Mesembrinella socors ( Walker, 1861 )

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 : 133-134

Mesembrinella socors ( Walker, 1861) .

( Figs 14, 91–92, 181–182, 233, 276, 320, 364, 405, 449, 481–482, 488, 493)

Calliphora socors Walker, 1861: 311 . Holotype female (NHMUK), examined. Type locality: Mexico.

Huascaromusca abaca Hall, 1948: 68 . Holotype male (USNM), examined photographically. Type locality: Barro Colorado Island , Canal Zone, Panama. Syn. nov.

Mesembrinella abaca: Peris & Mariluis (1984: 260) ; Vargas & Wood (2009: 1301); Kosmann et al. (2013: 77); Wolff & Kosmann (2016: 868); Marinho et al. (2017: tab. 1); Cerretti et al. (2017: tab. 2).

Diagnosis. A medium-sized bluish fly averaging 10.4 mm (8–13/5) in length. Postpronotal setae 3x 3; wing hyaline; ppn and femora orange; subcostal sclerite setose; section IV of wing 0.24 of section III; dorsum of thorax brown with four pale tomentose stripes; male with T1+2–3 orange, T4–5 more or less shiny blue with streaky tomentum, T3 with a triangle of bluish cuticle from hind margin to point in middle of tergite ( Fig. 493). Epandrium, cerci and surstyli as in Figs 91–92. Female with only T1+2 orange; terminalia as in Fig. 320.

Redescription. Male. Head. Frons broad, 0.078 (0.07–0.09) of head width at narrowest, about equal to width of parafacial at level of lunule; fronto-orbital broad, silvery-orange, with frontal setae stout below to short and weak above, starting about midway and extending to ocellar triangle; frontal vitta obliterated midway, orange below; parafacial silvery when viewed from above; gena orange with silvery tomentum and horizontal row of stout, black setae along lower margin across lower parafacial to vibrissa; postgena orange with long yellow setae; occiput silvery with weak, orange setae; median occipital sclerite shiny black; palpus typical; antenna typical; eye with median facets 2x size of lateral facets; ocellar triangle small, anterior ocellus slightly larger than posterior ocelli; supravibrissal setae on facial ridge dark brown, ascending about 1/6 of distance to antennal base.

Thorax. Dorsum with heavy grayish tomentum and three pale tomentose stripes; pleura with grayish tomentum and mostly weak yellow setae; chaetotaxy: ac 2:2 or 2:3, dc 2:3, ia 1, ph 1, ppn 3x 3, kat 2:1, meral setae typical, 1 pair converging ap, 1 stout bas, 1 weak pb, sa and lat absent, 1 disc; subscutellum moderately developed; spiracles small, pale orange; legs: femora orange, fore tibia and tarsus orange, mid and hind tibiae and tarsi brown. Wing hyaline with faint darkening along all veins; basicosta pale, tegula orange; subcostal sclerite setose; section IV 0.24 of section III; disc of upper calypter pale, rim sooty with pale setae; lower calypter wholly pale with long pale setae ( Fig. 14).

Abdomen. T1+2–3 orange; T4–5 polished blue with streaky tomentum, T3 with a triangle of bluish cuticle from hind margin to point in middle of tergite ( Fig. 493); rear margin of T3 with 2x 2 lateral marginal setae; rear of T4–5 each with row of stout setae on posterior margins; disc of T5 with dense, short, fine setae only. Terminalia in lateral view with surstylus curving sharply backward, cercus with an apical hook ( Fig. 91); in posterior view, cerci short and stout with chisel-like tips ( Fig. 92); phallus in lateral view with short, stout epiphallus ( Fig. 181); in dorsal view, hypophallic lobes rectangular with coarse serrations ( Fig. 182); T6, STS7+8, pre- and postgonite, ejaculatory sclerite, ST6 and hypandrium as in Fig. 233; ST1–5 as in Fig. 276.

Female. Similar to male except frons 0.26 (0.24–0.27/5) of head width at narrowest and color pattern of abdomen different, normally with only T1+2 orange, T3 shiny blue and without triangular projection. T6 of OV shape; T7 continuous with posterior edge recessed midway; T8 as separate sclerites; epiproct as two sclerites ( Fig. 320); ST6–8 and hypoproct as in Fig. 364; spermathecae filiform ( Fig. 405); ST1–5 as in Fig. 449.

