Leptotarsus albistigma
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Tipulidae
Genus: Leptotarsus
Species:
L. albistigma
Binomial name
Leptotarsus albistigma
(Edwards, 1923)
Synonyms
  • Chlorotipula albistigma
  • Leptotarsus (Chlorotipula) albistigma
  • Macromastix albistigma Edwards, 1923

Leptotarsus albistigma is a species of crane fly native to New Zealand.[1] The species was first described as Macromastix albistigma by Frederick Wallace Edwards in 1923.

Description

Edwards described the species as follows:

Differs from M. viridis as follows: Middle praescutal stripe obsolete, lateral pair conspicuously darker. Abdomen duller, more ochreous, tip not darkened, with rather broad lateral bands of grey dusting on all tergites except first. Hypopygium smaller, the claspers with a slightly different structure. Legs lighter in colour. Wings distinctly brown-tinged, lower pre-arcular cell, costal and subcostal cells, base of cell R2 and veins dark brown; stigma conspicuously whitish-ochreous. Cell M1 sessile in some specimens; cell Ax broadest in the middle. Length of body, ♂ 16–17 mm., ♀ 17–20 mm.; wing, 18–23 mm.; halter, about 3 mm.; hind leg, ♀ 45–50 mm.[2]

Leptotarsus albistigma is pale green in colour.[3] The species' eggs are elliptical and 0.75mm in length. The larvae is between 16.5 mm and 20 mm in length, are moderately flattened and are a cinnamon-like light-brown colour.[4]

Taxonomy

In 1924, Charles Paul Alexander classified the species into a subgenus, Chlorotipula, which included exclusively species from New Zealand.[5] Since this time, the subgenus Chlorotipula has been recategorised and placed within the genus Leptotarsus.[6]

Distribution

The species is endemic to New Zealand.[1] It is commonly found in the South Island, on damp logs of exotic tree species,[7] including rotting Pinus radiata and willow trees.[8]

Behaviour

The larvae of Leptotarsus albistigma bores through wood that has been softened by fungi. Larvae of Austrolimnophila argus, another species of New Zealand crane-fly, have been found together with the larvae of this species.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 "Leptotarsus (Chlorotipula) albistigma (Edwards, 1923)". GBIF. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  2. ↑ Edwards, F. W. (1923). "A Preliminary Revision of the Crane-flies of New Zealand (Anisopodidae, Tanyderidae, Tipulidae)". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 54: 265–352. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q117349597.
  3. ↑ Powell, A. W. B. (1947), Native Animals of New Zealand, p. 50, OCLC 152666968, Wikidata Q115098468
  4. ↑ Rogers, J. Speed (1928). "Descriptions of the Immature Stages of some New Zealand Crane-flies: Part 1". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 58: 301–309. ISSN 1176-6158. Wikidata Q117349753.
  5. ↑ Alexander, Charles P (1924). "XXXIV.—New or little-known Tipulidæ (Diptera).—XXIV. Australasian species". Journal of Natural History. 14 (81): 289–306. doi:10.1080/00222932408633126. ISSN 0374-5481.
  6. ↑ Oosterbroek, Pjotr (1989). "Superfamily Tipuloidea, Family Tipulidae". Catalog of the Diptera of the Australasian and Oceanian Regions (86): 53–116.
  7. 1 2 "Chlorotipula albistigma". NZ Biodiversity. 16 November 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  8. ↑ Macfarlane, RP; Maddison, PA; Andrew, IG; Berry, JA; Johns, PM; Hoare, RJB; Larivière, MC; Greenslade, P; Henderson, RC; Smithers, CN (2010). "Phylum arthropoda subphylum hexapoda: Protura, springtails, diplura, and insects". New Zealand inventory of biodiversity. 2: 344.
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