Neoephydra araucaria, Mathis, Wayne N., 2008

Mathis, Wayne N., 2008, Two new neotropical genera of the shore-fly tribe Ephydrini Zetterstedt (Diptera: Ephydridae), Zootaxa 1874, pp. 1-15 : 10-14

Neoephydra araucaria , sp. nov.

( Figs. 11–16 )

Diagnosis. Specimens of N. araucaria are distinguished from similar congeners by the following characters: generally appearing moderately dark; face moderately setose; gena moderately short; and structures of male terminalia with distinctive conformation.

Description. Medium-sized to moderately large shore flies ( Fig. 11 ), body length 3.04–4.38 mm; generally dull, grayish with some subshiny areas dorsally.

Head ( Fig. 11 ): Head ratio 0.69–0.72; frontal ratio 0.54–0.55; mesofrons with dark, greenish blue to brassy luster, inconspicuously pilose; ocellar triangle differing little from mesofrons in color or vestiture; fronto-orbital setae 2. Antenna mostly concolorous, dark, blackish brown. Facial ratio 0.90–0.93; mostly densely setulose, particularly along oral margin and toward posteroventral portions of face; dorsum of interfoveal hump with subshiny area more or less concolorous with mesofrons, otherwise face densely microtomentose, grayish brown to golden brown, gradually paler ventrally. Eye ratio 1.07–1.10; gena-to-eye ratio 0.32–0.35; gena moderately short, coloration immediately below eye whitish gray, slightly more tannish posteriorly.

Thorax ( Fig. 11 ): Scutum thinly microtomentose, subshiny, mostly dark brown, darker and shinier posteriorly; anterior margin slightly more microtomentose, grayer, especially postpronotum and 2 partial, microtomentose stripes laterad of acrostichal track; lateral margins of scutum slightly more microtomentose, more grayish brown; scutellum concolorous with posterior portion of scutum; pleural areas paler, grayer ventrally; anepisternum with dorsal and posterior margins more brownish, otherwise mostly gray; anepimeron mostly concolorous with posterior margin of anepisternum; other pleural areas including coxae whitish gray, concolorous. Wing length averaging 3.55–3.80 mm; faintly infuscate; costal vein ratio 0.20–0.22; M vein ratio 0.69– 0.71. Legs generally dark; femora microtomentose, grayish blue to green, only slightly darker than ventral pleural areas; tibiae and tarsi orangish yellow, with blackish tinges apically.

Abdomen: Generally thinly microtomentose to microtomentose; tergites fasciate, anterior margin brownish to brassy, more thinly microtomentose, posterior margin grayish olivaceous green to gray, paler toward lateral margins, some specimens with faint bluish tinges of metallic luster; ventral surface of tergites frequently whitish gray. Fifth tergite of male triangular, nearly equilateral. Male terminalia ( Figs. 12–16 ): margins of epandrium in posterior view ( Fig. 12 ) parallel below cerci, rounded dorsally; surstyli in posterior view roughly forming isosceles triangle, apices of posterior processes forming ventral angle with narrow gap between; surstylus in lateral view ( Figs. 14–16 ) with posterior process wide on basal 2/3, thereafter tapered to anteriorly curved, rounded apex, anterior margin irregularly shaped, posterior margin more regular; lateral process short, bluntly rounded, with patch of long, medioapical setulae.

