Scatophila rubribrunnea Sturtevant and Wheeler

Zatwarnicki, Tadeusz & Mathis, Wayne N., 2024, Revision of the Nearctic Species of the Shore-Fly Genus Scatophila Becker (Diptera: Ephydridae), Zootaxa 5487 (1), pp. 1-100 : 94-97

26. Scatophila rubribrunnea Sturtevant and Wheeler

Figs. 219–220 , 229–235

Scatophila rubribrunnea Sturtevant and Wheeler 1954: 197 .— Wirth 1965: 759 [ Nearctic catalog].— Zatwarnicki 1987: 294 [checklist].— Zatwarnicki and Mathis 1994: 365 [quadriguttata group].— Mathis and Zatwarnicki 1995: 286 [world catalog].

Diagnosis.—This species is distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: Body generally dark colored, brown; small to moderately small shore flies, body length 1.40–2.35 mm.

Head ( Figs. 229–232 ): Face of ♂ sunken in middle, usually appearing membranous to a noticeable degree; oral margin slightly to conspicuously protuberant, acutely angulate in lateral view, not truncate. Eye round. Gena relatively short, gena-to-eye ratio 0.23–0.25.

Thorax ( Figs. 219 , 225 ): Mesonotum ( Fig. 225 ) mottled, mixture of brown and gray, medial anterior dark stripe not much darker than other markings; pale marks over postpronotum continuous with dorsal marks on each side of medial stripe. Wing ( Fig. 219 ) moderately dark with conspicuous white spots; costal vein ratio 0.22–0.25; M 1 vein ratio 0.50–056; knob of halter yellow. Legs dark colored, brownish black, thinly microtomentose; male midfemur lacking row of spine-like setulae along posteroventral margin; tarsi black.

Abdomen ( Figs. 233–235 ): Tergites generally brown to black, rather heavily microtomentose laterally, somewhat subshiny to shiny dorsally, lateral areas of tergites with posterior portion often grayish. Male terminalia ( Figs. 233– 235 ): Epandrium in posterior view ( Fig. 233 ) generally irregularly and broadly rectangular, width almost 3/4 height, ventral margin somewhat truncate ( Fig. 233 ) with medial, shallow pointed projection, ventral margin distinctly wider than width of cercal opening; dorsal margin of epandrium in posterior view ( Fig. 233 ) rounded, lateral margins widest at midheight, thereafter somewhat narrowed to posterolateral corner; epandrial setulae about equal in length, sparser medially and laterally, those along ventral margin more abundant; height of cercal opening more than 1/3 epandrial height; cerci in posterior view ( Fig. 233 ) semihemispherical, slightly more narrowed dorsally; aedeagus in lateral view ( Fig. 235 ) broadly and evenly rounded basally, forming irregular rectangle, ventral margin shallowly rounded, posterior margin broadly truncate with short, pointed projection from posterodorsal corner, dorsal margin deeply and widely excavated basally, cavity longer than opening, in ventral view ( Fig. 234 ) irregularly rectangular, lateral margins shallowly sinuous, posterior margin broadly and evenly emarginate, basal margin narrowed sub-basally; ventral aedeagal process shallowly C-shaped; phallapodeme in lateral view ( Fig. 235 ) elongate, narrow, dorsal 1/3 gently elbowed and with a shallow keel, ventral extension nearly straight, elongate, narrow, in ventral ( Fig. 234 ) Tshaped, width of basal crossbar longer than length of medial process, crossbar curved posteriorly and each extension slightly tapered; postgonite in lateral view ( Fig. 235 ) irregularly V-shaped, with dorsal arm irregularly rectangular, lateroanterodorsal corner produced to thumb-like extension, medioanterodorsal corner robustly produced with apical, digitiform projection, posterodorsal angle produced to robust, short, pointed extension, ventral arm elongate, thin, parallel-sided, in ventral view ( Fig. 234 ) with posterior, thumb-like extensions narrowly developed, apices produced laterally, bearing setulae along medial margin and 2 setulae laterally; neohypandrium in lateral view ( Fig. 235 ) narrow, elongate, distinctly elbowed.

