Leptocera dicrofulva Buck, 2009

Buck, Matthias & Marshall, Stephen A., 2009, Revision of New World Leptocera Olivier (Diptera, Sphaeroceridae), Zootaxa 2039 (1), pp. 1-139 : 102-104

Leptocera dicrofulva Buck , new species

( Figs. 232–238 , 267 )

Limosina fulva auctt., nec Malloch, 1912: Malloch, 1912 (in part: 8 ♂♂ paratypes).

Description. Both sexes with very distinctive terminalia and easily recognised.

Male terminalia ( Figs. 232–235 ): Sternite 5 with 20–25 large scales on hind margin. Epandrium of approximately equal width dorsally and ventrally, not distinctly expanded dorsally. Anterior section of surstylus with perfectly rounded anterolateral corner (ventral view), and with several fairly long bristles along inner margin, well visible in lateral view; anterior process of moderate width (narrower than in L. fulva ). Posterior section of surstylus of moderate length, hardly dilated apically, with long, medial bristle inserted apically; this bristle shorter and less strongly curved than in other species; one weaker bristle inserted right beside it, with tapered tip. Cercus bifurcate, dorsal arm expanded apically and with ca. four short bristles, longer ventral arm tapered and bare. Postgonite with slender basal part ( Fig. 267 ).

Female terminalia ( Figs. 236–238 ): Sternite 7 with posteromedial emargination, microtrichia of posteromedial third of sclerite only slightly enlarged (less than in other species). Tergite 10 + cerci with one pair of very long and unusually strong bristles near anterior margin (their length almost twice length of sclerite), and one pair of long but very fine bristles inserted near posterior margin; besides that with only one pair of small setulae.

Type material. Holotype ♂ and 2 ♂♂ paratypes ( USNM; all are paratypes of L. fulva Malloch ): PANAMA, Prov. Colón, Canal Zone, Tabernilla, 27.iv.1907, A. Busck. Other paratypes: 5 ♂♂, same data as holotype but 6.ii.1911 ( USNM; 1 ♂, BMNH; all are paratypes of L. fulva Malloch ). MEXICO. Veracruz: 1 ♀, Fortín de las Flores, 24.xii.1963, Toschi & Tauber ( EMEC). San Luis Potosí: 1 ♂, El Naranjo, 3 mi W, 1,200 ft, 5.vi.1965, Burke et al. ( TAMU); 1 ♂, Tamazunchale, xi.1954, N.L.H. Krauss ( USNM). NICARAGUA. Dpto. Zelaya: 1 ♀, Río Waspuc , Musawas, 15.x.1955, B. Malkin ( EMEC). ECUADOR. Prov. Pichincha: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 47 km S Santo Domingo, Río Palenque Res. Stn. , 1.v.1987, light, B.V. Brown ( DEBU). Prov. Napo: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Coca, Río Napo, 250 m, 25–30.iv.1965, L.E. Peña ( CNCI); 1 ♀, Pastaza, 10 km Río Morona, Ashuara village , Río Macuma , 300 m, 5–17.vii.1971, B. Malkin ( EMEC). PERU. Madre de Dios: 1 ♀, Pakitza, 7.iii.1992, malaise trap and blacklight trap, Brown & Feener ( DEBU); 1 ♀, Manú Natl. Pk., Cocha Cashu Biol. Stn., 380 m, 20.viii.1986, tropical evergreen forest, screen sweep, D.C. Darling ( ROME). BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: 2 ♂♂, Ribeirão Riacho nr. Prados , 24.ii.1990, sweep floodplain, S.A. Marshall ( DEBU); 2 ♀♀, Prados, 21.ii.1990, sweep along river, S.A. Marshall ( DEBU).

Etymology. The species name refers to the bifurcate male cercus and indicates the placement of this species in the L. fulva group.

Distribution. Widespread but uncommon from central Mexico (San Luis Potosí) to Peru and southern Brazil (Minas Gerais); in Ecuador known from both sides of the Andes. From sea level to about 1,000 m.

Discussion. This species is easily recognised based on the numerous scales of male sternite 5, distinctly bifurcate male cercus (bifurcate in the allopatric L. insularum sp.n. as well but posterior arm shorter), relatively short and not very strongly curved medial bristle of the posterior section of the surstylus, and the very long and strong bristles of female tergite 10 + cerci.

Figures

FIGURES 232–238. Leptocera dicrofulva sp.n. (232–235: Ecuador, 236–238: Brazil). Male terminalia (phallus and postgonites omitted): (232) lateral; (233) posterior, arms of left cercus omitted; (234) ventral; (235) sternite 5. Female terminalia: (236) dorsal; (237) spermathecae; (238) ventral. aps—anterior process of anterior section of surstylus, ce—cercus, cda—dorsal arm of cercus, cva—ventral arm of cercus, ep—epandrium, fm—field of dense microtrichia, ha—hypandrial apodeme, hy—hypandrium, pa—phallapodeme, pss—posterior section of surstylus, S—sternite, sc—enlarged scales, se—subepandrial sclerite, T—tergite (female tergite 8 divided into two halves), vls—ventral lobe of anterior section of surstylus.

FIGURES 267–272. Postgonites and aedeagal complex of Leptocera fulva group. Postgonites of (267) L. dicrofulva sp.n. (Ecuador), (268) L. prolixofulva sp.n. (Venezuela). Aedeagal complex of L. fulva (Belize): (269) posterior; (270) anterior; (271) lateral; (272) dorsal. bcp—basal connection between postgonites, bp—basiphallus, dp—distiphallus, ea—ejaculatory apodeme, pa—phallapodeme, pg—postgonites.