Type material examined. HOLOTYPE ♀ ( Mexico; NHMUK; Fig. 481), labeled: Mexico / Ex Coll. / W.W. Saunders. / 68.4; Calliphora / Type / Socors / Walk. [round label with green border] / HOLOTYPE ♀ / Calliphora / socors Walker / 1861, Trans. ent. Soc. / Lond. (2) 5: 311 [red border]; Holo- / type [round label with red border]; 68.4; Mex.

Huascaromusca abaca Hall, 1948 : HOLOTYPE ³ ( Panama; USNM; examined photographically: Fig. 482), labeled: Barro / Colorado Isl / CZ VIII-IX-36; Jas Zetek / No 3749; Huascaromusca / abaca / Hall / det / DG Hall; USNMENT / 01295436.

PARATYPES: Panama, Canal Zone. 2 ³³, Barro Colo IS [= Colorado Island ], CZ [= Canal Zone], xi.17.39, fruit fly trap, Jas Zetek, No. 4594 , Paratype No 53112 ( USNM); 1 ♀ , same data except i.9.1929, C.H. Curran ( USNM) .

Remarks. The holotype female of Mesembrinella socors was examined and is in only fair condition. It is dirty and covered with fungal hyphae ( Fig. 481). Guimar„es (1977) listed this species as a synonym of M. bicolor following Hall 1948, but the setose subcostal sclerite clearly separates it from that species, which has a bare subcostal sclerite. The holotype is very similar to the holotype male of Mesembrinella abaca (Hall) , which was also examined. Since the type of M. socors is a female, it was compared to several female specimens we had previously identified as M. abaca . Specimens of both species key to M. socors using the key provided herein, we have concluded they are a single species. Shared characters include postpronotal setae 3x 3; stem vein bare; wing with faint yellow tinge along costa and around some veins; ppn and femora orange; subcostal sclerite setose. We conclude that M. abaca is a synonym of M. socors . Hall (1948) listed M. abaca from Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama and Nicaragua; in the current study specimens of M. socors were found from all these countries except Nicaragua.

