Ueng 2013 Two Ochthera From Taiwan

Redescription of two species of the genus Ochthera Latreille
1802 (Diptera: Ephydridae) from Taiwan

Author(s): Yih-Tsong Ueng
Source: Pan-Pacific Entomologist, 89(1):37-42. 2013.
Published By: Pacific Coast Entomological Society
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3956/2012-05.1
URL: http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.3956/2012-05.1
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THE PAN-PACIFIC ENTOMOLOGIST
89(1):37–42, (2013)
Redescription of two species of the genus Ochthera Latreille 1802

(Diptera: Ephydridae) from Taiwan
YIH-TSONG UENG
Department of Environmental Engineering, Kun-Shan University,
710 Tainan, Taiwan
e-mail: ytueng@mail.ksu.edu.tw
Abstract. Using recently collected material from Taiwanese localities where Sauter collected in
the early 20th century, the present study redescribes 2 species and renames ‘‘O. sauteri’’ of
Zhang and Yang (2006) as Ochthera mudigerensis (Zhang & Yang 2006).
Key Words. Ephydridae, Ochthera circularis, O. sauteri, O. mudigerensis, Taiwan.
INTRODUCTION
Ochthera Latreille 1802 is one of the most distinctive genera of shore flies (Ephydridae).
Species reported from Taiwan (Formosa) include O. circularis Cresson 1926, O. pilimana
Becker 1903 (5 O. canescens Cresson 1931) and O. sauteri Cresson 1932 (Cresson 1926,
1931, 1932). Studies have reported other species of Ochthera (O. japonica Clausen 1977, O.
macrothrix Clausen 1977, O. mantis De Geer 1782, O. guangdongensis Zhang & Yong
2006 and O. hainanensis Zhang & Yong 2006) from neighboring countries: Japan, China
and Korea (Miyagi 1966, 1977; Clausen 1977; Zhang & Yang 2006; Sang & Yong 2009).
Ochthera circularis and O. sauteri are similar but can be distinguished by morphological
characters of males, i.e., Cresson described the male of O. circularis as having three long
setae in a circular indentation at the apex of the fore basitarsomere; whereas males of O.
sauteri have the same number of longitudinal setulae but these converge and twist together
at their tips, and there is an elliptical indentation at the base of the tooth on the posterior
side (Figs. 1–3) (Cresson 1926, 1932).
Zhang & Yang (2006) reported O. circularis from China and O. sauteri from India.
Based on recent collections (November 2001–June 2008) from Taiwanese localities where
Sauter collected in the early 20th century, the present study reports significant differences
between the fore basitarsomere and male genitalia of O. circularis and O. sauteri. Zhang &
Yang (2006), however, described ‘‘O. sauteri’’ from three specimens collected in India. In
addition, they distinguished between O. circularis and O. sauteri from Taiwan using
characters of the fore basitarsomeres. Herein, O. circularis and O. sauteri from Taiwan are
redescribed; a third species, O. pilimana, was not collected. Specimens are preserved in
75% ethanol and are deposited at the National Museum of Natural Science (NMNS),
Taichung, Taiwan. Images of specimens were captured using a stereo zoom microscope
(Eclipse 50i, Nikon). A scanning electron microscope (JEOL JEM 1200-EX TEM) was
used to identify species’ characters in April 2008.
TAXONOMY
Ochthera circularis Cresson 1926 (Figs. 1, 4–8)

Ochthera circularis Cresson 1926: 254–255. Type locality: Taiwan (Takao,
Kaohsiung). Cresson 1932: 32; Miyagi 1966: 126, 1977: 62–64; Zhang & Yang
2006: 2–5; Suh & Kwon 2009: 461–462.
38 THE PAN-PACIFIC ENTOMOLOGIST Vol. 89(1)
Figures 1–2. Fore basitarsomere of a male fly, posterior view. Figure 1. Ochthera circularis, Q
showed a circle pit at apex; Figure 2. O. sauteri, a elliptical pit at apex.
Diagnosis. Black; head subshiny; palpi, rostrum, and fore tibiae brown; fore and
middle basitarsus light brown; halteres light yellow; the hind metatarsus slightly
dilated and black. The scutellum is broader and the clypeus is higher than wide and
acutely pointed at apex. Face and gena broad as length of third antennal segment.
Face with 2 medial facial tubercules, rounded at apex. Male fore tibia (0.6 mm)
slightly longer than fore tibial spur (0.5 mm), latter equal in length to basitarsus.
Figure 3. Ochthera sauteri Cresson, male.

