Corethrella (Corethrella) curta Borkent, 2008

Amaral, André P., Mariano, Rodolfo & Pinho, Luiz Carlos, 2023, Description of five new species of frog-biting midges (Diptera, Corethrellidae) from Brazil and examination of new morphological characters with utility for taxonomic and phylogenetic studies, European Journal of Taxonomy 874 (1), pp. 1-120 : 78-79

Corethrella (Corethrella) curta Borkent, 2008

Fig. 37 ; Appendix 1

Material examined

BRAZIL – Bahia State • 1 ♀, adult; Uruçuca, PESC , “ Fundos da sede ” [behind park lodge]; 14°29ʹ40ʺ S, 39°08ʹ23ʺ W; 970 m a.s.l.; 31 Oct. 2016; V.A. Silva et al. leg.; light pan; CE-MHS .

Description

Female adult (n = 1)

HEAD. Sensilla ( Fig. 37A ): Ocular row with 1 thick offset seta at ventral part and 15 setae extending posteriorly. Subocular row not well-defined; vertex and interocular space with many slender setae. Postgenal row with 5 intermediate and 18 slender setae ranging from mid-posteriorly to ventromedially. With 2 thick ventromedial setae.

THORAX. Sensilla ( Fig. 37B ): Antepronotum with 5 thick and 6 intermediate ventrolateral setae. Postpronotum with 1 thick dorsal seta, 2 intermediate and 2 slender ones more posteriorly. Scutum, prescutal area with 3 thick setae vertically arranged near prescutal suture; group of about 7 thick/ intermediate setae anteriorly, reaching anterior portion of dorsocentral row.Antealar area with 2 thick and 2 intermediate setae dorsoventrally aligned on mid-ventral portion; 4 thick and 2 slender setae grouped posteroventrally. Supraalar area with 3 thick setae, with 4 slender setae surrounding. Dorsocentral row, posterior part with group of 8 thick offset setae; about 24 thick/intermediate and 8 slender completing the row. Scutellum with 10 thick setae. Posterior anepisternum bare. Anepimeron with 10 slender setae.

WING. R 3 /R 1: 0.45; R 2+3 /R 2: 0.73.

LEGS. Empodium ( Fig. 37C ) of intermediate length and thickness, with 5 branches. Ta1/Ta2: 2.67; Ta3/Ta4: 1.08.

Distribution and biology

Corethrella curta is newly recorded from Brazil. The single female was collected with a light trap near a small stream, in the Atlantic forest of Serra do Conduru State Park, at an altitude of 210 m a.s.l.

This species was previously known only from Costa Rica, at altitudes ranging from 500 and 1850 m a.sl. ( Borkent 2008).

Remarks

The identification of this specimen is somewhat tentative, since the female individual presents some differences compared to the original description. These are: the number of posterior setae in the dorsocentral row (3 setae, according to Borkent 2008); the presence of a sensillum coeloconicum on flagellomere VIII; discrete pigmentation on the hind tibiae. These variations, although significant, are not enough to sustain a hypothesis of a new species and are therefore considered intraspecific variations.

Figures

Fig. 37. Corethrella curta Borkent, 2008, female adult. A. Cranial setae, anterior and posterior views, and clypeus in anterior view. B. Thoracic setae, lateral view. C. Hind leg claw and empodium, lateral view.