Type Material. The holotype male is labeled “ CHILE: Osorno Pr. Anticura (1 km. W) 430 m 1–3 Feb. 1978 W N Mathis/ɗ/ HOLOTYPE ɗ Neoephydra araucaria Mathis USNM [red].” The holotype is double mounted (minuten in a plastic elastomer block), is in excellent condition, and is deposited in the USNM. The allotype female and 123 paratypes (71ɗ, 52Ψ; USNM) bear the same locality label data as the holotype. Other paratypes are as follows (all in USNM): CHILE. Bio Bio: Santa Barbara (25 km E; 37°40'S, 72°01'W; 350 m), 24 Jan 1978, W. N. Mathis (21ɗ, 11Ψ; USNM). Curico: Estero Potrero Grande (3 km E Potrero Grande; 35°11'S, 71°07'W; 400 m), 8 Feb 1987, C. M. and O. S. Flint (5ɗ, 5Ψ; USNM). Malleco: Victoria (11 km N; 38°13'S, 72°20'W; 300 m), 25 Jan 1978, W. N. Mathis (15ɗ, 8Ψ; USNM). Maule: Constitución (35°20'S, 72°30'W), 16 Dec 1976, A. Gurney, Barria (1ɗ; USNM). Nuble: Río Perquilauquen, Parral (12 km S; 36°10'S, 71°50'W; 160 m), 24 Jan 1978, W. N. Mathis (5ɗ, 3Ψ; USNM). O'Higgins: Río Claro (5 km N Rengo; 34°24'S, 70°52'W; 300 m), 23 Jan 1978, W. N. Mathis (9ɗ; USNM). Osorno: Termas de Aguas Calientes (1 km SE; 40°41'S, 72°21'W; 530 m), 7–8 Feb 1978, W. N. Mathis (12ɗ, 3Ψ; USNM); Anticura (4 km W; 37°40'S, 72°01'W; 400 m), 3 Feb 1978, W. N. Mathis (2ɗ, 3Ψ; USNM); Anticura (1 km W; 40°39'S, 72°10'W; 430 m), 5–6, 11–12 Feb 1978, W. N. Mathis (6ɗ, 1Ψ; USNM); Lago Puyehue (SE shore; 40°45'S, 72°25.2'W), 6–10 Feb 1978, W. N. Mathis (23ɗ, 20Ψ; USNM); Lago Puyehue, Entre Lagos (40°45.2'S, 72°34.8'W), 14 Feb 1978, W. N. Mathis (40ɗ, 24Ψ; USNM); Lago Rupanco, El Encanto (40°49'S, 72°28'W), 6 Feb 1978, W. N. Mathis (2ɗ, 3Ψ; USNM); Laguna El Pato (41°10'S, 73°40'W; 1100 m), 13 Feb 1978, W. N. Mathis (5ɗ, 12Ψ; USNM); Laguna El Toro (41°09'S, 73°28'W; 780 m), 8 Feb 1978, W. N. Mathis (1ɗ, 2Ψ; USNM); Salto del Río Pilmaiquen (40°08'S, 71°59'W), 14 Feb 1978, W. N. Mathis (15ɗ, 14Ψ; USNM). Palena: Termas El Amarillo, (30 km SE Chaitén; 42°52.9'S, 72°21.4'W; 250 m), 22 Jan 1987, C. M. and O. S. Flint (3ɗ, 7Ψ; USNM). Santiago: El Alfalfal (33°30'S, 70°11'W; 1320 m), 22 Jan 1978, W. N. Mathis (20ɗ, 5Ψ; USNM); Lampa (22 km NW Santiago; 33°17'S, 70°54'W), 21 Jan 1978, W. N. Mathis (5ɗ, 9Ψ; USNM). Talca : Río Lircay (11 km N Talca ; 35°23'S, 71°39'W; 85 m), 23 Jan 1978, W. N. Mathis (3ɗ, 1Ψ; USNM).

Type Locality. Chile. Osorno. Anticura (1 km W; 40°39'S, 72°10'W).

Additional Specimens Examined. ARGENTINA. Buenos Aires: Médanos (38°49'S, 62°41'W), 11 Nov 1946, K. Hayward (1ɗ; USNM). Mendoza: Uspallata (9 mi W; 32°40'S, 69°25'W), 6 Feb 1951, E. S. Ross, A. E. Michelbacher (1ɗ; CAS). Rio Negro: Bariloche (49°09'S, 71°18'W), Nov 1926, R. and E. Shannon (5ɗ, 1Ψ; USNM).