Type Material.—The holotype male of Scatophila rubribrunnea is labeled “Pasadena[,] Calif[ornia]. Mar. 15. ‘50 [handwritten]/M.R. Wheeler/ HOLOTYPE Scatophila rubribrunnea Stvt & Whlr [pink]/6685 TYPE [dark pink; number handwritten]. The holotype is double mounted (glued to a paper point), is in good condition, and is deposited in the ANSP (6685).

Other Specimens Examined.— CANADA. BRITISH COLUMBIA. Vancouver Island . Goldstream Provincial Park (48°29'N, 123°33'W), 12 Jul 1924 , A. L. Melander (1♂; USNM) .

MEXICO. SONORA. Imuris (30°47.4'N, 110°50.8'W), 16 Apr 1952 , R. E. Ryckman (1♂; USNM) .

UNITED STATES. ALASKA. Aleutians East (Census Area): Wosnesenski Island (55°13'N, 161°22.1'W; back beach; pan trap), 11 Jul 2009 , D. S. Sikes (11♂, 6♀; UAF). Anchorage: Anchorage (61°13.1'N, 149°54'W; Seward Highway), 5 Aug 1964 , K. M. Sommerman (1♂; USNM); Mirror Lake (61°25.7'N, 149°24.9'W), 5 Aug–29 Jun 2002 , 2006, D. and W. N. Mathis (14♂, 11♀; USNM). Kenai Peninsula: Deep Creek (60°02'N, 151°42'W; gravel to cobble beach), 2 Aug 2002 , D. and W. N. Mathis (1♂, 3♀; USNM); Homer (59°38.8'N, 151°31.5'W), 2 Aug 2002 , D. and W. N. Mathis (5♂, 10♀; USNM); Homer Spit (59°38'N, 151°29.8'W; beach), 2 Aug 2002 , D. and W. N. Mathis (1♂; USNM); Kasilof (11 km S; 60°14.8'N, 151°21.9'W), 2 Aug 2003 , D. and W. N. Mathis (1♀; USNM); Kenai (60°33.8'N, 151°07.4'W), 2 Aug 2003 , D. and W. N. Mathis (8♂, 3♀; USNM); Kenai Lake (60°20.5'N, 149°22.2'W; Primrose Campground), 31 Jul 2003 , D. and W. N. Mathis (5♂, 5♀; USNM); Ninilchik (60°03'N, 151°40.2'W; beach), 2 Jul 2006 , D. and W. N. Mathis (5♂; USNM); Seward (60°08.3'N, 149°23.2'W), 7 Aug 2003 , D. and W. N. Mathis (1♂, 3♀; USNM); Skilak Lake (60°26.3'N, 150°19.4'W), 3 Aug 2002 , D. and W. N. Mathis (3♂, 1♀; USNM); Soldotna (6.5 km E; 60°30.5'N, 150°55.6'W), 1 Aug 2002 , 2003, D. and W. N. Mathis (9♂, 2♀; USNM); Swanson River Landing (60°44.7'N, 150°48'W), 13 Aug 2012 , D. and W. N. Mathis (3♂; USNM). Matanuska-Susitna: Eklutna (Knik Arm; 61°28.2'N, 149°21.4'W), 7 Aug 2002 , D. and W. N. Mathis (1♀; USNM); Hatcher Pass (61°45'N, 149°13.9'W), 6 Aug 2002 , D. and W. N. Mathis (1♂, 5♀; USNM); Knik River (61°27.8'N, 148°51.6'W), 5 Aug 2002 , D. and W. N. Mathis (4♂, 4♀; USNM); Lucile Lake (61°34.2'N, 149°28.6'W; 100 m), 15 Aug 2012 , D. and W. N. Mathis (1♂; USNM); Matanuska (61°32.5'N, 149°13.8'W; rotary trap), 10 Jul 1945 , J. C. Chamberlin (1♂; USNM); Palmer ( Knik River ; 61°31.2'N, 148°59.4'W), 6 Aug 2002 , D. and W. N. Mathis (2♂; USNM); Palmer ( Matanuska River ; 61°36.5'N, 149°04.1'W), 5–16 Aug 2002 , 2012, D. and W. N. Mathis (11♂, 6♀; USNM); Pittman (61°35.5'N, 149°37.9'W), 5–14 Aug 2002 , 2012, D. and W. N. Mathis (3♂, 4♀; USNM); Sheep Creek (61°58.3'N, 150°05'W; 55 m), 10 Aug 2011 , D. and W.N. Mathis (2♂; USNM); Talkeetna (62°18.9'N, 150°06.3'W), 4 Aug 2003 , D. and W. N. Mathis (1♂, 1♀; USNM); Willow Creek (61°46.1'N, 150°04.2'W; 50 m), 10 Jul 2006 , D. and W. N. Mathis (2♂, 1♀; USNM). North Slope : Cape Thompson, Chariot Site (68°06.3'N, 165°44.6'W), Aug 1960 , L. Throckmorton (1♂; USNM). Valdez-Cordova (Census Area): Gulkana River (19.3 km N Glennallen; 62°16.1'N, 145°23.1'W), 9 Jul 2006 , D. and W. N. Mathis (3♂; USNM) .

