Lonchaea bispicata
With bare eyes, a single row of anterior genal setulae, partly pale tarsomeres, a single
seta on the proepimeron and dark fringed calypteres, this species belongs within the Lonchaea mallochi group
of the European Lonchaea. This group has numerous species which can only be identified with certainty
by examination of the male genitalia. The highly distinctive phallus of this species serves to differentiate it
easily from others within the group.
Male. Head: Eyes bare. Frons matt black with light brown dusting, frontal setulae 0.3 x length
of orbital seta, interfrontal setulae equally long, crossing on midline. Orbital plate dulled by micro sculpture,
bare apart from the orbital seta. Lunule matt black, bearing setulae. Face and parafacials black with a light
grey dusting. Anterior genal setulae forming a single row of 4–5 along mouth margin, none of these particularly
long or strong. Antennae entirely black, 1st flagellomere twice as long as it is deep, reaching down over
mouth margin, arista black and bare. Thorax: disc glittering black, covered with rather sparse, long
setulae which are approximately 0.5 x the length of the orbital seta. One stigmatical seta and one on
proepimeron. Anepisternum with a vertical row of four setae posteriorly and four anteriorly. Katepisternum
with one strong dorsal seta, no setulae posterior to this seta, approximately eight setulae on anterior
part of the sclerite. Scutellum; disc glittering black, some setulae
missing in the type specimen but scutellar margin apparently without setulae apart from two between the
apical setae. Legs: Femora and tibiae black, basitarsi yellow, other tarsal segments gradually darkening apically.
Wing: Calypters greyish with a dense black fringe. Wings clear with yellowish veins. All wing veins bare,
pterostigmal section not extended. Wing length = 3.5 mm. Terminalia (Figs 1–3): Epandrium in lateral view
rectangular, slightly wider than high, bearing a row of strong setae on ventral and posterior margins, a few
situated near the posterio-ventral corner. Cerci relatively large and rectangular, slightly more than half height of epandrium, not heavily chitinised, bearing setulae along the posterior and ventral margins, very short setulae present across most of surface. Ventral margin of surstyli projecting slightly beyond shell of epandrium, margin scalloped, bearing setulae, extending significantly as a pointed posterio-ventral process which is almost half the height of the cerci. Phallus U-shaped in lateral view, a strong central process flanked by two shorter lateral processes, central process denticulate apically, when seen in ventral view strongly flared at apex, lateral processes also denticulate along much of their length, narrowing slightly towards the apex.