Apocephalus riccardae, Brown, Brian V., 2014

Brown, Brian V., 2014, Revision of the Apocephalus analis group of ant-decapitating flies (Diptera: Phoridae), Zootaxa 3857 (4), pp. 551-570 : 566-567

Apocephalus riccardae new species

( Figs. 39 )

Diagnosis. This species can be recognized by the two rows of ventral setae on the posterior margin of segment 6 with an extremely prominent median gap.

Description. Body length 1.5 mm. Frons 0.48 head width. Flagellomere 1 rounded oval, light brown. Pleuron light brown. Costa 0.53 wing length. Halter light brown. Abdominal tergites light brown, normal sized. Tergite 6 light brown, about as broad as tergite 5, entire, apical margin slightly concave, with one thick posterolateral setae and scattered thin setae. Venter of abdomen whitish yellow, venter of segments 3–5 each with long setae, venter of intersegment 6–7 membranous, setae absent. Venter of segment 6 lacking sclerite, with posterior row of long setae and more anterior row of shorter setae; dorsolaterally with two long setae. Oviscape rounded, anterior process short, broadly rounded, with large lateral seta. Dorsum of oviscape with scattered dorsolateral setulae on apical one-quarter. Apex broadly rounded, strongly downturned, with few small apical setae. Ventral setae of oviscape absent. Intersegment 7–8 without sclerotization. Anterior arms of stylet anteriorly parallel, well separated, stylet downturned at midlength.

Distribution. Southwestern Ecuador.

Derivation of specific epithet. Named for Brazilian dipterist Paula Riccardi.

Holotype. ♀, ECUADOR: Zamora Chinchipe: Rio Bombuscaro, 4.12°S, 78.98°W, 1100m, 26.vi–4.vii.1996, P.Hibbs, Malaise trap (LACM) [LACM ENT 061844].

Figures

FIGURES 35 – 42. Female abdomens. 35, 37. Dorsal. 36, 38 – 41. Ventral. 42. Left lateral.