Amerohelea Grogan & Wirth

Borkent, Art, 2014, The Pupae of the Biting Midges of the World (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), With a Generic Key and Analysis of the Phylogenetic Relationships Between Genera, Zootaxa 3879 (1), pp. 1-327 : 100

Amerohelea Grogan & Wirth

( Figs. 22B , 46G )

DIAGNOSIS: known only from one limited description by Lane et al. (1955) and not diagnosable.

DESCRIPTION: Known only from one limited description by Lane et al. (1955), with the following character states discernable: Head: Dorsal apotome ( Fig. 22B ), uncertain ventral line of weakness, without dorsomedial tubercle, without central dome. Thorax: Respiratory organ ( Fig. 46G ) length/width = 4.00, elongate, moderately slender, with pores closely abutting at apex of respiratory organ, arranged in single row. Abdomen: tergites or sternites entire, each without membranous disc; segment 9 not strongly modified, terminal processes separated basally, each projecting posterodorsolaterally, tapering to pointed apex.

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT: The genus Amerohelea is known from 13 species in the New World ( Borkent 2014 ). The only specimen known was collected from a reservoir with abundant vegetation and open, sunny exposure ( Lane et al. 1955).

TAXONOMIC DISCUSSION: No specimens of this genus were examined and the pupa is known only from the brief description of A. sordidipes by Lane et al. (1955). Lane et al. (1955) included drawings of the dorsal apotome, respiratory organ and abdominal tergites 3–9. The dorsal apotome is of a unique outline, no sensilla were illustrated ( Fig. 22B ) and it is almost certainly poorly drawn. The respiratory organ was drawn in an anterior/ posterior perspective ( Fig. 46G ) and so the length/width noted here as 4.00 (taken from the drawing) is only approximate. The drawing of the abdomen did not provide enough resolution to determine the identification of most sensilla (only D-2-IV and D-3-IV can be identified with any confidence) and is not replicated here.

The few features of the pupa previously reported means this genus could neither be keyed nor interpreted phylogenetically. The presence of abdominal tergal apodemes of adult females indicates the genus is a member of the Palpomyiini .

The previously described pupa of A. sordidipes was not in the collections of the Faculdade de Saude Publica, Universidade de Sao Paulo (Anice Sallum, pers. comm.) or at the Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de São Paulo (Carlos José Einicker Lamas, pers. comm.) both of which otherwise house some Lane material.

MATERIAL EXAMINED: None available.

Figures

FIGURE 22. Dorsal apotomes, anterior view. A. Sphaeromias longipennis (from Wirth & Grogan 1979). B. Amerohelea sordidipes (from Lane et al. 1955). C. Bezzia mollis (from Mayer 1934c). D. Bezzia roldani (from Spinelli & Wirth 1989). E. Bezzia brevicornis (from Spinelli 1983a). F. Clastrieromyia dycei (from Spinelli & Grogan 1986). G. Pachyhelea pachymera (from Spinelli 1983a). H. Palpomyia lineata (from Grogan & Wirth 1979). I. Palpomyia belkini (from Grogan & Wirth 1979, modified). J. Palpomyia flaviceps (from Grogan & Wirth 1979). K. Phaenobezzia opaca (from Wirth & Grogan 1982). L. Paryphoconus oliveirai (from Ronderos et al. 2007).

FIGURE 46. Respiratory organs, most in dorsal view, Figs. 46G. in lateral view, pattern on tracheal tubes shown only in some. A. Homohelea albitudinis (from de Meillon & Wirth 1981). B. Homohelea delanoe (from de Meillon & Wirth 1981). C. Leehelea wasselli (from Elson-Harris 1987). D. Leehelea hispida (from Elson-Harris 1987). E. Sphaeromias longipennis (from Wirth & Grogan 1979). F. Xenohelea galatea. G. Amerohelea sordidipes (from Lane et al. 1955). H. Bezzia glabra (from Wirth 1983b). I. Bezzia obelisca (from Wirth 1983a). J. Bezzia dorsasetula (from Wirth 1983a). K. Bezzia turkmenica (from Glukhova 1979b). L. Clastrieromyia dycei (from Spinelli & Grogan 1986). M. Pachyhelea pachymera (from Spinelli 1983a). N. Palpomyia lineata (from Grogan & Wirth 1979). O. Palpomyia jonesi (from Grogan & Wirth 1979). P. Palpomyia belkini (from Grogan & Wirth 1979). Q. Palpomyia rufa (from Grogan & Wirth 1979). R. Palpomyia flaviceps (from Grogan & Wirth 1979). S. Phaenobezzia opaca (from Wirth & Grogan 1982). T. Paryphoconus oliveirai (from Ronderos et al. 2007).