Chonocephalus dominicanus Borgmeier, 1967

Disney, R. H. L., 2005, Revision of Afrotropical Chonocephalus Wandolleck (Diptera: Phoridae), Journal of Natural History 39 (5), pp. 393-430 : 409-419

Chonocephalus dominicanus Borgmeier, 1967

( Figures 28–33 )

Chonocephalus dominicanus Borgmeier 1967, p 206 .

Chonocephalus punctifascia auctt. nec Borgmeier 1935, p 257.

Chonocephalus wirthorum Disney 1980, p 363 . Disney 2002, p 18.

This is a Neotropical species that has evidently been transported across the world by man.

Material

Two females, Seychelles, Silhouette Island, 1500 ft, August 1908, H. Scott (Collin Collection, No. 103 (part)), ( CUMZ —8-121); 18 males, one female, Silhouette Island, Jardin Marron, 2000–2001, J. Gerlach ( CUMZ —8-130–133); four males, Grande Barbe, Acrostichum L. ( Adiantaceae ) marsh, 3–18 June 2001, J. Gerlach ( CUMZ —8-136, 145); two males, Mahe´, Casse Dent, 2 August 2002, J. Gerlach ( CUMZ 8-144 ) ; one male, Frégate Island , 1 October 2002 ( CUMZ —8-143). Also recorded from the Neotropical Region .

Natural history

This species has been reared from the rotting spadices of Carludovica palmata (Cyclanthacaeae) and Heliconia mariae (Heliconiaceae) ( Disney 1980); it has also been reared from bread fruit ( Artocarpus altilis , Moraceae ) ( Disney 1994).

Chonocephalus fletcheri Schmitz, 1912

( Figures 34–37 )

Chonocephalus fletcheri Schmitz 1912, p 728 (female only).

Chonocephalus laetus Borgmeier 1963, p 251 (male and female). Disney 2002, p 20.

This is another tramp species whose original distribution is unknown.

Material

One male, Oman, Ruwi Waltayeh , 31 March to 2 April 1988, M. D. Gallagher ( NMW) (5-145) . Thirteen males, Yemen, Al Kadan, Malaise trap, light trap, 7 February to 31 March 1998, October to November 2001, April 2002, A. van Harten, T. Abdul-Haq (3396, 6319, 6723, 6476) ( CUMZ —2-168, 174, 32-73, 75); 19 males, Al Kowd , July to August 1999, February , May to July , October to December 2000, April to May 2001, A. van Harten, A. Awad, Al Haruri (3926, 4075, 4450, 4741, 4887, 4989, 5019, 5299, 5378, 6617) ( CUMZ —2-137, 32-14, 19, 20, 23, 24, 29, 31, 74); eight males, Lahj , September–December 2000, October–December 2001, March–May 2002, A. van Harten, A. Sallam (5079, 5094, 5239, 5278, 6271, 6807) ( CUMZ —2-154, 32-16, 17, 26, 79); 15 males, 12 km NW Manakhah, Malaise trap, 3 July to 2 August 2001, A. van Harten (5987) ( CUMZ 2-156 – 159 ); 27 males, one female, Al Lahima, Malaise traps, October to December 2000, January to July, September to December 2001, January to March 2002, A. van Harten, A. M. Hager (5402, 6168, 6230, 6315, 6591, 6602) ( CUMZ —2-170, 178, 184, 32-18, 76, 78); one male, Ar Rujum, Malaise trap, 9 April to 5 June 2001, A. van Harten (5870) ( CUMZ —2-180); one male, 16 females, Khamis Bani Sa’d, leaf litter in banana plantation, 23 June and 3 August 1999, A. van Harten (3710, 3802) ( CUMZ —32-28, 33); one male, Ta’izz, light trap, September 2000, A. van Harten, Al Yarimi (5172) ( CUMZ —32-25); one male, Zabid, light trap, October 2001, A. van Harten, Al Futayni (6561) ( CUMZ —32-75). Also recorded from the Nearctic, Neotropical and Oriental Regions .

Natural history

A series at turmeric ( Curcuma longa , Zingiberaceae ) infested with larval Dichocrocis punctiferalis (Guenée) ( Lepidoptera , Pyralidae ) were possibly attracted to diseased or moribund caterpillars. Likewise a series reared from a cocoon mass of Apanteles flavipes (Cameron) (Braconidae) were probably feeding on moribund pupae. Some females caught on edible paddy straw mushrooms Volvariella (Plutaceae) were probably ovipositing on over-ripe sporophores ( Disney 1994). Borgmeier (1963) reported this species reared from an Easter Lily bulla and from the diseased hearts of Cocos nucifera . A series from Canada was reared from a rotting bulb ( Disney 2002).

Chonocephalus heymonsi Stobbe, 1913

( Figures 39–45 )

Chonocephalus heymonsi Stobbe 1913, p 131 (female only).

Chonocephalus similis Collin 1912, p 105 , part (one female only) nec Brues 1905. Misidentification. Disney 2003, p 23.

Chonocephalus jamaicensis Brues 1915, p 102 . Disney 1981, p 207.

