Mesembrinella woodorum Whitworth, 2019

Whitworth, Terry L. & Yusseff-Vanegas, Sohath, 2019, A revision of the genera and species of the Neotropical family Mesembrinellidae (Diptera: Oestroidea), Zootaxa 4659 (1), pp. 1-146 : 64

Mesembrinella woodorum Whitworth , sp. nov.

( Figs 33–34, 123–124, 204, 248, 461)

Diagnosis. The single specimen examined measured 9 mm in length. The body is shining blue, similar in color and size to M. epandriaurantia sp. nov., see comparison under that species; the tip of T5 and epandrium are shiny blue; ST5 ( Fig. 248) and the terminalia ( Figs. 33–34) are distinctive.

Description. Male (holotype). Head. Frons broad, 0.09 of head width at narrowest. Fronto-orbital and upper parafacial silvery gray, lower parafacial reddish; frontal vitta black, broader below, narrowed above; frontal setae ascending about halfway to vertex; gena silvery gray, with only few horizontally-arranged stout setae on anterior 1/3; postgena and occiput silvery gray with long pale setae; median occipital sclerite shiny black; antenna entirely brown, first flagellomere unusually broad, broader than parafacial at level of lunule; palpus typical; eye with median facets 4x size of lateral facets; ocellar triangle medium-sized, anterior ocellus about 1/3 larger than posterior ocelli; black cluster of supravibrissal setae ascending about 1/6 of distance to antennal base.

Thorax. Dorsum blue with pale tomentum forming irregular stripes in presutural area; in postsutural area dull blue with pale tomentum; pleura bluish with pale tomentum; chaetotaxy: ac 0:0, dc 2:2, ia 0, ph 1, ppn 2x 2, kat 1:1, meral setae typical, 1 crossed ap, 1 stout bas, 0 disc, no other scutellar setae; subscutellum weakly developed; spiracles medium-sized, brown; anterior spiracle with long and narrow opening gradually widening above ( Fig. 6); legs entirely brown. Wings faintly infuscated, yellowish along basal half of costa; basicosta and tegula dark brown; subcostal sclerite bare; section IV 0.13 of section III; discs of upper and lower calypters reddish brown; rim of upper calypter dark brown with short tan setae, rim of lower calypter tan with long tan setae.

Abdomen entirely bluish with pale tomentum; T4 with row of stout marginal setae; T5 with pair of lateral marginal setae; no setae midway. Terminalia in lateral view with short, slender surstylus, cercus sinuous with flared edges ( Fig. 33), of unusual shape in posterior view ( Fig. 34); phallus in lateral view with short slender epiphallus ( Fig. 123); in dorsal view, hypophallic lobes narrow ( Fig. 124); T6, STS7+8, pre- and postgonite and ST6 as in Fig. 204; ST1–5 as in Fig. 248, ST5 of unusual shape.

Female. Unknown.

Type material. HOLOTYPE ³ * ( Ecuador , Napo; CNC; Fig. 461), labeled: ECUADOR, Napo / 30 km. s. Baeza / 20.II.79 2000m / G. & M. Wood ; HOLOTYPE / Mesembrinella / woodorum / T.L. Whitworth.

Distribution. Ecuador.

Remarks. This species is so distinctive that it merited being described even though only a single specimen was known. No specimens were barcoded.

Etymology. This species woodorum is named in honor of Grace and Monty Wood, who collected many excellent specimens from the Neotropical Region, including this male.