Lucilia fayeae, Whitworth, Terry, 2010

Whitworth, Terry, 2010, Keys to the genera and species of blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) of the West Indies and description of a new species of Lucilia Robineau-Desvoidy, Zootaxa 2663, pp. 1-35 : 22-24

Lucilia fayeae sp. nov.

Figs. 44–45 , 56–57 , 70–72 , 84 , 91 , 95

Diagnosis. A small, nondescript Lucilia easily confused with similar species; length averaging about 6mm (5–7.75) ( Fig. 95 ). Both sexes blue to green in color, often with pink to purple highlights; many specimens appear teneral and pinned specimens are often distorted; fronto-orbital, upper parafacial and postocular areas with predominantly pale to bright gold color in good specimens though these areas can darken in poor specimens; upper and lower calypters gray to tan or dark brown in both sexes, all other known Lucilia in the region have a pale upper calypter. Male frons exceptionally narrow, averaging 0.02 of head width, narrower than width of median ocellus; fronto-orbitals meet midway on the frons.

Description. Male. Head dark in ground color, postocular, fronto-orbital, and parafacial areas with pale to bright yellow-gold microtomentum when viewed from above; frontal vitta dark reddish; ocellar triangle small; frontal setae ascend to about midway to vertex where fronto-orbitals meet; antenna gray, pedicel dark brown with orange base; gena with black ground color with silvery microtomentum and black setae, postgena with pale setae; eyes with inner facets about twice diameter of outer facets; occiput with fine, pale setae; palp orange. Thorax blue to green color; presutural area of pronotum with whitish tomentum when viewed from rear, bare shining areas on posterolateral corners; postsutural area mostly polished, anterolateral areas with whitish tomentum; scutellum shining; notum with setal pattern typical for genus; thoracic spiracles brown to dark brown; proepisternal area with silvery vestiture and pale setae. Legs tan in color with a setal pattern on tibia as follows, t1 1p; t2 1a, 2p, 1v; t3 no pronounced setae. Wings hyaline, bases slightly infuscated; basicosta tan to brown; upper and lower calypters and rims usually gray to tan, sometimes color washed out in poor specimens. Abdomen blue to green, often with pink to purple highlights; T1+2 and T3 with whitish microtomentum when viewed from rear; Puerto Rican and St. Vincent specimens with all of T4 and T5 polished; Dominca and St. Lucia specimens with only rear of T4 and all of T5 polished.

Frons narrow, 0.02 (0.02–0.03/16) head width, 0.41 (0.33–0.55/15) ocellar span, and 0.32 (0.25–0.38/16) first flagellomere. Fronto-orbital plates touching on upper half. Parafacial, at widest, 2.4 (2.0–2.75/16) head width, 0.75 (0.63–0.85/16) first flagellomere, 0.95(0.9–1.2/15) ocellar span, and 0.25 (0.21–0.28/16) vibrissal interval; cheek width 0.34 (.032–0.38/16) eye height.

Genitalia in lateral view with surstylus straight, digitate, expanded slightly in distal half; cercus with narrow base, tapering to a point, longer than surstylus. In posterior view, surstylus curved inward; cercus with gradual taper to a broad point ( Figs. 44–45 ). Some specimens with geniculate surstylus. Phallus and other characters are typical for the L. eximia group ( Figs. 56–57 , 70–72 , 84 ).

Female. Features very similar to male. Frontal setae ascend to vertex; upper half of frontal-orbital plate with a patch of dark setulae on each side of ocellar triangle, lower half with fine pale setulae. Frons 0.25 (0.22–0.27/16) head width, 3.8 (3.2–4.3/16) ocellar span, 2.6 (2.2–3.1/16) first flagellomere. Parafacial 0.35 (0.30–0.40/16) frons width, 0.90 (0.72–1.1/16) first flagellomere, 1.3 (1.1–1.6/16) ocellar span, 0.37 (0.35– 0.40/16) vibrissal interval; cheek width 0.37 (0.35–0.40/16) eye height. Ovipositor ( Fig. 91 ) very similar to other Lucilia in L. eximia group.

