Peloropeodes frater (Aldrich)

Runyon, Justin B., 2020, The Dolichopodidae (Diptera) of Montserrat, West Indies, ZooKeys 966, pp. 57-151 : 57

Peloropeodes frater (Aldrich)

Sympycnus frater Aldrich, 1902: 83.

Material examined.

Dominica: 1 ♂, St. John Parish, Cabrits National Park, East Cabrits Trail, 15.58564N, 61.47210W, 30 May-7 June 2011, Malaise, M.A. & L.L. Ivie. Montserrat: 3 ♂, 4 ♀, Hope Ghaut, 300 m, 16°45.108'N, 62°12.695'W, 20 June 2017, J.B. Runyon; 5 ♂, 3 ♀, same as previous, 280 m, 16°45.101'N, 62°12.760'W; 6 ♂, 6 ♀, Runaway Ghaut, roadside springs, 150 m, 16°45.449'N, 62°13.011'W, 22 June 2017, J.B. Runyon; 1 ♂, Runaway Ghaut, 175 m, 16°45.43'N, 62°12.89'W, 23 June 2017, J.B. Runyon; 1 ♂, Bottomless Ghaut, 400 m, 16°45.994'N, 62°11.497'W, 28 June 2017, J.B. Runyon. St. Lucia: 2 ♂, 1 ♀, Micoud District, Latille Falls, 50 m, 13°49.94'N, 60°55.14'W, 9 May 2009, J.B. Runyon (MTEC, USNM).

Distribution.

Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Lucia.

Remarks.

Males of this species have a distinctive long, usually wavy-tipped ventral seta near base of femur II. There is considerable variation in several characters in male specimens among islands, most notably in the modifications at posterior edge of male abdominal sternite III. Specimens from Dominica have the sclerotized lateral lobes of sternite III narrow, but those from Montserrat are broadly rounded. It seems likely that a P. frater species complex exists in the Lesser Antilles, but examination of more specimens from more islands is needed to assess limits of variation.