ARIZONA. Santa Cruz : Nogales (31°20.5'N, 110°56.1'W), 28 Jun 1953, W. W. Wirth (1♀; USNM) .

CALIFORNIA. Kern: Kern River (35°27.7'N, 118°46.3'W), 4 Jan 1950, A. H. Sturtevant (1♂, 3♀; USNM) . Los Angeles: Buckhorn Flat (34°20.7'N, 117°54.9'W), 9 May 1951, H. D. Stalker (1♀; USNM) ; Dark Canyon (34°08.6'N, 118°20.4'W), 11 Jul 1951, A. H. Sturtevant (1♂; USNM) ; Mt. Waterman (34°21'N, 117°55.7'W), 9 May 1951, A. H. Sturtevant (1♀; USNM) ; Pasadena (34°09.4'N, 118°07.9'W), 8 Mar–Jul 1949, 1950, A. H. Sturtevant (16♂, 17♀; USNM) . Orange: Corona del Mar (33°35.9'N, 117°52.4'W), 10 Mar 1950, A. H. Sturtevant (2♀; USNM) . San Bernardino: Jenks Lake (34°09.9’N; 116°43.6'W), 18 Aug 1950, A. L. Melander (1♀; USNM) . Sierra : Spencer Lakes (39°41.9'N, 120°53.6'W), 20 Aug 1966 (1♂; USNM) . Tulare: Nine Mile Canyon (35°50.2’N; 117°54.3'W; 2400 m), 6 Aug 1961, R. L. Macdonald (2♂; USNM) .

IDAHO. Bannock: Lava Hot Spring s (42°37.2'N, 112°0.9'W), 14 Jul 1988, D. and W. N. Mathis (1♂; USNM). Latah : Moscow Mountain (46°48.2'N, 116°52.1'W), 7 Jul 1918, A. L. Melander (1♂; USNM) .

MONTANA. Silver Bow: Pipestone Pass (45°51.4'N, 112°26.4'W), 3 Jul 1923, A. L. Melander (1♀; USNM) .

NEW MEXICO. Grant : Cliff Dwellings National Monument ( Gila River ; 32°56.3'N, 108°36.3'W; river), 25 Jun 1953, W. W. Wirth (1♂; USNM).

