Paraclius brooksi Soares, Runyon & Capellari, 2023

Soares, Matheus M. M., Runyon, Justin B., Capellari, Renato S. & Ale-Rocha, Rosaly, 2023, Review of Paraclius arcuatus species-group (Diptera, Dolichopodidae) with description of two new species, Zootaxa 5323 (2), pp. 151-182 : 166-169

Paraclius brooksi Soares, Runyon & Capellari sp. nov.

( Figs 11–13 , 23 )

Diagnosis (males). Postpedicel subrectangular, pointed dorsally at apex ( Fig. 11D ). Anepisternum with yellow spot above coxa I ( Fig. 11A ). Legs mostly yellow, except extreme base of coxa I, basal 2/3 of coxa II and basal 1/3 of coxa III, tarsi I and II from apex of tarsomere 1, apex of dorsal and posterior surfaces of femur III, apical 1/3 of tibia III and all of tarsus III brown ( Fig. 11A ). Wing brownish; M 1 strongly bowed towards R, weakly concave posteriorly; CuAx ratio: 0.9 ( Fig. 11F ). Male tergite 6 with 4–5 strong lateral setae ( Fig. 11E ). Basal apicoventral epandrial seta about 2X longer than apical seta, and slightly shorter than ventral lobe of surstylus ( Fig. 12C, D ). Ventral lobe of surstylus long and narrow, somewhat L-shaped, strongly curved ventrally at apex ( Fig. 12C, D ). Dorsal lobe of surstylus short and wide, somewhat subrectangular, narrowing at apical 1/3, with 1 short and strong seta at middle of dorsal edge ( Fig. 12D ). Cercus oval, about 3X longer than wide; brownish, except base yellow; about 1/2 as long as epandrium ( Figs 11E , 12B, C ).

