Bezzia (Bezzia) brunneipedia, 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 : 450-452

Bezzia (Bezzia) brunneipedia n. sp.

( Figs. 37–42 )

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

Diagnosis. The only Nearctic species of the B. pulverea complex with the following combination of characters. Males with a dark brown hind femur and tibia that lack pale bands, and hind tarsomere 1 is also dark brown; medium size (WL 1.76–1.97 mm); gonostylus very short, broad distally with an elongate slender, curved outer prong with pointed tip, but the inner prong is short and rounded. Females are the only Nearctic species of the B. pulverea complex with a dark brown hind femur and tibia that lack pale bands, and hind tarsomere 1 is also dark brown; medium size to large species (WL 1.76–2.14 mm); and spermathecae large, moderately stout, unequal-size with slightly tapered necks, the larger 0.22–0.24 mm long, smaller 0.13–0.16 mm long.

Male. Head. Brown. Eyes narrowly separated by the width of 1–2 ommatidia. Antennal flagellum with flagellomeres brown, basal sections pale brown; flagellomere 1 elongate, 2–7 vasiform, 8–9 elongate vasiform, 10–13 elongate, 10 longest; plume dense, extending to mid-length of flagellomere 11; AR 0.82–0.91 (0.85, n=4); flagellum length 1.26–1.32 (1.30 mm, n=4). Palpus moderately long; segment 3 slender with meso-central group of 2–3 capitate sensillae; PR 3.00–4.63 (4.03, n=9). Mandible slender with 2–5 large distal, several smaller proximal medial teeth; most specimens with a few tiny widely spaced lateral teeth. Thorax ( Fig. 37 ). Reddish brown. Scutum with dense, stout, moderately long setae, anterior apex with 3–6 longer setae, 6–10 pre-alar setae; scutellum with 6–9 long stout setae. Fore, mid femora with broad basal, narrow subapical brown bands, and paler broad central, narrower subapical bands, hind femur dark brown; 2–5 fore, 0–2 mid, 0–3 hind femoral spines. Fore, mid tibiae with broad basal, subapical brown bands, and narrower central, apical light brown bands, hind tibia dark brown; tibiae with 2–5 fore, 3–8 mid, 5–10 hind dorsal spines, longest on hind tibia; 2–3 fore, mid, 3 hind large stout apical tibial spines. Tarsi with tarsomeres 1–3 of fore, mid legs yellowish; hind tarsomere 1 dark brown, 2–3 yellowish; tarsomeres 4-5 brown on all legs; claws as in males of B. pulverea . Wing moderately narrow; membrane very lightly infuscated, slightly darker on and between costa, radius, between base of medius and radius, r-m crossvein and in and below cell r 1; WL 1.76–1.97 (1.83 mm, n=8), WW 0.52–0.61 (0.55 mm, n=8); CR 0.67–0.70 (0.69, n=8). Halter brown. Abdomen. Tergites dark brown, with dense moderately long stout setae; sternites 1–6 light brown to purplish with sparse short setae, 7–8 with dense long stout setae. Genitalia ( Fig. 38 ) reddish brown, gonostylus dark brown. Tergite 9 moderately short, broad; cerci moderately long, extending ¾ length or more of gonocoxite with numerous long stout apical, subapical setae. Sternite 9 slightly longer than tergite 9 with moderately deep, broad apicocentral excavation, lateral inner margins with fringe of moderately dense long setae, and elongate, broad distal extensions with inner marginal serrations and rounded apices. Gonocoxite short, broad; lateral margin greatly curved distally. Gonostylus with very short broad basal portion, distal portion broader; inner prong rounded with small apical point in some specimens; outer prong slender elongate, curved, tapered distally, tip sharply pointed. Parameres fused; basal arms broad, greatly divergent, heavily sclerotized, apices slightly tapered, tips rounded; distal portion broad, more lightly sclerotized, arrow-head shaped, tapering distally, tip rounded. Aedeagus broad, triangular; basal arch moderately deep, extending nearly ½ of total length; basal arms slender, heavily sclerotized, apices recurved 90˚; main body very broad, more lightly sclerotized with long broad shoulder-like extensions; apical portion abruptly tapered distally, tip pointed.