OREGON. Deschutes: Bend (44°03.5'N, 121°18.9'W), 8 Aug 1951, A. H. Sturtevant (1♀; USNM) . Harney: Pike Creek (42°34.5'N, 118°31.7'W; 1320 m), 7 Aug 2005, D. and W. N. Mathis (2♂; USNM) . Klamath: Crater Lake (42°56.5'N, 122°09.5'W), 16 Sep 1934, A. L Melander (2♂, 2♀; USNM) .

WASHINGTON. Chelan : Lake Wenatchee (47°48.7'N, 120°43.6'W), 4Aug 1951, A. H. Sturtevant (1♂; USNM) . Mason : Potlatch State Park, Hoods Canal (47°22.3'N, 123°08.6'W), 28 Jul 1917, A. L. Melander (1♂; USNM) . Okanogan : Brewster (48°05.8'N, 119°48.8'W), 17 Aug 1940, A. L. Melander (1♂; USNM) . Pierce : Burroughs Mountain, Mt. Rainier National Park (46°54.1'N, 121°42.8'W), 21 Aug 1934, A. L. Melander (1♂; USNM) ; White River Campground (46°54.3'N, 121°38.8'W), 9–10Aug 1977, W.Turner, R. Zack (1♂; USNM) . Snohomish : Everett, Lake Stevens (48°01.2'N, 118°08.7'W), 3 Aug 1917, A. L. Melander (1♂; USNM) . Yakima : Holland (46°34.6'N, 120°23.2'W; perhaps a cemetery), 3 Jul 1919, A. L. Melander (1♂; USNM) . Mt. Rainer , Yakima Trail (46°52.4'N, 121°34.4'W), 22 Jul 1924, A. L. Melander (1♂; USNM) . Spokane : Valleyford (47°31.5'N, 117°16.4'W), 19 Jul 1919, A. L. Melander (1♂; USNM) .

WYOMING. Lincoln: Kemmerer (41°47.5'N, 110°32.2'W), 15 Aug 1950, A. H. Sturtevant (1♂; USNM). Sublette: Daniels (42°51.9'N, 110°04.2'W), 15 Aug 1950, A. H. Sturtevant (2♂; USNM) .

Type Locality.— United States. California. Los Angeles: Pasadena (34°09.4'N, 118°07.9'W) .

Distribution ( Fig. 220 ).— Nearctic : Canada (British Columbia). Mexico (Sonora), United States (Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming).

Remarks.—This species is placed in the quadriguttata group.

Figures

FIGURE 220. Distribution map of Scatophila mystacina sp. nov. (circle), and S. rubribrunnea Sturtevant & Wheeler (squares).

FIGURES 215–219. Head, thorax, and wing of Scatophila. 215–216. Head of Scatophila picta Sturtevant & Wheeler. 215. Latero-oblique view. 216. Lateral view. 217. Scatophila mystacina sp. nov., head and thorax, dorsal view. 218–219. Wing, dorsal view. 218. S. pulchra Sturtevant & Wheeler. 219. S. rubribrunnea Sturtevant & Wheeler. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 229–232. Head of Scatophila rubribrunnea Sturtevant & Wheeler. 229. Male, latero-oblique view. 230. Male, lateral view. 231. Female, latero-oblique view. 232. Female, lateral view. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 233–235. Male terminalia of Scatophila rubribrunnea Sturtevant & Wheeler. 233. Epandrium and cerci, posterior view. 234. Internal male terminalia (gonite, phallapodeme, aedeagus, neohypandrium), ventral view. 235. Same, lateral view. Scale bar = 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 221–225. Head and thorax of Scatophila. 221–222. Head of S. pulchra Sturtevant & Wheeler. 221. Latero-oblique view. 222. Lateral view. 223–225. Head and thorax, dorsal view. 223. Scatophila picta Sturtevant & Wheeler. 224. S. pulchra Sturtevant & Wheeler. 225. S. rubribrunnea Sturtevant & Wheeler. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.