opening of epandrium, cf. Figs |
P. (M.) haennii sp. nov. |
– | Cercus shorter (shorter than anal opening of epandrium, cf. Figs |
P. (M.) annulata (Fallén, 1813) |
Periscelis (Myodris) haennii sp. nov. is a further cryptic species of Periscelididae in Europe. Similarly as Periscelis (M.) piricercus (cf. Carles-Tolrá & Verdugo Páez, 2009) and P. (P.) fugax (cf.
The discovery of this new species highlights how natural environments in Switzerland can offer new discoveries and how important it is that basic biodiversity studies are funded. Other dipteran species, belonging to small families of Acalyptratae or to nematoceran families, probably remain to be discovered, but at present the main limiting factors are the lack of expert taxonomists and the material possibility of carrying out field studies involving different methodologies over relatively long periods of time.
We are much obliged to the late László Papp (1946–2021) (Budapest, Hungary) who studied some material of Periscelis (M.) haennii sp.n. in 2018, kindly confirmed it is a new species and initiated preparation of this study but could not participate in it due to his illness. Nikola Burdíková and Jan Ševčík from the Ostrava University (Czech Republic) are thanked for the molecular barcoding of adults of Periscelis species and for calculation of their COI genetic distances and P. J. Chandler (Melksham, England, U.K.) for thorough revision of the manuscript. Our deepest thanks go to Michele Abderhalden, unfortunately no longer with us, for developing this research together and spending some unforgettable moments in the field. We would also like to thank the many interns who helped us sort through the large amount of material collected and finally Filippo Rampazzi, director of MCSN, for initiating and coordinating this extensive data collection campaign. The research of JR was supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic by institutional financing of long term conceptual development of the research institution (the Silesian Museum, MK000100595).