Bezzia (Homobezzia) breidenbaughi, Huerta & Spinelli & Grogan Jr, 2023

Huerta, Herón, Spinelli, Gustavo R. & Grogan Jr, William L., 2023, New records of predaceous midges in Bezzia Kieffer and Phaenobezzia Haeselbarth from Mexico with description of two new species of Bezzia (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), Zootaxa 5323 (4), pp. 535-552 : 543-544

Bezzia (Homobezzia) breidenbaughi sp. nov.

( Figs. 3A–E )

Diagnosis. Female. The only species in the glabra group with the following combination of characters: wing with two distinctive small dark brown spots on r-m cross-vein and apex of radial cell ( Fig. 3C ); 4 large stout prealar setae; fore and mid femora yellowish with dark apical bands (bands narrowest on fore leg), hind femur black; tibiae yellowish with basal, mid and distal blackish bands. Male unknown.

Head ( Fig. 3A ). Dark brown, wider than long. Eyes widely separated by diameter of 6−7 ommatidia. Antennal flagellum with proximal 1/3 of flagellomeres 2–13 pale yellow, distal 2/3 darker brown; flagellomeres 2–8 short, vasiform, flagellomeres 9–13 elongate, subequal-size; 9 slightly longer than 10; antennal ratio (AR) 1.02–1.04 (1.03, n=2); total length 1.04 mm. Palpus brown; segment 3 slender, elongate with 4–5 capitate sensilla; 5th palpal segment, in this new species, segment 5 is long than segment 4; palpal ratio (PR) 1.7–1.8 (1.75, n=2). Mandible with 11–12 teeth.

Thorax. ( Fig. 3B ) Blackish. Scutum densely covered with short setae, with small anterior tubercle and, 4 large stout prealar setae; scutellum slightly pale bearing 6 setae. Anepisternum setose. Legs ( Fig. 3B ) yellow with broad blackish bands; coxae black; fore and middle femora with distal blackish bands (narrowest on fore leg), hind femur completely blackish; femoral ventral spines absent; femorotibial joints darkish; tibiae yellowish with basal, mid and distal blackish bands; tarsomeres 1–3 of all legs with distal dark brown bands, 4–5 entirely dark brown; tarsomeres 1–2 of all legs with row of ventral palisade setae; tarsomere 5 of all legs with 4–5 pairs of ventrolateral setae with pointed tips; claws curved, subequal-sized on all legs, with basal inner teeth. Wing ( Fig. 3C ) length 2.85–2.90 mm (2.88 mm; n=2), width 1.02–1.04 mm (1.03 mm; n=2); costal ratio (CR) 0.79–0.80 (0.795; n=2); membrane pale with distinctive small dark brown spots on r-m crossvein and apex of radial cell; vein M barely sessile. Halter pale brown.

Abdomen. ( Fig. 3D–E ). Sternites pale brown, slightly sclerotized; tergites rectangular, dark brown, anterior margin of tergites 3–6 slightly concave at midportion; two pairs of gland rods arising from anterior portion of tergites 6 and 7 extending through fourth segment, anterior one very slender. Sternite 8 with a pair of lateral glabrous lobes; posterior margin emarginated; sternite 9 slightly sclerotized with a pair of slender anteriorly directed arms. Sternite 10 V-shaped with two pairs of large setae. Two ovoid heavily sclerotized, subequal spermathecae with longer necks, measuring 0.07 by 0.04 mm, and 0.06 by 0.04 mm; plus a rudimentary 3 rd spermatheca.

Male. Unknown.

HOLOTYPE. Female. MEXICO, Estado de Mexico, Parque Nacional Lagunas de Zempoala , 30-jul-2005, Malaise trap, GPS [19° 03′ 21.13″ N, 99° 19′ 12.36″ W], altitude 2841 m.a.s.l., Breidenbaugh, M. & Huerta, H., CAIM . Paratype female, same data.

Distribution. Nearctic. Mexico, Estado de Mexico (Parque Nacional Lagunas de Zempoala) ( Fig. 6 ).

Etymology. We are pleased to name this new species after our friend and colleague, Mark S. Breidenbaugh, of former US Air Force Aerial Spray Unit, Air Reserve Station, Youngstown Ohio, for his valuable contributions to the study of Ceratopogonidae , including fieldwork during his 2005 visit to Parque Nacional Lagunas de Zempoala.

Discussion. Females of this new species are easily distinguished from other members of the glabra group by their wing with two distinctive small dark spots on r-m crossvein and apex of the second radial cell, both of which are not present in other species in this group. The pattern of tibial bands on this new species is very similar to those of Bezzia pulchripes Kieffer and B. blantoni Spinelli & Wirth , which are widely distributed in the Neotropical region. However, B. pulchripes differs by its reduced very small 5th palpal segment, in new species 5th segment is longer than the 4th segment, and the hind femur of B. blantoni has a broad pale band on its midportion.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Bezzia (Homobezzia) breidenbaughi sp. nov. (female). A. Head, frontal view; B. Thorax and legs, lateral view; C. Wing, lateral view; D. Abdominal segments, ventral view. E. Last abdominal segments, ventral view. Scale bars: A, E = 0.1 mm, B, C, D = 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 6. Distribution of Bezzia (Bezzia) trujilloi sp. nov. (red triangle) and Bezzia (Homobezzia) breidenbaughi sp. nov. (black square).