Australopericoma paraibana Cordeiro and Bravo sp. nov. (Figures 1A – G, 2A, B)

Type material

Brazil, Paraíba, Santa Teresinha, Fazenda dos Franceses, 7.0159°S, 37.4083°W, 258 m asl, 6 May 2011, holotype male, Lima & Brito leg . [malaise trap]; 11 paratype males same data [malaise trap]; 1 paratype male same data except 25 – 29 September 2011 [malaise trap]; 2 paratype males same data except 7.0255°S, 37.4113°W, 269 m asl, 27 July 2011 [malaise trap]; 1 paratype male Bahia, Serrinha, Fazenda Pinheiro, 21 April 2005, Vieira & Chagas leg . [light trap] .

Comparative material

Holotype and paratypes of Australopericoma dissimilis Bravo, 2007; paratypes of Pericoma caudata Quate, 1955 (as specified below, in the material examined of A. caudata).

Etymology

The name refers to the state of the type locality.

Diagnosis

This species is mainly characterized by its male terminalia: hypandrium of uniform width throughout its length, with a series of 9 – 16 sparsely distributed short and strong setae on the ventral surface; gonocoxites with stout spine on inner margin; gonostylus with three bristles as long as its length, two of them inserted apically and one basally; lateral margins of aedeagal apodeme slightly divergent.

Description

Adult male. Eye bridge with 3 facet rows, separated by almost 1 facet diameter (Figure 1A). Interocular suture present, without spur (Figure 1A). Frontal scar patch with lower margin bilobed, without median dorsal projection. 5 – 6 larger alveoli (base of postocular bristles) on lateroposterior margin of eye (Figure 1B). Antenna shorter than wing; scape cylindrical, 1.4× length of pedicel; pedicel spherical; 14 flagellomeres present (Figure 1A, C); basal flagellomeres fusiform (Figure 1D); 13th flagellomere reduced, 14th with long apiculus (Figure 1C); 1st flagellomere without ascoids, 2nd to 9th with pair of C-shaped ascoids, shorter than the segment bearing them (Figure 1D). Mouthparts extending beyond basal palpomere, labellum with apicolateral bristles and three short internal spines. Palpus formula = 1:1.3:1.3:2.1, last palpomere striated (Figure 1A). Wing (Figure 1E) typical of the genus with short Sc; medial fork apical to radial fork, radial fork arising basal to apex of CuA 2; R 5 ending at wing tip. Male terminalia: epandrium pilose, rectangular, longer than wide, distal margin concave (Figure 1F); presence of two foramina near proximal margin. Cercus long, 1.1× length of epandrium, with 1 apical clavate tenaculum (Figure 1F); internal surface of cercus with 4 long bristles near base (Figure 1F) and ‘ papilla-like ’ area at base. Epiproct subtriangular microsetose at apex (Figure 1F). Hypandrium of uniform width throughout its length, with dorsal surface less sclerotized than ventral surface; ventral surface projects ventrally to articulate with parameres (Figures 1G, 2A). Dorsal surface microsetose on posterior margin and ventral surface, with a series of 9 – 16 sparsely distributed short and strong setae (Figure 2A); Gonocoxite pilose, approximately the same length as gonostyle, and with one stout spine on ventral surface (Figures 1G, 2A). Gonostylus pilose, with one long apical bristle, one long subapical bristle, and one long basal bristle (Figure 2B). Gonostylus with three small setae at base, close to articulation point. Gonocoxal apodeme triangular anteriorly and bilobed posteriorly, with truncate lobes (Figure 2B). Hypoproct with two sclerites, the basal one less sclerotized, Y-shaped, and with a pair of lateral sclerites; apical sclerite with triangular microsetose apex. Aedeagus asymmetric (Figures 1G, 2A). Aedeagal apodeme almost as long as aedeagus, with lateral margins slightly divergent (Figure 2A). Paramere pairs asymmetrical, one with 2 posterior-pointing arms and a semicircular basal portion articulating with aedeagus; the other long, with acute apex, and articulating basally with the lateroventral projection of the hypandrium.

Measurements (n = 5)

Head width 0.33 mm (0.32 – 0.34), head length 0.31 mm, wing length 1.31 mm (1.27 – 1.35), wing width 0.46 mm (0.43 – 0.49).

Distribution

This species is currently known only from Santa Terezinha – Paraíba State, and Serrinha – Bahia State, two localities in the semiarid region of north-eastern Brazil.