Corethrella (Corethrella) carariensis 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 : 32-33

Corethrella (Corethrella) carariensis Borkent, 2008

Fig. 14 ; Appendix 1

Material examined

BRAZIL – Santa Catarina State • 1 ♀, adult; Santo Amaro da Imperatriz, Plaza Caldas ; 27°44ʹ31ʺ S, 48°48ʹ27ʺ W; 433 m a.s.l.; 19 Oct. 2013; A. Ambrozio-Assis leg.; frog-call trap ( P. cuvieri ) 2ª3; CE-MHS • 1 ♂, adult; Florianópolis, Fazenda Experimental Ressacada ; 27°41ʹ03ʺ S, 48°32ʹ37ʺ W; 5 m a.s.l.; 14 Aug. 2011; Fabris, Ganzer and Souza leg.; light trap; CE-MHS .

Description

Male and female adults (1 ♂, 1 ♀)

HEAD ( Fig. 14A ). Sensilla: Ocular row with 2 thick offset setae on ventral part, 8–14 setae extending shortly beyond vertex. Subocular row well-defined, with 9–14 slender setae; vertex without additional setae on female, about 7 setae on male. Postgenal row with 9–15 slender setae located on mid-posterior portion of head. With 1 thick ventromedial seta.

THORAX ( Fig. 14B ). Sensilla: Antepronotum with 0–2 slender lateral setae. Postpronotum with 1 thick subdorsal and 2–3 slender posterior setae. Scutum, prescutal area with 2 thick and 1 intermediate setae vertically arranged near prescutal suture, and 2 intermediate and 2–3 slender setae more dorsally; group of 4–6 thick/intermediate and 2–4 slender setae anteriorly. Antealar area with group of 6–11 thick/ intermediate and 6 slender setae posteroventrally. Supraalar area with 2 thick setae, with 6 slender ones surrounding. Dorsocentral row, posterior part with group of 8–10 thick and 1–3 slender offset setae; about 17–24 thick/intermediate and 12–13 slender completing the row. Scutellum with 10 thick setae. Posterior anepisternum with 1 slender dorsal seta. Anepimeron bare.

WING. Male R 3 /R 1: 0.69; R 2+3 /R 2: 0.38. Female R 3 /R 1: 0.71; R 2+3 /R 2: 0.34.

LEGS. Empodium ( Fig. 14C ) short, slender, with 1 branch. Male Ta1/Ta2: 2.68; Ta3/Ta4: 1.50. Female Ta1/Ta2: 2.43; Ta3/Ta4: 1.45.

Distribution and biology

This species has previously been recorded from Santa Catarina by Ambrozio-Assis et al. (2018). The examined specimens were captured via frog-call trap ( Physalaemus cuvieri ) and light trap in the Atlantic forest of Santa Catarina at altitudes ranging from 5 to 433 m a.s.l. It is otherwise known from Costa Rica, at elevations ranging from 0 to 100 m a.s.l. ( Borkent 2008).

Remarks

The male and female specimens presented a significant difference in relation to cranial setae, with males discretely more setose. Borkent (2008) discussed the difficulty in associating male and female specimens of Corethrella carariensis due to great variation in pigmentation, and suggested that there may be cryptic species under the same name. Corethrella carariensis is a very distinctive species in the peruviana group, with unique diagnostic features, such as legs without scales and the setae on male genitalia. We thus consider both specimens as C. carariensis , though further studies may reveal more than one species.

Figures

Fig. 14. Corethrella carariensis Borkent, 2008, adult. A. Cranial setae, anterior and posterior views, and female clypeus in anterior view. B. Thoracic setae, lateral view. C. Hind leg empodium, lateral view.