Apocephalus paracanthus, Brown, Brian V., 2014

Brown, Brian V., 2014, Revision of the Apocephalus analis group of ant-decapitating flies (Diptera: Phoridae), Zootaxa 3857 (4), pp. 551-570 : 558-559

Apocephalus paracanthus new species

( Figs. 8, 16 )

Diagnosis. This species is recognized by the pair of ventral thornlike setae on segment 6, which are close together ( Fig. 16 ), in combination with only short setae on the lateral margin of sternite six. The most similar species, A. mexacanthus , has a row of enlarged setae along the posterior margin of sternite six.

Description. Body length 1–1.5 mm. Frons 0.50 head width. Flagellomere 1 round, yellow. Pleuron whitish yellow. Costa 0.54 wing length, range 0.54–0.55. Halter yellow. Abdominal tergites light brown, normal sized. Tergite 6 light brown, about as broad as tergite 5, entire, apical margin straight, with one thick posterolateral setae and scattered thin setae. Venter of abdomen whitish yellow, venter of segments 3–5 with scattered thin setae, venter of intersegment 6–7 with rounded, thinly sclerotized plate producing vertical surface in posterior view, closely placed pair of small thick setae and slightly more dorsolateral pair of large, thick, thornlike setae present. Venter of segment 6 with large brown sclerite extending to dorsal margin, with dense, short setae. Oviscape elongate oval, anterior process short, broadly rounded, large lateral setae absent. Dorsum of oviscape dorsally bare. Apex roundly pointed, then ventrally produced forming a slightly concave posterior plate, relatively straight, lacking dorsoapical setae. Ventral setae of oviscape absent. Intersegment 7–8 without sclerotization. Anterior arms of stylet broad, similar to A. analis ( Fig. 50 ).

Distribution. Known only from a mid-elevation site in Costa Rica.

Derivation of specific epithet. From Greek words for “near” (para) and “thorn” (akantha) referring to the closely approximated pair of ventral thornlike setae on segment 6.

Holotype. ♀ COSTA RICA: San José: Zurquí de Moravia, 10.05°N, 84.02°W, 1600m, v.1994, P.Hanson, Malaise trap (LACM) [LACM ENT 037798].

Paratypes. COSTA RICA: San José: Zurquí de Moravia, 10.05°N, 84.02°W, 1600m, 2♀ iii.1994, P.Hanson, Malaise trap (LACM), 1♀ x–xii.1990, P.Hanson, Malaise trap (LACM), 1♀ 7–14 Dec 2012, canopy Malaise trap, ZADBI-316 (INBC).

Figures

FIGURES 9 – 16. Female abdomens. 9 – 12. Ventral. 13 – 16. Posterior.

FIGURES 43 – 51. Stylets, dorsal.