Corethrella (Corethrella) aurita Borkent, 2008

Fig. 28; Appendix 1

Material examined

BRAZIL – Bahia State • 2 ♀♀, adults; Rio de Contas, RPPN Volta do Rio, stream; 13°32ʹ07ʺ S, 41°54ʹ44ʺ W; 1318 m a.s.l.; 1 Dec. 2019; A.P. Amaral leg.; frog-call trap ( Boana faber); CE-MHS • 2 ♀♀, adults; Rio de Contas, Parque Natural Serra das Almas, “ brejo do junco ” [reed marsh]; 13°32ʹ19ʺ S, 41°52ʹ36ʺ W; 1202 m a.s.l.; 2 Dec. 2019; A.P. Amaral leg.; frog-call trap (chorus); CE-MHS • 1 ♀, adult; same collection data as for preceding, except 3 Dec. 2019; CE-MHS .

Description

Female adult (n = 5)

HEAD. Sensilla (Fig. 28A): Ocular row with 2 thick offset setae at ventral part, 1 more dorsal, and 16–18 setae extending to mid-posterior portion of head. Subocular row not well-defined anteriorly, with 3 setae shortly extending posteriorly; interocular space and vertex with multiple slender setae. Postgenal row with 9 intermediate and 7 slender setae, located at mid-posterior portion. With 2 thick ventromedial setae.

THORAX. Sensilla (Fig. 28B): Antepronotum with 3–6 slender anterodorsal setae; 3–4 thick and 4–9 slender setae along ventrolateral margin. Postpronotum with 2 thick dorsal setae and 3–5 slender posterior ones. Scutum, prescutal area with 3 thick setae near prescutal suture, 5–9 dorsal slender setae, reaching dorsocentral row; group of 8–12 intermediate and 6–15 slender setae more anteriorly, merging with anterior portion of dorsocentral row. Antealar area with 4–6 thick/intermediate setae vertically aligned on anterior portion; 6–9 thick and 12–15 slender setae ventrally located; 16–30 slender setae more dorsally, reaching dorsocentral row. Supraalar area with 4–5 thick setae surrounded by 12–20 slender setae. Dorsocentral row, posterior part with cluster of 4–5 thick setae; 19–24 thick/intermediate and 41–55 slender setae filling row. Scutellum with 11–12 thick setae. Posterior anepisternum bare. Anepimeron with 15–20 slender setae.

WING. R 3 /R 1: 0.49 (0.47–0.53); R 2+3 /R 2: 0.71 (0.62–0.76).

LEGS. Empodium (Fig. 28C) of intermediate length and thickness, with 6 branches. Ta1/Ta2: 2.63 (2.59– 2.72); Ta3/Ta4: 1.05 (1.00–1.09).

Distribution and biology

This is the first record of Corethrella aurita in Brazil. Specimens were collected with frog-call pan traps in Rio de Contas, Bahia, playing the calls of Boana faber, Physalaemus cuvieri and P. nanus near a large marsh area and a small stream. The sampled areas are part of the Espinhaço mountain range, in xeric shrubland (caatinga biome). Altitudes range from 1202 to 1318 m a.s.l.

This species was previously known only from the type locality in Panama, at an altitude of 27 m a.s.l. (Borkent 2008).

Remarks

Even though the specimens closely match the species description (Borkent 2008: 122), the extension of its distribution and altitudinal range is remarkable, as Corethrella aurita was previously known only from Panama at an altitude of 27 m a.s.l.

In fresh specimens a darkly pigmented heart-shaped spot on the posterior portion of the scutum was observed, and it is not known whether that pattern is present on the type specimens. The description mentions a patterned scutum, which might be the case.