Lonchaea baechlii
this species has two katepisternal setae but the surstylus
does not bear any prensisetae indicating that it is a true Lonchaea species and does
not belong to the genus Silba Macquart, 1851. it is unclear whether the two kat -
episternal setae in the holotype are a characteristic feature of this species. with bare
eyes, uniserial setulae on the anterior part of the genae, black tarsomeres, pale calypteres,
a single seta on the proepimeron and bare orbital plate this species lies near
species such as Lonchaea chorea (fabricus, 1781) in the european fauna. the antennal
flagellomere is however much shorter than in l. chorea in which the length to
depth ratio is on average 2.0–2.3 to 1 (1.7 to 1 in L. baechlii). the frons is wider in
L. chorea (fabricius,1781) with the frons width to eye width ratio ranging from 1
to 1.8–1 to 1.22 (1 to 2.8 in L. baechlii). this species is however easily differentiated
by examination of the male genitalia, in particular the characteristic two segmented
phallus. this shows some similarities to the phallus shape in Lonchaea
bukowskii czerny, 1934 and Lonchaea ragnari Hackman, 1956 but both of these
species have partly yellow tarsomeres and more than one seta on the proepimeron.
Description. Male. head: eyes bare. frons at narrowest point just above the lunule
rather narrow, ratio at this point to width of an eye 1:2.8, velvet black, frontal and
interfrontal setulae short and scattered, length no more than approximately 0.2x that of orbital seta, longer on anterior margin above lunule. orbital plate shining blueblack,
bare apart from orbital seta. lunule very dark brown, bearing setulae, face
sub-shining black. anterior genal setae the strongest setulae on the genae, forming
a single regularly spaced row of 5–6 along mouth edge. antennal flagellomere with
length to depth ratio 1.7:1, black apart from an obscure orange area at medial base,
arista black, microscopically pubescent.
thorax: Scutum shining blue-black, with a dense covering of black setulae
which are approximately 30 % length of orbital seta. anepisterum with 3 anterior
setae (perhaps a fourth weak one at the ventral end of the row) and four posterior,
other setulae on the sclerite long, almost the length of the anterior row of setae.
Proepisternum with 1 seta, this longer and stronger than the single seta on the pro -
epimeron. Katepisternum with two long setae on each side, anterior slightly
weaker than posterior, a few short setulae lying anterior to these, and on left side
with one small setula posterior to the seta. Scutellum pollinose on disc, on margin
with 3 setulae on each side between lateral setae, none between apical setae. calypteres
pale, fringe short and light gold in colour. wing clear slightly yellow tinged
anteriorly. wing length 3.6 mm. legs, including all tarsomeres, entirely black.
Male terminalia: in lateral view epandrium slightly square shape, as wide as
it is high, with a row of strong setae along posterior and ventral margins, surstylus
not protruding beyond shell of epandrium, cerci relatively small and rectangular
bearing only a few short setulae. inner surface of surstylus medially and ventrally
covered in fine setulae, antero-ventral corner with approximately 8 strong setae in
a loose double row, ventral margin of surstylus also bearing a marginal row of strong
setae. Phallus two segmented, in lateral view basiphallus a broad tube, distiphallus
as long and wide as basiphallus, forming a broad sinuous tube, apex with an outward
broad hook, base with a large rounded lobe.