4+5

Description. Male. Body length: 2.8–2.9 mm; wing length: 2.6–2.8 mm, width: 0.8 mm (n = 4). Head ( Fig. 11A–D ). Similar to P. arcuatus , except: Upper-most 5 postocular setae black, remaining setae white. Frons subrectangular 2.3X wider than high, metallic green, with weak bluish reflections. Face ground color pale brown, but obscured by dense silvery pruinosity, except short rectangular area below base of antennae metallic green with weak bluish reflections. Face gradually narrowing below, slightly wider than mid ocellus at narrowest point. Antenna dark brown; scape conical, dorsal surface covered with short black setae, 2–3 longer setae at outer surface; postpedicel subrectangular, pointed dorsally at apex, 1.7X longer than wide; arista-like stylus dorsal, arising at base of postpedicel, length about 4/6 of eye height, two-segmented, first segment short and arched, slightly overlapping apex of postpedicel, covered by short pubescence, second segment long, about 2X longer than first segment, covered by short microtrichia. Thorax ( Fig. 11A, B ). Mesonotum mostly metallic green, with narrow acrostichal coppery stripe and weak bluish reflections. Metepimeron dark gray. Chaetotaxy: Scutellum with 1 pair of strong medial scutellars and 1 pair of smaller setae laterad, about 1/6 as long as medial scutellars; upper-surface of proepisternum with sparse fine setulae and 2 more conspicuous setae in front of anterior spiracle. Wing ( Fig. 11F ). Membrane brownish; M 1 strongly bowed towards R 4+5 and weakly concave posteriorly; CuAx ratio: 0.9. Legs ( Fig. 11A ). Mostly yellow, except extreme base of coxa I, basal 2/3 of coxa II and basal 1/3 of coxa III, tarsi I and II from apex of tarsomere 1, apex of dorsal and posterior surfaces of femur III, apical 1/3 of tibia III and entirely tarsus III brown. Leg I. Podomere ratios: 27, 27, 11/4/3/3/3. Anterior surface of coxa I covered with silvery pruinosity on apical 1/2, apical edge with 4–5 strong black setae. Femur I with anteroventral row ending in 2–3 long preapical setae, 1 preapical and 1 apical long posteroventral setae. Ventral surface of tarsus I from apex of It 1 with weak whitish pilosity (MSSC). Leg II. Podomere ratios: 40, 40, 20/12/10/7/5. Femur II with anteroventral row of setae from base to apical 5/6 (about 0.4X as long as width of femur at broadest point), ending in 2–3 long preapical setae, 1 posteroventral more conspicuous seta at apical 1/3, and 1 strong anterior preapical seta. Leg III. Podomere ratios: 42, 50, 14/20/15/10/7. Femur III laterally compressed, about 1.5X wider than femur II at broadest point. Femur III with dorsal row of more erect setae (about 1/3 as long as width of femur) from base to apical 4/6, with ventral row of short setae (about 1/4 as long as width of femur), from base to apical 5/6, ending in 3 more conspicuous preapical setae, 1 short posteroventral seta and 1 strong anterior preapical seta. Abdomen ( Figs 11A, E , 12A, G ). Metallic green, with greenish and bluish reflections. Posterior margin of tergite 5 with long setae, but not overlapping posterior margin of tergite 6. Lateral margin of tergite 6 with 4 long and strong setae, apicalmost seta longer than tergite 6. Tergite 7 covered with weak pruinosity, with narrow and deep concavity at posterior margin, reaching 2/3 of tergite. Sternite 5 U-shaped anteriorly, with two narrow 0-shaped sclerites posteriorly. Sternite 8 subovoid, setose on posterior half. Hypopygium ( Figs 11E , 12B–F ). Epandrium long and narrow, about 2.8X longer than high, with acute apicoventral lateral ridge ( Fig. 12C, D ). Basal apicoventral seta about 2X longer than apical seta, slightly shorter than ventral lobe of surstylus ( Fig. 12C, D ). Ventral lobe of surstylus long, somewhat L-shaped, strong curved ventrally at apex, with short and stout modified apical seta ( Fig. 12C, D ). Dorsal lobe of surstylus short and wide, narrowing at apical 1/3, about 1/3 as long as ventral lobe of surstylus, with 1 short and strong seta at middle of dorsal edge, 1 slender seta at middle of inner surface, 1 short and slender seta at apical 1/3 of dorsal edge and 1 long and slender seta at apical 1/3 of outer edge ( Fig. 12D ). Postgonite well sclerotized, short and slightly curved ventrally ( Fig. 12C, E ). Proctiger plain, weakly sclerotized ( Fig. 12E ). Hypandrium trough-shaped, with weak connection to epandrium basiventrally, free laterally, apex bifurcate, weakly sclerotized and asymmetrical, left lateral margin with 1 short dentiform preapical projection, and right lateral margin with minute dentiform projection, base of hypandrium projecting up inside epandrial capsule, cradling phallus ( Fig. 12C, E, F ). Phallus entirely divided into two strongly sclerotized narrow arms, narrowing at apex, right arm with 1 thumb-shaped projection ( Fig. 12E, F ). Ejaculatory apodeme long and narrow, about as long as 1/2 of epandrium, laterally compressed and weakly sclerotized ( Fig. 12E ). Sperm pump short and wide, somewhat C-shaped, about 1/2 as long as ejaculatory apodeme ( Fig. 12E ). Cercus long and oval, about 3X longer than wide, and about 1/2 as long as epandrium, inner and outer surfaces covered by short and sparse setae, ventral edge with long setae, remarkably long on basal 1/3 ( Fig. 12B ). Female ( Fig. 13 ). Body length: 3.2 mm; wing length: 2.6 mm (n = 1). Similar to male, except as noted: Postpedicel short, about as long as wide, somewhat subtriangular ( Fig. 13C ); face and clypeus wide, both wider than ocellar tubercle ( Fig. 13B ). Terminalia as in P. arcuatus , except as noted: tergite 10 divided medially into hemitergites each bearing 4 spines and 1 minute lateral seta.

Type material. HOLOTYPE ♁ ( Fig. 11 ) labelled: “ Mexico, Chis. [Chiapas] 20–25 | mi. N Huixtla 3000’ [= 900 m] [ca 15°11′56.8″N 92°28′01.8″W] | 4.vi.1969 | B. V. Peterson” “HOLOTYPE | Paraclius brooksi | Soares, Runyon & Capellari” [red label] ( CNC) . Holotype condition: good, not dissected. PARATYPES: same data as holotype, except: 3.vi.1969 (1 ♁ with head and terminalia dissected, and left wing mounted between cover slips, NMNH) ; Oaxaca, above Valle Nacional [ca 17°47′34.7″N 96°15′42.7″W], 14.v.1963 (1 ♁, INPA) ; same data, except: 21.v.1963 (1 ♁ dissected, CNC) .

