Chonocephalus mexicanus Silvestri

Disney, R. Henry L., 2002, Revisionary notes on Chonocephalus Wandolleck (Diptera: Phoridae) with keys to species of the Holarctic Region, Zootaxa 60, pp. 1-36 : 29

Chonocephalus mexicanus Silvestri

Chonocephalus mexicanus Silvestri, 1911: 172 .

Chonocephalus buccata Malloch, 1912: 510 . Borgmeier, 1963: 250. Chonocephalus buccatus Malloch. Emended Borgmeier, 1935: 257 . Chonocephalus buccalis Malloch. Emended Bohart, 1947: 411 .

I have remounted a cotype female of this species and designated it the LECTOTYPE in order to stablise its nomenclature. It is very badly bleached. However, a serious of critical measurements of it and of the holotype of C. buccata serve to support Borgmeier’s (1963) synonymy of C. buccata with this species. Previously he had altered the ending of Malloch’s name, to C. buccatus (despite this it was then altered to C. buccalis by Bohart).

Borgmeier (1935) correctly pointed out that Brues (1915a) had been incorrect to say that there are no frontal bristles above the antennal cavities. Malloch’s type series comprised five females. Borgmeier (1963) stated that he had one paratype in his collection, but subsequently lost it. Furthermore he retracted his previous (1935) statement that the hairs at the rear of the abdominal tergites arose from pale spots. However, I have remounted on slides the holotype in the USNM and a paratype in the MKB. This species has such pale spots, but they are sometimes only slightly paler than the rest of the tergite.

Material

Lectotype and a cotype female, Mexico, Cordoba, in nest of ant Brachymyrmex heeri Forel subspecies obscurior, 5­7 October 1908 (UNP). Holotype female of C. buccata , Guatemala, Cacao, Trece Aguas, Alta Vera Paz, 20 April 1906, Schwarz & Barber ( USNM ­ Type no. 14902 ­ 26­59); 1 paratype female, same data (MKB ­ 27­132).