Efferia nigrimystacea (Macquart)

Aubrey G. Scarbrough & Daniel E. Perez-Gelabert, 2009, Review of the West Indian species of Efferia Coquillett (Diptera: Asilidae) with 13 new species and checklist: Part II. Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and Lesser Antilles including Tobago and Trinidad, Zootaxa 1994, pp. 1-66 : 52-55

Efferia nigrimystacea (Macquart)

Figs. 96 , 110–115 , Table 1

Erax nigrimystaceus Macquart, 1847: 57 . Walker 1855: 633; Aldrich 1905: 277.

Asilus nigrimystaceus, Hull 1962: 546 . Comb. nov.

Eicherax nigrimystaceus, Martin & Papavero 1970: 70 . Catalogue; comb. nov.

Efferia nigrimystacea, Scarbrough & Knutson 1989: 519 –537. Comb. nov.

Redescription, male. Male. Measurements, body 12.6–15.4 mm; wing 11.6–13.0 mm. Head: Dull yellowishgray to gray tomentose; face at antennae about 2/3 as wide as 1 eye. Mystax mostly black, sometimes black bristles abundant on dorsal 1/2, scattered laterally and ventrally, mixed with thinner whitish bristles and setae. Palpi, antennae, frons, ocellar tubercle, and vertex with mostly or entirely black vestiture, sparse whitish setae sometimes present. Occiput grayish tomentose with mostly whitish setae, scattered black setae and 4–5 stout black postocular bristles dorsally; longer, thinner black bristles laterally.

Thorax: Pronotum gray tomentose, yellow tomentose medially with yellow setae and mostly black bristles. Scutum yellowish-gray or slightly brownish-gray tomentose dorsally; vestiture mostly black; sparse white setae anteriorly and above wing base laterally; anterior most setae about as long as scape; 5 lateral bristles stout, 5–6 dorsocentral bristles long and thin. Scutellum yellowish-gray tomentose; setae about as long as scape and pedicel combined, usually mostly or entirely black, sometimes partly white; 4–5 marginal bristles present with 1–2 additional thinner bristles laterally. Pleura brownish-gray tomentose dorsally, gray ventrally; vestiture mostly black, sparse whitish setae ventrally. Halter dull yellow, knob yellowish-red.

Wing ( Fig. 96 ): Hyaline, at most a slight brownish or yellowish tint, costal cell reddish; costal margin slightly dilated. Crossvein r-m at apical 1/4 of cell d. Cell r4 well beyond apex of d; R4 recurrent vein short, about 1/2 diameter of cell base.

Legs: Mostly black. Coxae gray tomentose with mostly pale yellowish vestiture, sparse black setae or bristles sometimes present. Femora mostly white or yellowish setose, black setae dorsoapically; bristles mostly black. Mesothoracic femora with 1 stout pale bristle medioposteriorly. Metathoracic femora with all ventral bristles black. Tibiae mostly yellow or brownish-yellow, apices blackish; bristles black. Tarsi dark, reddish-brown to black; bristles black.

Abdomen: Black with apical margins of most segments reddish-yellow to yellow. Tergites 2–5 dorsally mostly and narrow transverse stripe of tergite 1 brownish tomentose, wide sides yellowish-gray; sternites 1–7 and tergites 6–7 white tomentose with mostly or wholly white setae; tergites 1–3 mostly yellowish setose dorsally, black on tergites 4–5, and 8. Sternite 8 produced, longer than segment 7, concealing base of gonocoxa; black with sparse gray tomentum and long, dense, black setae.

Terminalia ( Figs. 110–113 ): Black, mostly black setose, pale along margin dorsally. Epandrium flat, wide, about twice as long as wide; apex truncate with anterior and posterior notch; short, posterior dorsal corner with short stout bristles. Gonocoxa blade-like, curved forward, apex angular along inner margin, about 3/4 as long as epandrium; 1 row of long stiff bristle-like setae posteriorly. Gonostylus spatulate with prominent notch apically.

Female. Measurements, body 14.6–17.4 mm; wing 12.4–13.6 mm. Head: Antennal vestiture variable, usually mostly black, sometimes entirely yellow; face/head 1.0– 4.3 mm, 1.14–4.6 mm. Thorax: Anterior scutal setae about 3/4 as long as scape; postalar callus sometimes slightly pale brown in ground color. Scutellum with short setae, about as long as scape; 4–5 marginal bristles, usually black, sometimes yellowish or reddish. Halter yellow. Wing: Yellowish. R4 recurrent vein as long or longer than diameter of base of cell r4. Leg: Fore femur with stout bristles ventrally, most yellowish, sometimes 2–3 black bristles intermixed. Metathoracic femora with 2–3 yellow bristles. Abdomen: Tergites 2–7 brownish to brownish-yellow tomentose dorsally, wide sides of tergites 2–6 brownish-gray to gray tomentose; tergite 7 sparsely brown tomentose dorsally, sides shining, tomentum absent; tergites 1–4 with mostly to wholly yellowish setae dorsally, sparse brown setae present medially, 5–7 mostly or entirely brown setose dorsally; sternites entirely white tomentose, white setose, setae long on sternites 1–5, those on 5 2/3 as long as sternite 2; sternite 7 with basal 1/3–1/2 white tomentose. Terminalia ( Figs. 114–115 ): Length 4.0– 4.5 mm, 8.0–9.0 times longer than diameter at middle. Tergite 9 about twice as long as cercus. Spermathecae spherical, about as long as wide.