Type material. Holotype male, allotype female and 85 paratypes (42 males and 43 females) from Dominica, West Indies: St Andrew Parish, near Calibishe, 15°35'28"N 61°20'09"W, March 17, 2009, trap baited with dead fish, T.L. Whitworth. Holotype and allotype deposited in USNM, additional paratypes deposited there and in BMNH, CAS, CMNH, CNC, FSCA, JC, KR, TW, UCD, UGG, UPR, USU, WSUP.

Additional paratypes. Dominica (21 males and 38 females): 3 males, 3 females, Clark Hall Estate, May 16, 1966, G. Steyskal on human feces ( USNM); 2 females, Neba., May, 1909, Dr. H.A.A. Richolls ( BMNH); 1 female, Parish of St. David, Emerald Pool Natl. Park, 580m, Malaise in humid forest, 18–21 March, 2003, 15°22'8"N 61°20'5"W, M.E. Irwin, M.B. Shepard, E. Benson, G. Carner ( KR); 14 males, 12 females, Parish of St. Joseph, Springfield Estate, 15–20 March 2003, 430m, 15°20'8"N 61°22'1"W, M.E. Irwin, E. Benson, G. Carner ( KR, USU); 1 male, 10 females, Parish of St. Mark, 1 km W Pte. Guingnard, 15°14'6"N 61°22'3"W, Malaise in dry wash of deciduous forest, 100m, 17–19 March, 2003, M.E. Irwin, M.B. Shepard, E. Benson, G. Carner ( KR); 1 female, Parish of St. Paul, nr Pont Casse Trail to Morne Trois Pitons; 15°22'8"N 61°20'5"W Malaise in humid forest, 750m, 3/18/2003, M.E. Irwin, M.B. Shepard ( KR); 1 female, Parish of St. Paul, Springfield Estate, 2.5 km e ne Canefield, 15°21'N 61°22'W, 11–18 June, 1991, J.E. Rawlins, S.A. Thompson ( CMNH); 1 male, 1 female; Parish of St Paul, ATREC, Springfield Plantation, 15°20'54"N 61°22'04"W, 2 June 2006, yeast and NH4CO 3 in bait trap, J.A. Cammack (JK); 1 male, 4 females, Parish of St Peter, Anse Multare Ravine, 2km s Dublane, 15°30'3"N 61°27'8"W, 50m, dry deciduous forest, Malaise trap in dry wash, 15–19 March, 2003, M.E. Irwin, M.B. Shepard, E. Benson, G. Carner ( KR); 1female, Morne Diablotin Natl Park Road to Snydicate Trail, 15°31'23"N 61°24'57"W, 27 May, 2006, J.A. Cammack (JK); 1 male; St. Paul Parish, ATREC, Springfield Station, 2 June, 2006, J.A. Cammack (JK); 2 females; Syndicate Trail, Tac #7, trail to Morne Diablotin; 2006 (no specific date), J.A. Cammack (JK). Puerto Rico (20 males, 49 females): 1 female, Adjuntas, June 2, 1915, R.H. Von Zwalenburg ( USNM); 1 female, Cayey Bosque Estatal de Carie, 4.2 km se Campamento Guavate, 18°05'25"N 66°02'07"W, 580m, 7 June, 1996, C. Young et al. ( CMNH); 1 female, El Yunque, May 20–22, 1954, J Maldonado and S Medina ( UPR); 1 male, Isabela-Bosque Estatal de Guajataca, Montanas Aymamom forest, 18°26'06"N 66°57'55", 210m, 14–15 June, 1966, J. Rawlins et al. ( CMNH); 1 male, 5 mi NE Jayuya, July 17–19, 1969, H. and A. Howden ( CNC); 2 females, Loiza-Bosque Estatal de Pinones, 7.5 km wnw Loiza, 18°28'10"N 65°56'27"W, mangroves, sea level, 18 June, 1996, W. Zanol et al. ( CMNH); 4 females, Mayaguez, Aug 1–31, 1958, J. Maldanado, Capriles collection; 1 male, Mira, 10–24 Nov., no year, H. Seda ( UPR); 1 female, Mayaguez, Sept–Nov., 1965, A. Ruiz Seda ( UPR); Mayaguez, 14 Nov., 1981, R.A. Oliveri ( UPR); 1 male Mayaguez, Univ. Puerto Rico Campus, Finca Alzamora, Nov. 20–26, 2006, insect net, 18°02'57"N 67°08'26"W, S. Youseff ( UPR); 16 males, 36 females, Mayaguez, Univ. of Puerto Rico campus, 18°13' 16"N 67° 08' 74"W, 3 March, 2009, T.L. Whitworth ( TW); 2 females, Rio Grande, El Verde Station, 3.1 km wnw Pico El Yunque, Sierra de Luquillo, 18°19'15"N 65°49'11"W, 3– 6 June, 1996, C. Young et al. ( CMNH); 1 female, San Germdo, Nov.10,1967, T.E. Rogers collection ( BMNH). St. Lucia (1 female): Saltibus Trail, 460m, 24 Dec., 2002, S. A. Marshall ( UGG). St. Vincent (3 males, 6 females): 2 males, Montreal, 26 March, 1989, Wayne Mathis ( USNM); 1 male, Montreal, 13°12'N 61°11'W, 3 June, 1991, W.N. and D. Mathis ( USNM); 5 females, Majorca, July 7–8, 1972, Malaise trap, A.D. Harrison ( CMNH); 1 female, leeward side, 1907, H.H. Smith ( BMNH).

