Bezzia (Bezzia) amblystyla, Grogan, 2020

Grogan, William L., 2020, A Revision of the Nearctic Predaceous Midges in the Bezzia (Bezzia) pulverea complex (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), Zootaxa 4877 (3), pp. 429-467 : 447-448

Bezzia (Bezzia) amblystyla n. sp.

( Figs. 31–36 )

Bezzia male form 28B, Dow & Turner 1976: 67. Florida.

Diagnosis. The only Nearctic species of the B. pulverea complex with the following combination of characters. Males with brown tibiae with narrow pale yellow to light brown basal bands and most specimens with a broader subapical light band; small size (WL 1.22–1.53 mm); gonostylus short with a blunt or rounded apex, some specimens with short, pointed inner prong; aedeagus with broad mid portion, apical portion abruptly tapered, slender, moderately long, tip slender, pointed with a thin underlying hyaline membrane. Females with the same leg coloration and banding patterns as males, but, their hind tibia lacks large apical spines; small to medium size (WL 1.39–1.76 mm); spermathecae large (larger 0.16–0.24 mm long, smaller 0.09–0.15 mm long), elongate with slender, tapered apices; and a very short antennal flagellum (0.77–0.87 mm) with short flagellomeres 9–13.

Male. Head. Brown. Eyes separated by the width of 2 ommatidia. Antennal flagellum brown to golden brown; proximal ¼ or more of flagellomeres 1–9 pale in most specimens, proximal 3/4–7/8 of 10 pale to light brown, apical section brown; extreme bases of 11–13 usually light brown, remainder darker brown; flagellomeres 2–7 vasiform, 8–9 elongate vasiform, 10–13 elongate, 10 longest; plume dense, extending to mid-length of flagellomere 11; AR 0.77–0.93 (0.86, n=10); flagellum length 0.99–1.18 (1.08 mm, n=10). Palpus moderately long; segment 3 moderately slender with 1–5 meso-central capitate sensillae; PR 2.88–3.86 (3.24, n=10). Mandible slender with 2–4 long slender apical medial teeth, some specimens with 1–4 smaller proximal teeth, and a few tiny widely spaced lateral teeth. Thorax ( Fig. 31 ). Reddish brown. Scutum dorsum covered with numerous coarse setae, lateral surfaces with sparse setae, and 7–11 long coarse pre-alar setae; scutellum with 5–7 long stout setae. Fore femur light brown to yellowish with darker brown basal, subapical bands; mid femur also light brown to yellowish with dark brown subapical band; hind femur usually dark brown, central portion lighter brown in some specimens; 1–3 fore, 0–1 mid, hind ventral femoral spines. Tibiae brown, with pale narrow sub-basal and broader subapical bands that are poorly developed on mid, hind legs in a few specimens; 0–3 fore, 1–4 mid, 5–9 hind dorsal tibial spines; 2 fore, 2–4 mid, 1–2 hind large, stout apical spines. Tarsi with tarsomeres 1–3 pale yellowish, apices of 1–2 brown in some specimens, tarsomeres 4–5 brown; claws as in males of B. pulverea . Wing ( Fig. 32 ) narrow; membrane hyaline to slightly infuscated; costa, radius, radial cell, proximal portion of medius yellowish to pale brown; posterior veins pale, well developed; WL 1.22–1.53 (1.39 mm, n=10), WW 0.35–0.45 (0.41 mm, n=10); CR 0.64–0.67 (0.66, n=10). Halter brown, knob darker brown in some specimens. Abdomen. Tergites brown to dark brown with dense coarse long and shorter setae; sternites brown, or purplish in a few specimens with coarse setae except on sternites 1–2. Genitalia ( Fig. 33 ). Tergite 9 moderately long, broad; cerci stout, extending 3/4 length or more of gonocoxites with 1–2 long subapical and apical setae. Sternite 9 considerably longer than tergite 9 with deep, broad U-shaped apico-central excavation, inner margins serrated with sparse fringe of fine setae; and elongate broad apicolateral extensions that extend near apices of gonocoxites, their margins are heavily sclerotized and appear claw-like in some specimens. Gonocoxite short, very broad, lateral margin curved distally. Gonostylus moderately short, straight or slightly curved distally, apex blunt or slightly rounded; inner prong poorly developed in some specimens with short pointed or blunt tip, outer prong absent. Parameres fused, broad; basal arm long, slightly curved, apices broad, greatly divergent, heavily sclerotized and recurved in some specimens; distal portion very broad, more lightly sclerotized; apical section abruptly tapered, very narrow in most specimens, tip rounded. Aedeagus broadly triangular; basal arch broad, extending 1/3 of total aedeagal length; basal arm usually heavily sclerotized, extreme apices recurved 90˚; main body more lightly sclerotized with rounded shoulder-like distolateral extensions; apical portion moderately elongate, abruptly tapered distally, tip slender, pointed with underlying thin membrane.