Female. Similar to male with the following notable sexual, other differences. Head ( Fig. 39 ). Eyes narrowly separated by the width of 1 ommatidium. Antennal flagellum moderately short, flagellomeres 1–8 with proximal 1/4–1/2 white or pale yellow, distal 1/2–3/4 brown; 2–8 vasiform with central whorl of long stout setae; 9–13 moderately elongate, 13 longest in most specimens, extreme bases white except light brown on 12–13 or only 13; AR 1.17–1.31 (1.26, n=3); flagellum length 0.96–1.04 (1.00 mm, n=3). Palpus similar to male; segment 3 with 3–5 meso-central capitate sensillae; PR 3.50–4.22 (3.78, n=4). Mandible broad with 7–9 large distal, 3–4 smaller proximal medial teeth; 3–5 very small widely spaced lateral teeth. Thorax ( Fig. 40 ). Coloration as in males. Scutum with 5–8 large pre-alar setae; scutellum yellowish to reddish brown with 6–8 long stout setae. Femora, tibiae with similar coloration and banding patterns as in males except fore, mid tibiae more infused with brown pigmentation, especially on mid tibiae; 3–6 fore, 1–2 mid, hind ventral femoral spines; 3–4 fore, 4–8 mid, 9–14 hind dorsal tibial spines, longest on hind tibiae; 2–3 fore, mid, 2–4 hind large apical tibial spines; tarsi coloration as in males, claws as in females of B. pulverea . Wing ( Fig. 41 ) similar to males but broader with longer costa, radial cell; WL 1.76–2.16 (2.05 mm, n=4), WW 0.68–0.85 (0.76 mm, n=4); CR 0.73–0.76 (0.75, n=4). Abdomen ( Fig. 42 ). Tergites dark brown, with dense moderately long stout setae; sternites lighter brown to reddish brown with sparse shorter setae. Sternite 9 with moderately long anterior prong, much shorter posterior prong. Spermathecae large, elongate ovoidal, unequal-size, apices slightly tapered, necks very short, openings narrow; the larger 0.21–0.24 mm long, smaller 0.13–0.16 mm long.

Distribution. Florida.

Etymology. The specific epithet is a combination of two Latin terms: brunne (brown) and pedi (foot), in reference to the dark brown hind tarsomere 1 of males and females of this new species.

Type Material. Holotype male, FLORIDA, Bay Co., nr. Beacon Hill, 8 Apr. 1971, F. S. Blanton, B. L. Trap; allotype female, FLORIDA, Orange Co. , Lake Hope , 8 IV 1985, W. W. Wirth, UVLT . Paratypes, 8 males, 3 females as follows: 1 female with same data as holotype; FLORIDA, Alachua Co., Gainesville, Chantilly Acres, 8 V 1967 , F. S. Blanton, 1 male. Highlands Co., Lake Placid , 19 Apr. 1970 , J. N. Layne, light trap, 1 female. Hillsborough (sic as Hillsboro ) Co., Harris Swamp, 13 IV 1967 , 4 males, same data except 14 IV 1967 , 2 males. (Palm Beach Co.), West Palm Beach , Morrison Field, DE Hardy, 22 IX 1942 , 1 male, 1 female.

Discussion. Males of B. folkertsi n. sp. also have a dark brown hind femur, tibia and hind tarsomere 1, but they differ from males of this new species in lacking mid and hind femoral spines, the gonostylus is elongate with a rounded apex and with a small pointed inner prong in some specimens. Females of B. folkertsi differ from females of this new species in lacking mid and hind femoral spines, hind tarsomere 1 is light brown, and their spermathecae are subequal-size and very small (length 0.08–0.09 mm).

Figures

FIGURES 37–42. Bezzia brunneipedia, n. sp. Male, 37–38, Female, 39–42. 37, 40 Thorax and legs. 38 Genitalia at focal level of parameres, aedeagus, gonostyli and gonocoxites. 39 Head. 41 Wing. 42 Abdominal segments 8–9 and spermathecae.