Cheiromyia laselva Brooks

Brooks, Scott E., Cumming, Jeffrey M. & Pollet, Marc A. A., 2010, Revision of the Neotropical genus Cheiromyia Dyte (Diptera: Dolichopodidae), Zootaxa 2333, pp. 41-58 : 50-52

Cheiromyia laselva Brooks sp. nov.

( Figs. 5 A–D, 8B)

Recognition (male). This species is very similar to C. brevitarsis Brooks sp. nov. (see above), but can be distinguished from that species based on the following features: left apv epandrial lobe with acute apicodorsal process ( Fig. 5 A); face slightly wider.

Description. Male: Body length: 4.6 mm, wing length: 3.8–3.9 mm. Head: Postocular setae: upper 5–7 dark, lower setae pale, lowermost 1–2 setae dark. Frons subrectangular (wider than high), dark with bluegreen and violet metallic reflections. Face silvery white, relatively broad (slightly wider than C. brevitarsis , cf. Fig. 2B), sides convergent below. Clypeus concolorous with face, subquadrate. Palpus pale, ovoid, bare above, with several fine elongate setulae on lower edge. Proboscis: anterior surface of each labellar lobe with close-set row of 3 fine elongate hairs. Antenna: similar to C. brevitarsis and C. palmaticornis (cf. Fig. 1 B), scape, pedicel and base of postpedicel pale, apical part of postpedicel and stylus dark; scape obconical, with acute medial and ventral process; pedicel short; postpedicel ovoid basally with digitiform, pubescent apex, outer surface with 5 pubescent digitiform projections, basalmost projection broader, projections occasionally bifurcate; stylus dorsal, before middle of dorsal margin of postpedicel, basal article elongate, extending to tip of postpedicel, distal article strongly pubescent. Thorax: Scutum mainly metallic green with violet reflections or vice versa, dark bronze area above notopleuron immediately posterior to suture. Scutellum mainly metallic green with violet reflections or vice-versa. Mesopleuron gray pruinose with brownish background coloration and metallic green reflections. Legs: Mainly pale except as noted below. I: CxI infuscate; TI slightly swollen; tarsus I with pronounced outward bend, It2 shorter than It3, It3–4 with row of erect setae on inner margin, setae more closely set on It4, It3–5 with pale velvety pile on ventral surface, claws enlarged and stout (often crossed in preserved specimens). II: CxII with lateral surface and outer margin of anterior surface dark; tarsus II weakly infuscate from tip of IIt1- 5. III: CxIII with lateral surface dark; tarsus III weakly infuscate from tip of IIIt1-5. Wing: Hyaline; with pronounced arc beyond bend, similar to C. brevitarsis (cf. Fig. 2D). Abdomen: Tergites 1–5 metallic green, with silverish pruinosity laterally. Hypopygium ( Figs. 5 A–D): Epandrium with bv epandrial lobe not developed; apv epandrial lobe projecting ventrally, with 2 long apicolateral setae, apicolateral margin forming a darkened crest narrowing to dentiform process apicoventrally, medial surface with bulging weakly sclerotized to membranous lobe, left apv epandrial lobe broader and longer than right lobe with acute apicodorsal projection, right lobe without with acute apicodorsal projection. Surstylus: dorsal arm with sac-like medioventral lobe, with short finger-like dorsal process bearing apical seta, apex with microtrichia ventrally; ventral arm with stout curved apical seta, subapical crest present. Postgonite digitiform. Cercus mainly pale with dark outer margin, subquadrate. Hypandrium with medial notch apically. Phallus slightly widened preapically, preapical flap-like dorsal process with weak longitudinal serrate ridges basally. Ejaculatory apodeme straight. Female: Unknown.

Type material. HOLOTYPE 3, labelled: “ COSTA RICA: Heredia,/ La Selva Biological Station/ 10°26'N 84°01'W, 50–150m,/ INBio-OET, 15.vii.1993 / M/02/153”; “ HOLOTYPE / Cheiromyia laselva / Brooks” [red label] ( INBC). PARATYPE: COSTA RICA: 13 Heredia, La Selva Research Station, 11– 17.vi.1986, W. Hanson, G. Bohart ( EMUS).

Distribution. Cheiromyia laselva is only known from the holotype and paratype, both of which were collected at La Selva Biological Station ( Fig. 8 B).

Remarks. The morphological differences between C. laselva and C. brevitarsis are slight, but in our opinion, consistent and sufficient enough to warrant the recognition of two separate species.

Etymology. This new species name is derived from La Selva Biological Station, where the type series was collected.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Male antenna: (A) Cheiromyia bicornis Brooks sp. nov. left antenna (outer surface); (B) C. palmaticornis (Parent) right antenna (medial surface); (C) C. pennaticornis (Parent) right antenna (medial surface) of holotype; (D) C. pennaticornis (Parent) slide preparation of left antenna (outer surface). Abbreviations: pp apex: postpedicel apex; pp proj: postpedicel projection.

FIGURE 5. Cheiromyia laselva Brooks sp. nov. male terminalia: (A) hypopygium (left lateral view); (B) portion of epandrium showing right apicoventral epandrial lobe (right lateral view); (C) hypandrium and phallus (ventral view); (D) sperm pump and phallus (left lateral view). Abbreviations: apv lb: apicoventral epandrial lobe; cerc: cercus; ej apod: ejaculatory apodeme; hypd: hypandrium; pgt: postgonite; ph: phallus; spm pump: sperm pump; vsur: ventral arm of surstylus.

FIGURE 8. Known distribution of Cheiromyia species: (A) C. bicornis Brooks sp. nov. and C. brevitarsis Brooks sp. nov.; (B) C. laselva Brooks sp. nov., C. palmaticornis (Parent), and C. pennaticornis (Parent).