Non Paratypes. Some specimens were discolored or distorted and thus not labeled paratypes. From Dominica there were 9 males and 35 females, Puerto Rico, 2 males and 13 females.

Specimens examined. 98 males, 186 females, including non paratypes.

Distribution. Known only from Dominica, Puerto Rico, Saint Vincent, and Saint Lucia, but likely on nearby islands.

Ecology and biology. This species is widespread, but most abundant in pockets of humid jungle, often near water. I trapped it on the University of Puerto Rico campus along with numerous Cochliomyia minima . Its life history is unknown, but it was attracted to carrion. Examined specimens were collected from a variety of habitats both moist and dry and at elevations as high as 500m.

Variation. Specimens from Dominica and St. Lucia have T4 with whitish microtomentum on the front half to 2/3 while those from Puerto Rico and St. Vincent have all of T4 polished. It is surprising that St. Vincent specimens are like those in Puerto Rico as the island is much closer to Dominica and St. Lucia. Despite this distinction, the specimens are otherwise virtually identical. Occasional specimens of both sexes are seen with the fifth abdominal tergite coppery as in L. lucigerens (James) , but the darker upper calypter in L. fay eae separates it.

Etymology. The species name was chosen to honor my wife Faye who has accompanied and assisted me on numerous collecting trips over the past 40 years.

Figures

FIGURES 38 – 49. Left lateral and posterior views of Lucilia male genitalia. 38, 39. L. cluvia. 40, 41. L. coeruleiviridis. 42, 43. L. eximia. 44, 45. L. fayeae. 46, 47. L. lucigerens. 48, 49. L. retroversa.

FIGURES 52 – 61. Phallus of Lucilia species in left lateral and dorsal views. 52, 53. L. cluvia. 54, 55. L. eximia. 56, 57. L. fayeae. 58, 59. L. lucigerens. 60, 61. L. retroversa ..

FIGURES 62 – 72. 62, 63. Phallus of Lucilia rica in left lateral and dorsal views. 64 – 72. Ejaculatory sclerites, pre- and postgonites and hypandria of Lucilia. 64 – 66. L. cluvia. 67 – 69. L. eximia. 70, 71, 72. L. fayeae.

FIGURES 73 – 87. 73 – 81. Ejaculatory sclerites, pre- and postgonites, and hypandria of Lucilia. 73 – 75. L. lucigerens. 76 – 78. L. retroversa. 79 – 81. L. rica. 82 – 87. Abdominal sternites of Lucilia. 82. L. cluvia. 83. L. eximia. 84. L. fayeae. 85. L. lucigerens. 86. L. retroversa. 87. L. rica.

FIGURES 91 – 92. Ovipositors of Lucilia. 91. L. fayeae. 92. L. lucigerens.

FIGURES 95 – 96. Left lateral view of female Lucilia. 95. L. fayeae. 96. L. problematica.