2013 UENG: REDESCRIBED OCHTHERA FROM TAIWAN 39
Figures 4–8. Ochthera circularis Cresson, male. Figure 4. head, anterior view; Figure 5. foreleg;
6-8. genitalia; Figure 6. posterior view; Figure 7. lateral view; Figure 8. posterior view (SEM).
Basitarsus highly dilated, with 3 black setae, base is flat and blade-like, and a few
longer and curved hair-like setae. There is a circular indentation at the base of the
tooth on the posterior side. Male gonites are distinctly tapered toward the apex.
Description. Male body length 4.0–4.6 mm, wing length 3.1–3.6 mm (n 5 13);
female body length 4.3–5.2 mm, wing length 3.5–4.0 mm (n 5 13).
Specimens Examined. 4--, Tainan: Dongshan, 27. X. 2007; 2--, Kaohsung: Banping
Lake, 10. X. 2007; 1--, Taitung: Luanshan Lake, 1. VI. 2008; 2--, Tainan: Shanhua, 16.
X. 2007; 4UU, Tainan: Shanhua, 16. X. 2007; 4UU, Tainan: Dongshan, 27. X. 2007; 1UU,
Taitung: Luanshan Lake, 1. VI. 2008; Yih-Tsong Ueng.
Distribution. Taiwan (Taitung, Kaohsung, Tainan, Yunlin).
Figures 9–13. Ochthera sauteri Cresson, male. Figure 9. head, anterior view; Figure 10. foreleg;
11–13. genitalia; Figure 11. posterior view; Figure 12. lateral view; Figure 13. posterior view (SEM).
Remarks. This species occurs inland in freshwater wetlands.

Ochthera sauteri Cresson 1932 (Figs. 2, 3, 9–13)
Ochthera sauteri Cresson 1932: 32. Type locality: Taiwan (Pilam, Taitung).
Diagnosis. Black; head subshiny; palpi, rostrum, fore tibiae black, fore basitarsus
brown; middle basitarsus and tarsi yellow; halteres light yellow; hind metatarsus slightly
dilated and black. Clypeus as high as wide. Face and gena broader than length of third
antennal segment (3 : 2). In males, fore tibia (0.7 mm) longer than tibial spur (0.4 mm),
latter equal in length to basitarsus. Fore tibiae depressed and elliptical. Basitarsus greatly
dilated, with 3 black longer setae, base is flat and blade-like, and a series of thick
2013 UENG: REDESCRIBED OCHTHERA FROM TAIWAN 41
Table 1. A comparison of structural characteristics of three Ochthera species.