Additional material examined. Colombia, Meta. 1 ♀, 2.3 km NW Villavicencio, Qbda. Susamaco , 1000 m, 5.iii.1972, Ber. 234 for litter, S. & J. Peck ( CNC) . Costa Rica, Alajuela. 2 ³³, 20 km S Upala, 11–20.iv.1991, F.D. Parker ( LACM) ; 1 ♀ *, same data except 6.i.1991 ( LACM) ; 1 ♀, Guaruso, Sitio Catarata Rio Buenavista , 700–800 m, 23.iii.2007, Tp. Luz, L _N_298474 428857 #91074, J.A. Azofeifa ( INBIO) ; 1 ³♦ ( TLW195 ) , Bijagua, P.N. Volcan Teurio, Albergue Heliconias, Send. Heliconias 680 m, 1.ii.2008, Tp. Luz, L _N_299100 422600 #94184, A. Zumbando ( INBIO) . Cartago. 1 ³*, Turrialba, M.N. Guayabo, 1100–1200 m, 8–13.v.2007, M. Moraga, R. Gonzáles, E. Navarro ( INBIO) . Heredia. 1 ♀, Estación Biológica la Selva , 10°26′N 84°01′W, iii.1993, #149, [no collector] ( INBIO) . Puntarenas. 1 ³, Rancho Quemado, 200 m, Península de Osa , vii.1992, L_S_292500 511000, A. Marín ( INBIO) ; 1 ³, same data except v.1992, F. Quesada & G. Varela ( INBIO) ; 1 ³*, same data except K . Flores ( INBIO) ; 1 ³, same data except Península de Osa A.C., 4–21.i.1994, #2570, H. Gutierrez ( INBIO) ; 1 ♀, same data except ix.1991, F. Quesada ( INBIO) ; 1 ³, 1 ♀, Estación Sirena, P.N. Corcovado , 1–100 m, ii.1993, L_S_ 270500 508300 #1805, G. Fonseca ( INBIO) ; 1 ³, same data except 0– 100 m., vi.1990, F. Quesada ( INBIO) ; 1 ³, same data except 0–100 m, vi.1990, G. Maass: 1 ♀, same data except Golfito, S. Corcovado 0 m, 9.xi.2000, manual, L_S_507400 270400 #61788, K. Caballero ( INBIO) ; 1 ♀, same data except ix.1993, #2362; 3 ³³, P.N. Corcovado Estación Sirena, Send. Olla. , 10 m, 26.iv.2001, L_S_ 270500 508300 #63082, Manual, K. Caballero ( INBIO) ; 4 ♀♀, Osa Península 2.5 mil. SW Rincón , 08°42ʹN 83°29ʹW, 8–12.iii.1967, OTS Adv. Zoo Course, [no collector] ( LACM) ; 1 ♀ *, same data except 21–28.ii.1967 ( LACM) ; 1 ♀, Golfito, Jimenéz, P.N. Corcovado, Es- tación Los Patos, Send. Guaymi , 140 m, 29.i.2002, Libre, L_S_ 280925 515150 #66731, K. Caballero ( INBIO) ; 1. ♀, R.F. Golfo Dulce, P.N. Corcovado Estación Agujas, 300 m, 10.xi–10.xii.2006, Malaise trap, L_S_276750 526550 #90271, J.A. Azofeifa ( INBIO) ; 1 ♀, same data except Golfito , 250–350 m, 12.v.2006, Manual, #56763, K. Caballero ( INBIO) ; 3 ♀♀, Monteverde , 1500 m, 25–30.viii.1991, D.M. Wood ( CNC) ; 2 ♀♀, same data except 20–25.viii.1991 ( INBIO) ; 1 ♀, R.V. S. Golfito, Estación Naranjales , 64 m, 22–26.iv.2004, Tp. Frutas, L S 289900_ 553450 #76862, B. Gamboa, D. Briceño, M. Moraga, W. Porras ( INBIO) ; 1 ♀, Rincón de la Osa , 26.vii.1966, D. Veirs ( LACM) ; 1 ♀, same data except vicinity of Rincón , 14.iii.1967, D.R. Paulson ( FSCA) ; 1 ♀ *, 2. ♀, 10 km NE Quepos RioSPAraiso, 15.ii.2003, G. & M. Wood ( CNC) ; 1 ♀, P.N. Corcovado, Cerro Brujo, Hito. , 617 m, 5.xi.2002, Manual, L _S_289100 507325 #72432, K. Caballero ( INBIO) ; 1 ♀, P.N. Corcovado, Sector La Leona, Cerro Puma , 100–300 m, 17.ix–5.x.2003, Libre, L _S_267700 518900 #75585, K. Cabellero ( INBIO) . San José. 1 ³♦*, Tarrazu San Carlos Reserva Rios, Paraisa Alberque Pecari , 406 m, 30.iv–4.v.2006, B. Gamboa, M. Moraga ( INBIO) ; 1 ♀, San Isidro General , ii.1993, F.D. Parker ( LACM) . Ecuador, Imbabura. 1 ³*, 1 ³♦ ( TLW419 ) , 1 ♀ ♦ ( TLW420 ) , Lita , 12.iv.2016, Trap 4, P. Ponce ( FSCA) . Pichincha. 1 ³, E. Sto Domingo, 8–14.v.1988, Hanson & Bohart ( LACM) . Guatemala, Quetzaltenango. 1 ³, 1 ♀ ♦ ( TLW455 ) , 14.4 km SW Zunil. , 14.77°N. 91.55°W, 1340 m, 20.vi.1993, human feces, F. Genier ( LACM) . San Marcos. 1 ³♦ ( TLW197 ) , 1 ♀ ♦ ( TLW196 ) , Bojoual 1600 m, 2.vii.2011, F. Camposeco ( WSU) . Suchitepéquez. 1 ♀ ♦ ( TLW418 ) , Univ . Guatemala Res. Station , 14°32ʹ88ʺN 91°11ʹ62ʺW, 1550 m, 19.vi.2011, F. Carillo ( WSU) . Panama, Colon. 2 ³³, Barro Colorado Island CZ, 17.xi.1939, Fruit fly trap, No. 4594, JasZetek ( LACM) ; 1 ♀, same data except 9.i.1929, C.H. Curran ( LACM) ; 1 ♀, same data except 27.i.1955, #780, C. Rettenmeyer ( LACM) ; 1 ³, 1 ♀ ♦ ( TLW417 ) , C.Z., Gatun Ridge Road , 8–9.iv.1987, J.R. MacDonald ( MEM) ; El Valle, Cocle, 800–850 m, 8.i.1986, J. & S. MacDonald ( MEM) .

Distribution. Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama. Hall (1948) also listed Nicaragua (as Huascaromusca abaca ). Bonatto (2001) also listed it from Brazil (as M. abaca ).

Remarks. Seven specimens ( TLW 195–197, TLW 418–420 and TLW 455) were barcoded, and clustered togeth- er ( Fig. 488). These were specimens from several countries including Ecuador, Costa Rica and Guatemala. TLW 455 was a typical M. socors but only had 2x 2 postpronotal setae rather than the normal 3x 3; this variation was not seen in other specimens of this species.