Female. Similar to male with the following notable sexual and other differences. Head. Antennal flagellum with proximal ½ of flagellomeres 2–8 pale to light brown, distal ½ darker brown; 9–13 with bases pale to light brown, remainder darker brown; 2–8 vasiform with central whorl of long stout setae, 9–13 elongate, 13 usually longest (12 longest in 1 specimen) with basal whorl of long thinner hyaline setae, scattered similar shorter setae; AR 1.20–1.39 (1.31, n=10); flagellum length 0.77–0.87 (0.82 mm, n=10). Palpus similar to male; PR 2.75–4.14 (3.20, n=9). Mandible broad with 7–9 large coarse distal, 1–4 smaller proximal medial teeth; 2–5 very small, widely spaced lateral teeth. Thorax ( Fig. 34 ). Scutum similar to male with 5–9 large pre-alar setae; scutellum with 4–6 long stout setae. Femora, tibiae with same coloration and banding patterns as male except the pale subapical hind tibial band is broader in most specimens; 1–3 fore, 0–1 mid, hind ventral femoral spines; 0–2 fore, 2–5 mid, 3–6 hind large dorsal tibial spines; 1–3 fore, 2–3 mid large apical tibial spines, hind tibia without large apical spines; tarsi with coloration as in males, claws as in females of B. pulverea . Wing ( Fig. 35 ) similar to male but broader with longer costa, radial cell; WL 1.39–1.76 (1.54 mm, n=10), WW 0.49–0.66 (0.55 mm, n=10); CR 0.73–0.77 (0.75, n=10). Abdomen ( Fig. 36 ). Tergites, sternites with same coloration as males with fewer shorter setae except on tergites 1, 5–9. Internal tergal apodemes as in female B. pulverea . Sternite 9 elongate; anterior arms curved, tips sharply pointed, well separated; posterior arms very short, apices rounded. Spermathecae large, elongate ovoidal, unequal-size with tapered necks, narrow openings; larger 0.16–0.24 mm long, smaller 0.09–0.15 mm long.

Two paratypes and a non-paratype have atypical spermathecae. A paratype from Franklin Co., Florida, has a smaller spermatheca of normal size and shape, but the larger one has a greatly elongate, curved, tapered neck. In a paratype from Liberty Co. , Florida, the neck of the smaller spermatheca is curved and slightly tapered, whereas the larger spermatheca is similar to the larger spermatheca of the Franklin Co. female described above. A non-paratype female from Marion Co. , Florida, has a smaller spermatheca of normal size and shape, but, the larger spermatheca is much shorter than in most specimens (length 0.14 mm) and broadly triangular or somewhat heart-shaped (width 0.11 mm) .

Distribution. Florida, Maryland.

Etymology. The specific epithet is a combination of two Greek words: ambly (blunt) and styl (a pointed instrument), in reference to the blunt or rounded apex of the gonostyli in males of this new species.

Type Material. Holotype male, allotype female, paratypes: 4 males, 3 females, FLORIDA, Wakulla Co., Ochlockonee Riv. St. Park, 29 IV 1970, W. W. Wirth, light trap. Other paratypes: 8 males, 7 females: FLORIDA, Alachua Co. , Gainesville, Chantilly Acres, 2 V 1967, F. S. Blanton, 1 male; same data except West Gainesville , V 1968, Blanton & Fletcher, light trap, 1 male; same data except Oak Crest (W. Gainesville), 1 IV 1986, W. W. Wirth, UVLT, 1 female. Franklin Co. , Nr. Sumatra, Wright (sic as Rights’) Lake, G. B. Fairchild, B. L. Trap, 1 female. Glades Co. , Palmdale, 14 July 1970, E. Irons, light trap, 1 male, 1 female. Hillsborough (sic as Hillsboro) Co., Harris Swamp, 6 IV 1967, 1 male. Liberty Co. , Torreya St. Park, 27 IV 1958, F. S. Blanton 1 male; same data except 20 V 1966, H. V. Weems, 1 female; same data except 22 Apr. 1967, W. W. Wirth, light trap, 2 males, 2 females. Santa Rosa Co. , Blackwater River St. Park, 25 V 1973, W. W. Wirth, light trap, 1 female. MARYLAND, Wicomico Co. , Salisbury, 19–21 VI 1986, Wm. L. Grogan, Jr., Malaise trap, 1 male.

The following two females are probably members of this species, but, they are not designated paratypes: FLOR-IDA, Liberty Co., Torreya St. Park, 15 IV 1957, F. S. Blanton, 1 female . Marion Co., Juniper Springs , 28 April 1970, W. W. Wirth, light trap, 1 female .

Discussion. Males of B. folkertsi , n. sp. are the only other species in the B. pulverea complex that have a gonostylus with a rounded apex, but it differs from this new species in being more elongate, and, they also have a much longer gonocoxite. Males of B. folkertsi also have a dark brown hind tibia that lacks pale yellow or light brown basal and apical bands; hind tarsomere 1 is also dark brown; and their mid, hind femora lack ventral spines. Females of B. folkertsi differ from females of B. amblystyla in having very small (length 0.08–0.09 mm) subequal-size spermathecae that lack tapered necks, the apex of their fore femur has a poorly marked narrow light brown band, their mid and hind femora lack ventral spines, and their hind tibia has 4 very large apical spines.

Figures

FIGURES 31–36. Bezzia amblystyla, n. sp. Male, 31–33, Female, 34–36. 31, 34 Thorax and legs. 32, 35 Wing. 33 Genitalia at focal level of sternite 9, parameres, aedeagus, gonocoxites and gonostyli. 36 Abdominal segments 7–10 and spermathecae.