# *
O. circularis O. sauteri O. mudigerensis
Male body length (mm) 4.0–4.6 4.5–5.0 3.5

Female body length (mm) 4.3–5.2 4.5–6.0 —
Third antennal segment broader twice broad narrow
Depressed shining area of scarcely circle elliptical —
1st tarsomere of foreleg
Fore tibia : tibial spur 0.6 : 0.5 0.7 : 0.4 scarcely equal in length
Palpi darker brown brown —
Shape of basitarsal apex a circle pit an elliptical pit only concave, without pit
Apical setae of basitarsus 3, short and separated 3, long and twist 4, short
Habitats freshwater wetlands semi-brackish water inland (Kar. St.
wetlands Mudigere, India)
#: the specimens were collected from Taiwanese localities from which Sauter collected; *: the
specimens were described by Zhang and Yang (2006) with 3 specimens from India.
longitudinal curved bristle-like setulae that converge and twist together at their tips. An
elliptical indentation at base of tooth on posterior side.
Description. Male body length 4.5–5.0 mm, wing length 3.0–3.8 mm (n 5 10);
female body length 4.5–6.0 mm, wing length 4.0–4.2 mm (n 5 12).
Specimens Examined. 1--, Tainan: Sihcao, 24. III. 2003; 1--, Tainan: Sihcao, 20.X.2007; 1-,
Changhu: Fangyuan, 6.VIII.2006; 2-, Pingtung: Checheng, 3.VIII.2007; 1--, Kaohsiung:
Banping Lake, 10.X.2007; 2--, Taitung: Jinlong Lake, 1.VI.2008; 2UU, Tainan: Sihcao,
2.XI.2001; 1UU, Tainan: Sihcao, 24.III.2003; 1UU, Tainan: Sihcao, 20.X.2007; 1UU, Yunlin:
Kouhu, 27.V.2006; 3UU, Changhu: Fangyuan, 6.VIII.2006; 2UU Taitung: Jinlong Lake, 1.VI.2008;
Yih-Tsong Ueng.
Distribution. Taiwan (Taitung, Pingtung, Tainan, Yunlin, Changhu).
Remarks. This species is found in coastal wetlands with semi-brackish water.
DISCUSSION
Ochthera sauteri can be differentiated from O. circularis and O. pilimana by several
characters of males, such as the broader face; fore tarsi with a depressed shiny area that is
more elliptical, not circular; setulae of the fore basitarsomeres are longer and twist (Figs. 1,
2, 5, 10; Clausen 1977: Figs. 31, 82, 98; Zhang & Yang 2006). In O. circularis, the fore tibiae
are slightly longer than the fore basitarsus; in O. sauteri, the fore tibiae are significantly
longer than the fore basitarsus (Figs. 5, 10, Table 1). In O. sauteri the hind metatarsus is
less dilated and the second segment is comparatively longer than that in O. circularis.
The specimens of ‘‘O. sauteri’’ described in Zhang & Yang (2006) were collected in
India. The tip of fore basitarsus is concave and without an elliptical pit; and the four setae
of the fore basitarsomeres are relatively short (Zhang & Yang 2006:Fig. 54). In addition,
the head and genitalia are different from Taiwanese specimens (Zhang & Yang 2006:Figs.
53, 55–56). Therefore, I recognize these specimens as either O. mudigerensis (Zhang &
Yang 2006) or as an unknown species of genus Ochthera from Kar. St. Mudigere (India)
that is distinct from O. sauteri from Taiwan (Cresson 1932).
LITERATURE CITED
Clausen, P. J. 1977. A revision of the Nearctic, Neotropical, and Palearctic species of the genus
Ochthera, including one Ethiopian species, and one new species from India. Transactions of
the American Entomological Society 103(3):451–530.
Cresson, E. T. Jr. 1926. Descriptions of new genera and species of Diptera (Ephydridae, and
Micropezidae). Transactions of the American Entomological Society 52(3):249–274.
Cresson, E. T. Jr. 1931. Descriptions of new genera and species of dipterous family Ephydridae.
Paper X. Entomological News 42(6):168–170.
Cresson, E. T. Jr. 1932. Studies in the dipterous family Ephydridae. Paper IV. Transactions of the
American Entomological Society 58(1):1–34.
Miyagi, I. 1966. Three species of the genus Ochthera Latreille of Japan (Diptera: Ephydridae).
Insecta Matsumurana 28(2):126.
Miyagi, I. 1977. Ephydridae (Insecta: Diperta). Fauna Japonica. Keigaku Publishing Company,
Tokyo, 113 pp.
Suh, S.-J. & Y.-J. Kwon. 2009. First record of the genus Ochthera Latreille (Diptera: Ephydridae) in
Korea. Animal Cells and Systems 13(4):461–464.
Zhang, J. & D. Yang. 2006. Review of the species of the genus Ochthera from China (Diptera:
Ephydridae). Zootaxa 1206:1–22.
Received 30 Jan 2012; Accepted 15 Dec 2012 by M. Hauser; Publication date 28 Mar
2013.

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Redescription of two species of the genus Ochthera Latreille

1802 (Diptera: Ephydridae) from Taiwan

BioOne (www.bioone.org) is a nonprofit, online aggregation of core research in the

Redescription of two species of the genus Ochthera Latreille 1802

Ochthera circularis Cresson 1926 (Figs. 1, 4–8)

Figure 3. Ochthera sauteri Cresson, male.

Remarks. This species occurs inland in freshwater wetlands.

Table 1. A comparison of structural characteristics of three Ochthera species.

Male body length (mm) 4.0–4.6 4.5–5.0 3.5

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