Additional material examined. GRENADA: W. Indies 190–66, 172, Mt. Maitland [ca 12°02′50.3″N 61°42′48.9″W], (Leeward side), W.I., H. H. Smith, Paraclius arcuatus (Loew) det. Fred C. Harmston, Collection of the California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, Calif., Collection of Calif. Acad. of Sci. 1994 Gift Fred C. Harmston, Paraclius arcuatus Lw. , Paraclius sp. 1 (nr arcuatus ) det. S.E. Brooks, 2004 (1 ♀, CAS). MEXICO: Chis. [Chiapas] 20–25, mi. N Huixtla 3000’ [= 900 meters high] [ca 15°11′56.8″N 92°28′01.8″W], 2.vi.1969, B. V. Peterson (1 ♀, CNC).

Remarks. Paraclius brooksi sp. nov. possesses mostly yellow legs and male tergite 6 with long and strong setae, similar to P. angusticauda and P. elongatus , but can be differentiated by the brownish wing ( Fig. 11F ) and long basal apicoventral epandrial seta which is about 2X longer than apical seta ( Fig. 12D ) (wing mostly grayish ( Fig. 1I ) and basal apicoventral epandrial seta as long as apical seta in P. angusticauda ( Fig. 1G )). Paraclius brooksi sp. nov. was previously mentioned by Aldrich (1902) as a “light variety” of P. arcuatus and by Brooks (2005) as “ Paraclius sp. 1 ”.

Etymology. Named after Scott Brooks (CNC), who has contributed substantially to the study of Dolichopodinae worldwide, and for his willingness to separate and prepare specimens for loan, including those used in the description of the new species.

Distribution. Paraclius brooksi sp. nov. is known to occur in Grenada and Mexico (Chiapas and Oaxaca) ( Fig.

23).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Paraclius angusticauda Van Duzee, 1933, male holotype (AMNH). A–B. Habitus, lateral and dorsal views respectively; C. Labels; D–E. Head, anterior and lateral views, respectively; F–H. Hypopygium, lateral view; I. Right wing. Abbreviations: a apv s = apical apicoventral epandrial seta; b apv s = basal apicoventral epandrial seta; cerc = cercus; dm-m = discal medial crossvein; M1 = first branch of media; M4 = fourth branch of media; R 4+5 = third branch of radius. Images originally lacked scale bars. Photographs by Agnieszka Pierwola, AMNH.

FIGURE 11. Paraclius brooksi sp. nov., A–E male holotype (CNC), F male paratype (CNC). A. Habitus, lateral view; B. Thorax, dorsal view; C–D. Head anterior and lateral views, respectively; E. Abdomen and hypopygium, lateral view; F. Left wing.

FIGURE12.Paraclius brooksisp.nov., male paratype (CNC).A. Abdomen, ventralview;B. Cerci, dorsalview;C. Hypopygium, left lateral view; D. Surstyli and apical edge of epandrium; E. Internal appendages; F. Hypandrium and phallus, ventral view; G. Tergite 7, dorsal view. Abreviations: a apv s = apical apicoventral epandrial seta; b apv s = basal apicoventral epandrial seta; cerc = cercus; dsur = dorsal lobe of surstylus; ej apod = ejaculatory apodeme; epand = epandrium; hypd = hypandrium; hypd pr = hypandrial process; pgt = postgonite; ph = phallus; ph pr = phallus process; prct = proctiger; sp = sperm pump; st = sternite; tg = tergite; vsur = ventral lobe of surstylus.

FIGURE 13. Paraclius brooksi sp. nov, identified female from Mexico (CNC). A. Habitus, lateral view; B. Head, anterior view; C. Right antenna, outer view.

FIGURE 23. Known geographic distribution of Paraclius angusticauda Van Duzee, 1933, P. angustipennis Van Duzee, 1929, P. brooksi sp. nov., P. elongatus Van Duzee, 1930 and P. xibun sp. nov.