Dexosarcophaga varenna ( Dodge, 1968 )

Mello-Patiu, Cátia Antunes De, 2002, Revision of some Dexosarcophaga species described by R. Dodge (Diptera: Sarcophagidae), Zootaxa 122, pp. 1-16 : 9-12

Dexosarcophaga varenna ( Dodge, 1968) ( Figs. 36­50 )

Varcophaga varenna Dodge, 1968: 448 . Type locality: Panama, Barro Colorado Is.; male holotype, SEM.

Dexosarcophaga varenna ; Lopes, 1973b: 482 (PT examined, synonymy established). Dexosarcophaga dominicensis Lopes, 1973b: 480 . Type locality: Dominica; male holotype, USNM. SYN. NOV.

Male – Total length = 5­6 mm.

Head – Fronto­orbital and parafacial plates gray with slightly yellowish microtomentum, with a row of black setulae along eye margin; frontal vitta black; frons 0.20 X head width; frontal row of 9­11 bristles; 1 reclinate fronto­orbital bristle, proclinate absent; outer vertical bristle not differentiated from the postocular setae; gena and postgena gray with black setae; antenna dark brown, first flagellomere with gray microtomentum, pedicel 0.3 X first flagellomere length, arista long plumose on basal 1/2; palpus black.. Thorax – Gray with slightly golden microtomentum in postpronotal and mesopleural areas. Prosternum with scattered setulae in posterior 1/2. Chaetotaxy: acrostichals 3­4 (weakly differentiated) + 1, dorsocentrals 3­4 + 4 (two posteriormost longer), intra­alars 2 + 2, supra­alars 2 + 3, postpronotals 3, postalars 2, notopleurals 4, scutellum with 2 marginals strong setae intercalated by 2 weak ones, 1 small apical, discals 1, meropleurals 7­ 9, katepisternals 3 (in a line). Wing hyaline, R1 bare, R4+5 setulose in basal 1/2 to crossvein r­m, costal spine not differentiated, third costal sector without ventral setulae. Legs black, mid femur with posteroventral apical ctenidium (3 spines), mid tibia with 1 setae in the apical half and 1 strong one ventrally in anterior face, hind tibia with 1 anteroventral setae.

Abdomen – Gray with the usual silver tesselation and slightly golden microtomentum in lateral; T1+2–3 without median marginal seta, T4 with a pair of median marginal setae; ST2 with long and dense black setae. ST5 with scattered black thin setae, posterior margin with a shallow concavity ( Fig. 44 ).

Terminalia – Syntergosternite 7+8, epandrium and cercus dark brown; epandrium with some differentiate dorsal setae and syntergosternite 7+8 with 3 pairs of marginal setae ( Fig. 36 ); cercus moderately curved forwards in profile ( Figs. 36, 37 ); clavate surstylus with setae in anterior margin ( Fig. 36 ); gonopod with enlarged base ( Figs. 38, 39 ) and paramere narrow and slightly curved, with a strong setae on anterior margin ( Figs. 38, 40 ); phallus with a distinct basiphallus, distiphallus with a pair of ventral tongue­like process and a pair of membranous and spinous small lobes in the dorsal surface ( Figs. 38, 41 , 45 ); juxta narrow and elongated, protecting the apices of lateral styli ( Figs. 38, 41 , 45 ); long lateral stylus with simple base and dentate apex ( Figs. 41, 42 , 45, 46 ); median stylus represented by a small double rugose lobe between the apices of the lateral styli ( Figs. 41, 42 , 45, 46 ); vesica well sclerotized, bearing a pair of median projections with serrate margin, bifurcated at apical portion with each arm ending pointed and serrate with a membranous inner prolongation, see in ventral view ( Figs. 41, 43 , 47 ).

Female – Total length = 6­8 mm.

Like the male in most characters, except for: frons broader, 0.24 X head width; 2 well developed proclinate fronto­orbital bristle; entire T6 with narrow hind region and series of marginal bristles; spiracle 6 situated in membrane and 7 within the sclerite; T8 divided in two broad and exposed plates, without setae; epiproct divided into two small plates, each one with 1 setae; ST6 broader than ST5; ST7 with longer bristles in posterior region; ST8 joined to ST7, with a sclerotized and setose posterior area with a little median anterior projection; membranous vaginal plate ( Figs. 48, 49 ); spermathecae pyriform, finely striated ( Fig. 50 ).

Material examined – Panama. Barro Colorado Is., 1 male, 7.III.1963, C.W. & M.E. Rettenmeyer ( V. varenna paratype) ( MNRJ); Dominica. Clarke Hall, 2 males, 12­ 18.X.1964 P.J. Spangler ( D. dominicensis paratypes) ( MNRJ); ibidem, 1 male and 1 female, 11­16.XII.1964 P.J. Spangler ( D. dominicensis paratypes) ( MNRJ); ibidem, 1 male, 8­10.I.1965, W.W. Wirth ( D. dominicensis paratype) ( MNRJ).

Distribution – NEOTROPICAL – Dominica, Panama.

Remarks – A detailed analysis of the type of D. dominicensis gave reasons to consider the nominal species as a junior synonym of D. varenna ( Figs. 44­47 ). The shape and structural arrangement of the distiphallus of D. varenna and D. pusilla Lopes, 1975 suggest that these species may form a distinct species­group. Both species have a pair of small sclerotized tongue­like processes, connected to the internal part of the distal area and projecting from near the base of the lateral styli ( Figs. 41 , 45 ).

Figures

FIGURES 36 ­ 43. – Dexosarcophaga varenna (Dodge), male paratype (Barro Colorado Is.); 36. syntergosternite 7 + 8, epandrium and cercus, lateral view; 37. apex of cercus, lateral view; 38. phallus and associated structures, lateral view; 39. gonopod; 40. paramere; 41. apex of phallus, lateral view; 42 apex of phallus without vesica, ventral view; 43. vesica, ventral view (bp = basiphallus; dp = distiphallus; go = gonopod; ju = juxta; ls = lateral stylus; ms = median stylus; pa = paramere; ve = vesica).

FIGURES 44 ­ 50. – Dexosarcophaga varenna (Dodge), male (paratype of D. dominicensis Lopes; Dominica); 44. sternite 5; 45. apex of phallus, lateral view; 46. apex of phallus without vesica, ventral view; 47. vesica, ventral view. D. varenna (Dodge), female (paratype of D. dominicensis Lopes; Dominica); 48. terminalia and abdominal sternites, ventral view; 49. terminalia, ventral view; 50. spermatheca (ce = cercus; ep = epiproct; hy = hypoproct; sp = spiracle; St = sternite; T = tergite).