Leptoconops, Skuse, 1889

Spinelli, Gustavo R., Ronderos, Maria M. & Díaz, Florentina, 2022, A new species of Leptoconops Skuse from Argentina, description of the male of L. casali Cavalieri & Chiossone and a key to the Neotropical species (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), Zootaxa 5091 (3), pp. 487-494 : 488-489

Key to the Leptoconops of the Neotropical region (primarily for females)

1. Female abdomen with lamellae broader than longer; frons bare; female antenna with 12 flagellomeres; tarsomeres 1-2 of fore leg armed with strong spines, other tarsomeres with slender, sharp, or inconspicuous spines only; tarsal claws of female each with basal, bifid tooth (subgenus Brachyconops Wirth & Atchley )..................... .. L. (B.) patagoniensis Ronderos

1’. Female abdomen with elongate genital lamellae; frons with 0-5 pairs of mesal setae; female antenna with 10-12 flagellomeres; tarsi without strong ventral spines, or with these spines only at apices of basitarsi, or with a few moderately strong ventral spines on basitarsi and at apices of distal tarsomeres............................................................... 2

2. Female antenna with 10-11 flagellomeres; male tergite 9 narrowed distally and bearing a median process or a pair of closely approximated apicolateral processes (subgenus Holoconops Kieffer )............................................ 3

2’. Female antenna with 12 flagellomeres; male tergite 9 not entirely as above....................................... 5

3. Male tergite 9 with conspicuous globose or subquadrangular caudal extension bearing a median process with three pairs of stout distomedian setae; gonostylus broad, leaf shaped, with subapical external peg. Female unknown............................................................................................... L. (H.) bassoi Ronderos & Spinelli

3’. Male tergite 9 without globose or subquadrangular extension; gonostylus swollen basally, apical 2/3 narrowed to rather slender apex, with subapical peg................................................................................ 4

4. Two spermathecae; male tergite 9 with a distal median process............................. L. (H.) bequaerti (Kieffer)

4’. Three spermathecae; male tergite 9 with a pair of closely approximated apicolateral processes................................................................................................. L. (H.) knowltoni Clastrier & Wirth

5. Frons with 4-5 pairs of mesal setae; mandibular teeth absent; tarsal claws nearly straight without basal tooth or bristle; tibial spurs inconspicuous; male tergite 9 rounded and without apicolateral processes (subgenus Megaconops Wirth & Atchley ).................................................................................... L. (M.) floridensis Wirth

5’. Frons bare or with at most one or two small setae; mandibular teeth present; tarsal claws with basal tooth or bristle; tibial spurs conspicuous; male tergite 9 tapered with long, slender apicolateral processes....................................... 6

6. Female abdomen with one or more pairs of posteromesally directed setae on sternite 8; spermathecae marked with light spots on the bottom (subgenus Proleptoconops Clastrier ).......................................................... 7

6’. Female abdomen with posteromesally directed setae on sternite 8 arising from a caudomedian excavation; spermathecae without light spots on the bottom (subgenus Leptoconops Skuse )...................................................... 8

7. Frons bare; palpal segment 3 with subdivided sensory pit; third spine from the spur longest in the hind tibial comb; wing with costal ratio 0.36, radial cell large, evident, stigma brown; female sternite 8 with two pairs of setae arising from raised tubercles; genital lamellae short................................................................ L. (P.) chacoensis n. sp.

7’. Frons with one pair of setae; palpal segment 3 with single, round sensory pit; second spine from the spur longest in the hind tibial comb; wing with costal ratio approximately 0.20, stigma and radial cell indistinct; female sternite 8 with two pairs of setae not arising from raised tubercles; genital lamellae markedly long...................... L. (P.) werneri Wirth & Atchley

8. Wing with costa extending to 0.20 of the total length......................................................... 9

8’. Wing with costa extending to 0.40-0.50 of the total length.................................................... 10

9. Tarsomeres 1-2 of the hind leg slightly swollen, with 15 and 8 ventral pointed spines, respectively; halter uniformly dark brown............................................................... L. (L.) panamensis Ronderos & Spinelli

9’. Tarsomeres 1-2 of the hind leg not swollen, without ventral pointed spines; halter knob pale.............................................................................................. L. (L.) petrocchiae Shannon & Del Ponte

10. Flagellomere 12 of female antenna 2.0-2.6 times longer than broad; two or three elongated spermathecae.............. 11

10’. Flagellomere 12 of female antenna 4-5 times longer than broad; two pyriform spermathecae.........................13

11. Palpus with segment 3 broad, sensory pit conspicuous, irregular; hind tibial comb with four spines, the second and third from the spur longest...................................................................................... 12

11’. Palpus with segment 3 slender, sensory pit small, circular; hind tibial comb with four spines, the second from the spur longest................................................................................ L. (L.) chilensis Forattini

12. Frons bare; sensory organ of palpus about 1/3 of segment 3 length; palpal segment 2 with one seta. Scutum uniformly black. Wing with veins not reaching margin; radial cell small. Two or three spermathecae, the ducts short and broad............................................................................................ L. (L.) venezuelensis Ortiz

12’. Frons with two mesal setae; sensory organ of palpus about 2/3 of palpal segment 3 length; palpal segment 2 with three setae. Scutum dark brown, with three longitudinal, slightly paler bands. Wing with veins reaching margin; radial cell large. Two spermathecae, the ducts short and narrow..................................... .. L. (L.) ricardoi Ronderos & Spinelli

13. Frons bare; female antenna with flagellomeres 2-11 distinctly broader than long; palpus with segment 3 only slightly longer than segment 4.................................................................... L. (L.) brasiliensis (Lutz)

13’. Frons with two pairs of small setae; female antenna with flagellomeres 2-6 broader than long, 7-8 as long as broad, 9-11 slightly longer tan broad; palpus with segment 3 1.5 times longer than segment 4.............. L.(L.) casali Cavalieri & Chiossone