Specimens examined. BARBUDA ISL. / WEST INDIES / 27.iv.1991 / R.E. Woodruff (2 ♂, 2 ♀, FSCA). DOMINICA: Dominica W.I. / St. Johns Parish / 14.vii.1987 / E.J. Gerberg (1 ♀, NMNH); 31.vi.02 / DOMINICA / West Indies ~ S.W. Bromley / Coll. (1 ♂, NMNH); DOMINICA / Clarke Hall / viii.6.1964 / T.J. Spilman ~ Bredin - / Archbald / Smithsonian / Survey (1 ♂, NMNH); Castle Comfort / 13.vi.1965 / D.M. Anderson (1 ♂, 1 ♀, NMNH); DOMINICA: W.I. / Clarke Hall / 21–31.i.1965 / W.W. Wirth / malaise trap ~ Bredin-Archbold- / Smithsonian Bio - / Surv. Dominica (1 ♂, NMNH); same data except 8–10.i.1965 (1 ♂, NMNH); DOMINICA: W.I. / Macoucheri / 12.ii.1965 / W.W. Wirth at light ~ Bredin-Archbold- / Smithsonian Bio - / Surv. Dominica (1 ♀, NMNH); DOMINICA / Pagua Bay / 18.ii.1965 / W.W. Wirth at light ~ Bredin- Archbold- / Smithsonian Bio - / Surv. Dominica (1 ♀, NMNH); DOMINICA: W.I. / Roseau / v.1967 / N.L.H. Krauss (1 ♂, NMNH); DOMINICA / Clarke Hall / 3. iii.1965 / ~ J.F.G. Clarke / Thelma M. Clarke ~ Bredin- Archbold- / Smithsonian Bio - / Surv. Dominica (1 ♀, NMNH); DOMINICA / Melville Hall / Est. 18.ii.1965 (1 ♀, NMNH); DOMINICA / Clarke Hall ~ 18.vii.1965 / D.L. Jackson ~ Bredin-Archbold- / Smithsonian Bio - / Surv. Dominica (1 ♂, NMNH); DOMINICA / Grande Savane / 2.ix.1964 / T.J. Spilman ~ Bredin- / Archbold- / Smithsonian / Survey (2 ♀, NMNH); same data except 15.ix.1964 [terminalia absent] (1 ♂, NMNH); DOMINICA / Clarke Hall Est. / 28.viii.1965 / D.M. Anderson ~ Collected at / black light (1 ♀, NMNH); same data except 29.viii.1965 (1 ♀, NMNH); same data except label ~ Efferia nigrimystacea (Macquart) / d. L. Knutson ’70 ~ L.V. Knutson / Slide No. 7005 (1 ♀, NMNH); DOMINICA / Colihaut / 10.x.1964 / P.J. Spangler ~ Bredin-Archbold- / Smithsonian / Bio. Surv. Dominica (1 ♂, NMNH); DOMINICA / Scotts Head / 15.v.1964 / O. S. Flint, Jr. (1 ♀, NMNH); DOMINICA / Layou Valley / 23–25.vii.1963 / O. S. Flint (1 ♀, NMNH); DOMINCA / S. Chiltern / 14.v.1964 / O. S. Flint, Jr. (1 ♀, NMNH). GUADELOUPE: Syntypes: 2 ♂, nos. 324 1/2 [dissected, good condition, lectotype] and 324 2/2 [terminalia absent], Erax nigrimystaceus Macquart ( OUMNH). MONTSERRAT: Cassava Ghaut / Beattie House, 632 ft / 16o45.908’N, 62o12.953’W / 11–18.ii.2002 / A. Krakower, uv light (1 ♂, MIAC); same location 21–30.vi.2002 / M.A. Ivie, uv light (1 ♂, 2 ♀, MIAC); same location 05–18.ii.2002 / A. Krakower, uv light (1 ♂, MIAC); same location 30.v–6.vi.2002, / 632 ft M.A. Ivie, / colr, uv light (1 ♂, MIAC); Beattie House / Cassava Ghaut, 632 ft. / 16o45.91’N, 62o12.95’W / 30.v–06.vi.2002 / uv light trap, M.A. Ivie (1 ♀, MIAC); Cassava Ghaut / 16o45.908’N, 62o12.953’W / 24.iv–1.v. 2001, 632 ft / M. Stevens & B. Beattie / Malaise trap (1 ♀, MIAC); same location, 1–29.vi.2003 / K.A. Marske, Malaise trap (1 ♀, MIAC); same location 15.v–1.vi.2003 / K.A. Marske, Malaise trap (1 ♀, MIAC); Hope Ridge / Beattie House, 632 ft / 16o45.169’N, 62o12.736’W / 20.viii.2002, 1051 ft. / J. Martin & J. Adams / canopy foggin, dawn (1 ♀, MIAC); Rendezvous Bay / 16o48.496’N, 62o12.298’W / 2–9.viii.2005, sea level / WIBF colrs (1 ♀, MIAC); Woodlands / Riverside House light / 16o45.99’N, 69o13.34’W / 10–13.i.2002, M.A. Ivie / K. Marske & K. Puliafico (1 ♂, MIAC); Beattie House / Cassava Ghaut, 632 ft / 16o45.91’N, 62o12.95’W / 30.v –12.vi.2002 / Malaise trap, M.A. Ivie (1 ♂, 2 ♀, MIAC); Woodlands / Duryea’s Parr, 420’ / 16o45.799’N, 69o13.210’W / 16–29.vi.2000, in pool / M.A. Ivie & K.A. Guerrero (1 ♂, MIAC); Centre Hills / Spring Ghaut, 750’ / NE of Fleming / 19.vi.2000 / M.A. Ivie & K.A. Guerrero (1 ♀, MIAC); Cedar Ghaut / Furlong, 170 ft / 16o46.546’N, 62o10.338’W / 6–9.viii.2005 / WIBF colrs, uv light (3 ♂, 1 ♀, MIAC); same location 4–9.viii.2005 / WIBF colrs (1 ♂, MIAC): Woodlands / Mohagany Rd. 2.viii.2005 / WIBF colrs (1 ♂, MIAC); same location, 21.vii.2005 / WIBF colrs (1 ♂, MIAC). ST LUCIA: St. Lucia W.I. / Anse Galet / 14.viii.1977 / Kay Kilmon (2 ♀, NMNH). ST LUCIA: St. Lucia WI / Gros Islet / 11.vii.1987 / E.J. Gerberg (1 ♂, NMNH). ST. VINCENT, Par. St. / George, Rivulet Agr. / Sta. 1–4.x.1991 / R.E. Woodruff / Malaise trap (1 ♂, FSCA). WEST INDIES: Redonda, / 16o56.36’N, 62o20.75’W / 6.viii.2005, 500– 900 ft / V.G. Martinson colr. (1 ♂, 1 ♀, MIAC).