Chonocephalus punctifascia Borgmeier 1935, p 257 (both sexes). Prado 1976, p 587. Chonocephalus vadoni Paulian 1958, p 11 . Prado 1976, p 587.

Chonocephalus brisbanensis Beyer 1960, p 85 . Disney 2002, p 23.

Chonocephalus digitalis Borgmeier 1967, p 207 (part). Misidentifications. Disney 2003, p 23.

This tramp species has been carried around the world by man. It has accordingly been repeatedly misidentified. It has been recorded from every biogeographical region, but is seemingly most abundant in Africa south of the Sahara. For example, it is known to be common in Kenya ( Disney and Darlington 1998) and abundant in Nigeria (see below). It is clearly the dominant species in mainland Africa. Through the agency of man it is now reported throughout the warmer parts of the world and in glasshouses in temperate regions ( Disney 1983, 2002).

Material

Eight males, five females, Cape Verde Islands, Santiago Island , São Jorge dos Orgaos, August 1988, suction trap, A. van Harten ( CUMZ —22-4–5). One male, Congo (Zaire), Scierie, near Kindu, November 1974, S. L. Sutton ( CUMZ —2-1). Three males, one female, Kenya, Nairobi, National Museum garden, by nest of termites, water traps, November 1994, January 1995, J. Darlington ( CUMZ —23-112, 113, 118). Type series of C. vadoni , Madagascar, Maroantsetra , Ambohitsitondroina, J. Vadon (lost). Three females, Nigeria, Samaru , on rotting Termitomyces on termite mound, 28 July 1979, J. C. Deeming ( CUMZ —5-55); two males, two females on slides and dozens of both in alcohol, Ibadan , IITA, secondary forest, pitfall traps, 10–17 April 1981, A. Russel-Smith ( CUMZ —20-83). One female, Seychelles, Mahe´ , 1908–1909 (Collin—120, misidentified as C. similis ) ( UMO —8-140); 18 males, Mahe´ , Le Cap , pan traps, April 1991, M. Martin ( DEBU —8-139); one male, Cousin Island , 4.20 ° S, 55.35 ° E, water trap in Achyranthes aspersa (Compositae) near coconuts, March to April 1978, H. Watkins ( CUMZ —4-73); one male, North Island , marsh edge, swept, 30 July 2000, J. Gerlach ( CUMZ —8-100); one male, Silhouette Island , Grande Barbe , mangoves, 19–25 May 2001, J. Gerlach ( CUMZ — 8-135); four males, one female, Acrostichum L. ( Adiantaceae ) marsh, 3–10 June 2001, J. Gerlach ( CUMZ —8-136). Thirty-six males, one female, Yemen, Ta’izz, light traps, January to February , April to May 1998, January , July to September , November to December 1999, January 2000, September 2001, A. van Harten, A. Awad, Al Yarimi (2918, 2985, 3129, 3552, 3979, 4077, 4078, 4153, 4334, 4365, 6447) ( CUMZ —2-139– 141, 166, 32-30, 32, 35, 40, 41, 77). Seven males, Zambia, Lusaka, Malaise trap, November to December 1979, January 1980, R. A. Beaver ( CUMZ —6-27–28). One male, Zimbabwe, Harare, 17 ° 159S, 31 ° 029E, water trap on compost heap, September 1991, M. Cumming ( CUMZ —22-47); one male, 24 October 1991, on rotting peach ( CUMZ — 22-50). This species has been recorded from every biogeographical region .

Natural history

The larvae and puparium are described by Borgmeier (1935). A female caught on the edible paddy straw mushroom Volvariella (Plutaceae) was probably ovipositing on an overripe sporophore, as was the case with the females recorded on rotting Termitomyces (Amanitaceae) on a termite mound. It has also been reared from bread fruit ( Artocarpus altilis (Z.) Frost, Moraceae ) ( Disney 1994).

Figures

Figures 28, 29. Chonocephalus dominicanus male, details of hypopygium from below. (28) Right gonopod. (29) Left side of hypopygium and epandrial processes of right side. Scale bar: 0.1 mm.

Figures 30, 31. Chonocephalus dominicanus male, hypopygium. (30) Left face. (31) Right face tilted a little dorsally. Scale bar: 0.1 mm.

Figures 32, 33. Chonocephalus dominicanus female. (32) Whole fly from above. (33) Sternite 8, furca and spermatheca. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Figures 34–36. Chonocephalus fletcheri male, hypopygium from below. (34) Left side of epandrium and bridge. (35) Right side of epandrium. (36) Hypandrium, with gonopods. Scale bar: 0.1 mm.

Figure 37. Chonocephalus fletcheri female, details of abdomen with tergite 8 to left and sternite 8, furca and spermatheca to right. Scale bar: 0.1 mm.

Figures 38, 39. Chonocephalus females, hairing and microtrichia of abdominal tergites. (38) C. depressus. (39) C. heymonsi.

Figure 40. Chonocephalus heymonsi male, right wing. Scale bar: 0.1 mm.

Figures 41, 42. Chonocephalus heymonsi male, hypopygium. (41) From below. (42) Left face. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Figures 43–45. Chonocephalus heymonsi female. (43) Whole fly from above. (44) Tergite 8. (45) Sternite 8, furca and spermatheca. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.