CHILE. Aconcagua: Guardia Vieja (E; 32°54'S, 70°17'W), 3 Dec 1976, A. Gurney, G. Barria (1ɗ; USNM). Antofagasta: Pocos (23°15'S, 68°04'W; 2800 m), Des Atacama, Apr 1954, L. E. Peña (lɗ; USNM). Bio Bio: El Abanico (37°20'S, 71°31'W), 31 Dec 1950, E. S. Ross, A. E. Michelbacher (lɗ; USNM). Cautin: Temuco (20 km E; 38°44'S, 72°35'W), 7 Jan 1951, E. S. Ross, A. E. Michelbacher (39ɗ, 46Ψ; USNM). Concepción: Cosmito (36°46'S, 73°01'W), 31 Dec 1966, O. S. Flint, Jr., T. Cekalovic (lɗ, 1Ψ; USNM); San Rosendo (37°16'S, 72°43'W), Dec 1926, R. and E. Shannon (lɗ; USNM). Coquimbo: Bosque de Nague-Los Vilos (31°54.7'S, 71°30.8'W), Nov 1969, L. E. Peña (2ɗ, 1Ψ; USNM); Tilama, El Naranjo (32°05'S, 71°10'W), Oct 1967, L. E. Peña (2ɗ, 2Ψ; USNM); Freirina (28°30.3'S, 71°04.6'W), Oct 1969, L. E. Peña (4ɗ, 13Ψ; USNM); Hda Illapel (31°37.8'S, 71°09.9'W; 600–1200 m), 24–30 Oct-19 Dec 1954–1966, M. E. Irwin, L. E. Peña, E. Schlinger (4ɗ, 2Ψ; USNM); La Serena (50 km S; 29°55'S, 71°15.2'W), 1 Dec 1950, E. S. Ross, A. E. Michelbacher (2ɗ; CAS); Ovalle (20 mi SE; 30°36'S, 71°11'W), 12 Dec 1950, E. S. Ross, A. E. Michelbacher (4ɗ, 11Ψ; USNM); Río Colorado-Pichidarqui (32°52'S, 72°25'W), 7–11 Aug 1960, L. E. Peña (2ɗ, 1Ψ; CNC); Port Tres Cruces (Portuzuelo; 29°22.3'S, 70°56'W), 30 Oct 1957, L. E. Peña (2ɗ, 2Ψ; CNC). Curico: Cajon de Río Claro-SE Los Queñes (35°0.1'S, 70°49.1'W; 1100 m), 8 Dec 1966, E. I. Schlinger (1ɗ, 1Ψ; USNM). Llanquihue: Frutillar (41°07'S, 73°03'W), 22 Jan 1953, P. G. Kuschel (4ɗ; USNM). Malleco: Angol (37°48'S, 72°43'W), 28 Nov-1 Jan 1926–1932, D. S. Bullock (3ɗ; USNM). Maule: Curanipe (35°50'S, 72°38'W), 4 Dec 1953, L. E. Peña (1ɗ; USNM). Nuble: San Carlos (18 km E; 36°20'S, 71°44'W), 24 Dec 1950, E. S. Ross, A. E. Michelbacher (1Ψ; CAS); San Carlos (40 km E; 36°20'S, 71°43'W), 23 Dec 1950, E. S. Ross, A. E. Michelbacher (lɗ, 1Ψ; USNM). O'Higgins: Rancagua (23 km N; 34°09'S, 70°45'W), 21 Dec 1950, E. S. Ross, A. E. Michelbacher (30ɗ, 26Ψ; USNM). Osorno: Río Bueno-N Osorno (40°19'S, 72°58'W), 14 Jan 1951, E. S. Ross, A. E. Michelbacher (30ɗ, 38Ψ; USNM); Termas de Puyehue (40°42'S, 72°18'W), 7 Jun 1940, G. H. Schwabe (2ɗ, 1Ψ; USNM). Santiago: Baños de Morales (33°50'S, 70°03'W), 12 Jul 1940, G. H. Schwabe (1ɗ; USNM); Chacabuco, Tiltil (33°04.3'S, 70°58.3'W; 950 m), 18–19 Jan 1999, P. and M. Kerr (1ɗ, 1Ψ; USNM); Refugio Lo Valdés (33°48'S, 70°03'W), Jun 1954, L. E. Peña (2ɗ, 4Ψ; USNM); Los Maitenes (33°32'S, 70°16'W; 1200–1300 m), 19 Oct 1954, L. E. Peña (1ɗ; USNM); Cantillana (33°58'S, 70°58'W; 2000 m), Dec 1969, L. E. Peña (2ɗ, 1Ψ; USNM). Talca: Talca (29.5 km N; 35°25'S, 71°25'W), 22 Dec 1950, E. S. Ross, A. E. Michelbacher (1Ψ; CAS); Vegas del Flaco (34°56'S, 70°02'W; 1350 m), Nov 1969, L. E. Peña (1ɗ; USNM). Valparaiso: Islas Juan Fernandez: Mas-a-Tierra (33°38'S, 78°52'W), 15 Jan– 24 Mar 1951–1973, G. Barria, L. Cartagena, P. G. Kuschel, L. E. Peña (47ɗ, 53Ψ; CNC, USNM); Isla Más Afuera (33°45'S, 80°46'W), 31 Jan 1973, L. E. Peña (51ɗ, 68Ψ; CNC); Isla Santa Clara (33°42'S, 79°W), 1 Jun–30 Dec 1952–1954, P. J. Kusch, P. G. Kuschel (7ɗ, 3Ψ; USNM).

Distribution. Neotropical: Argentina (Buenos Aires, Mendoza, Rio Negro) and Chile (Antofagasta, Bio Bio, Cautin, Concepción, Coquimbo, Curico, Llanquihue, Malleco , Maule, Nuble, O'Higgins, Osorno, Santiago, Talca , Valparaiso), between 28°–42°S and 62°–79°W.

Etymology. The specific epithet, araucaria , is taken from the name of a native American tribe that lived in southern Chile. The epithet is a noun in apposition to the generic name.

Remarks. This is a common and widespread species in southern South America. Specimens are abundant, and large numbers are frequently collected in marshy habitats.

Some variation is evident in the shape of the surstylus. This variation ( Figs. 14–16 ), which I interpret to be intraspecific, is best viewed laterally and is expressed within and among populations of this species.

Figures

FIGURE 11. Neoephydra araucaria, sp. nov. 11. Habitus, laterodorsal view.

FIGURES 12 – 16. 12. External male terminalia (epandrium, cerci, surstylar plate), posterior view. 13. Same, lateral view. 14. Enlargement (ca. 50 %) of surstylus, lateral view (Chile. Palo Colorado). 15. Same, lateral view (Chile. Rio Bueno, N of Orsono). 16. Same, lateral view (Chile. Termas de Puyehue).