Distribution. Lesser Antilles: Guadeloupe, Barbuda, Dominica, St.Lucia, Montserrat, Redonda, and St. Vincent. Active at sea level to 323 meters in elevation from January through October.

Remarks. Efferia nigrimystacea is readily distinguished from congeners by combined characters of the terminalia ( Figs. 110–115 ). The short, apically squared, epandrium, short gonocoxa with sparse long setae, the angular phallic flanges, posterior emargination on the gonostyle, and the prominently produced sternite 7 with dense apical setae concealing the base of the gonocoxite distinguish the male from any known Efferia species. Additionally, abundant black vestiture of the face and palpus, the short, wide ovipositor and spherical spermatheca further distinguish the species. However, the male wing is usually slightly or moderately dilated; the R4 recurrent vein is usually as long or longer than the base of cell r4, tergites 6 and 7, sometimes 5–7 are entirely white tomentose; the apical margin of sternite 8 usually has dense, unusually long, brush-like setae which covers the base of the gonocoxite although the setae are sparse and short in the Lectotype.

There are 2 male syntypes (numbers 324 1/2, 324 2/2) in the Oxford Natural History Museum. The syntype number 324 1/2 is in good condition except the terminalia has been dissected. The latter is stored in a plastic microvial with glycerin and attached to a separate pin in the museum box with the syntype. The syntype is hereby designated Lectotype for clarification and to ensure stabilization in nomenclature. The syntype has the following label: Lectotype 324 1/ 2 Male / Diptera : Asilidae / Efferia nigrimystacea (Macquart) / designated by A. Scarbrough. The second syntype is without the apical part of the abdomen and terminalia. It is labeled Paralectotype Male/ Diptera : Asilidae / Efferia nigrimystacea (Macquart) / designated by A. Scarbrough.

Figures

FIGURES 89–96. Wings of 8 species of Efferia Coquillett. 89. E. exacta sp. nov.; 90. E. forbesi (Curran); 91. E. fortis (Walker); 92. E. fulvibarbis (Macquart); 93. E. haitensis (Walker); 94. E. montensis sp. nov.; 95. E. nigrimystacea (Macquart); and 96. E. sinuosa sp. nov. Abbrevations: Costa = C; discal cell = dc; first medial cell =m 1; fourth radial vein = R 4; fifth radial vein = R 5; recurrent vein = rec; radial-medial crossvein = r-m.

FIGURES 110–115. Efferia nigrimystacea (Macquart) Male terminalia, lateral view: 110. Intact, left side; 111. Gonostylus; 112. Phallus; and 113. Aedeagus with tubes and phallic flange. Female terminalia, lateral view: 114. Ovipositor; 115. Lateral spermatheca.