Homoeothrix aberrans (Schiner), 2010

Norrbom, Allen L., Sutton, Bruce D., Steck, Gary J. & Monzón, José, 2010, New genera, species and host plant records of Nearctic and Neotropical Tephritidae (Diptera) 2398, Zootaxa 2398, pp. 1-65 : 24

Homoeothrix aberrans (Schiner) , new combination

Oxyphora aberrans Schiner 1868: 273 .

Neotephritis aberrans: Hering 1947: 6 .

Oxyphora aberrans Schiner , currently classified in Neotephritis Hendel ( Norrbom et al. 1999) , is here transferred to Homoeothrix Hering. It and H. lindigi (Hendel) , the only previously included species, differ from Neotephritis in having the lateral vertical seta dark brown to black, acuminate, and similar in color and shape and more than half as long as the medial vertical seta; both orbital setae black (posterior seta not whitish and paler than anterior seta as in Neotephritis ); and vein R 4+5 with numerous long setulae ventrally to well beyond level of crossvein dm-cu (in Neotephritis R 4+5 is bare ventrally or has a few short setulae proximal to the level of dm-cu, most or all of them usually proximal to r-m). The male terminalia of the two species of Homoeothrix are also very similar ( Figs. 40–41). The lateral surstylus has a large, triangular posterodorsal lobe, the ventral surface of which is densely setulose, the setulae projecting posteriorly. In examined species of Neotephritis the lobe is not nearly so large nor as densely setulose.

The two species of Homoeothrix differ in the shape and color of the posterior notopleural seta. In H. aberrans it is whitish and lanceolate, whereas in H. lindigi it may be slightly paler brownish, but is acuminate.

Species of Homoeothrix are so far known only from high elevation (> 2500 m altitude), páramo areas of Venezuela and Colombia. Specimens in the USNM collection that are H. lindigi or a very similar species were reared from Espeletia grandiflora Bonpl. and Ruilopezia floccosa (Standl.) Cuatr. ( Asteraceae : Heliantheae : Milleriinae ).