Bezzia (Bezzia) leptostyla, 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 : 457-459

Bezzia (Bezzia) leptostyla n. sp.

( Figs. 56–60 )

Bezzia male form 27A, Dow & Turner 1976: 66.

Diagnosis. The only Nearctic species of the B. pulverea complex with the following combination of characters. Male gonostylus elongate with very long, slender, curved outer prong, but no inner prong; parameres with elongate, moderately narrow distal portion; fore femur with 6–8 ventral spines; and very long antennal flagellum (length 1.49–1.63 mm). Females unknown.

Male. Head. Brown. Eyes separated by the diameter of 2–3 ommatidia. Antennal flagellomeres 1–4 brown, 5–9 and proximal 7/8 of 10 pale brown, distal 1/8 of 10 and distal 7/8 of 11–13 darker brown, proximal 1/8 of 11–13 pale; flagellomeres 2–7 vasiform, 8–9 elongate vasiform, 10–13 greatly elongate, 10 longest; AR 1.05–1.08 (1.07, n=2); flagellum length 1.49–1.63 (1.56 mm, n=2). Palpus moderately long, slender; segment 5 extends considerably beyond apex of labium; segment 3 slender with of 2–3 meso-central capitate sensillae; PR 3.56–4.00 (3.78, n=2). Mandible slender with 3–6 large medial teeth; lateral teeth apparently absent. Thorax ( Fig. 56 ). Reddish brown. Scutum with dorsal portion covered with moderately dense stout curved setae, lateral surfaces with sparse similar setae, and 6–8 large stout pre-alar setae; scutellum with 6 long setae. Fore, mid femora yellowish or pale brown; fore femur with narrow basal and subapical brown bands (holotype) or broader, darker brown bands (paratype); mid femur with or without light brown basal band, with broader dark brown apical band; hind femur brown, darkest on distal 1/3; 6–8 fore, 1 mid, 1–2 hind stout ventral femoral spines. Fore tibia yellowish or light brown with broad central, narrower apical brown bands; mid tibia brown with a pale narrow subapical band (holotype), or with a poorly defined basal band and a broader well developed pale subapical band (paratype); hind tibia brown (holotype) or dark brown (paratype); 0 fore, 0–2 mid, 8–9 hind dorsal tibial spines; 2 fore, 4 mid, 3 hind large apical tibial spines ( Fig. 57 ). Tarsi with tarsomeres 1–3 pale brown, 4–5 brown; claws as in male B. pulverea . Wing ( Fig. 58 ) moderately narrow; membrane slightly infuscated, costa, radial veins, proximal portion of medius and r-m crossvein brownish; posterior veins hyaline, well developed; WL 1.83–2.00 (1.92 mm, n=2), WW 0.49–0.53 (0.51 mm, n=2); CR 0.68– 0.72 (0.70, n=2). Halter brown; distal ½ of knob dark brown. Abdomen. Tergites brown, 1–2 with moderately dense long setae, 3–6 with sparse short and long setae, 7–8 with dense very long setae; sternites 1–6 purple with sparse short and long setae, 7–8 with dense very long setae. Genitalia ( Figs. 59–60 ). Tergite 9 moderately broad, elongate; cerci elongate, extending 2/3 length of parameres, with long stout subapical and apical setae. Sternite 9 moderately long with shallow, narrow, U-shaped apicocentral excavation, the inner margins apparently lacking fringe of fine setae; apicolateral extensions short, moderately sclerotized. Gonocoxite very broad proximally, moderately long; lateral margin curved at base, becoming greatly curved distally; apex narrowed, articulating with gonostylus at oblique angle. Gonostylus elongate, proximal ½ gradually tapered distally; outer prong greatly elongate, slender, tapering slightly, curved distally, tip pointed; no inner prong. Parameres ( Fig. 60 ) fused; basal arms broad, moderately to heavily sclerotized, greatly divergent, apices truncate; main body more lightly sclerotized, moderately elongate, spear-shaped, apex tapered, tip rounded. Aedeagus difficult to discern in holotype, better defined in paratype; moderately sclerotized and of typical broad triangular shape of other species in the B. pulverea complex; basal arch very broad, moderately shallow, extending ¼ of total aedeagal length; basal arm relatively short, heavily sclerotized, apex rounded; main body very broad with well-developed, moderately low shoulder-like basolateral extensions; apical portion elongate, abruptly tapered distally, tip apparently pointed.

Female. Unknown.

Distribution. Florida.

Etymology. The specific epithet is a combination of two Greek terms: lepto (slender) and styla (pointed instrument), a reference to the elongate gonostylus which has a very long, slender outer prong, but, no inner prong.

Type Material. Holotype male, FLORIDA, Alachua Co., Gainesville, Chantilly Acres , 10 V 1967, F. S. Blanton ( USNM) . Paratype male, FLORIDA, Liberty Co., Torreya St. Park, 1 Sept. 1968, F. S. Blanton, black light ( FSCA) .

Discussion. Willis Wirth wrote “ Bezzia spicata D. & T.” on the locality labels of the holotype and paratype. However, based on their elongate gonostylus with a very long outer prong, moderately slender parameres, and different leg banding patterns, they are clearly not members of that previously described species.

Figures

FIGURES 56–60. Bezzia leptostyla n. sp. Male. 56 Thorax and legs. 57 Hind tibial spines. 58 Wing. 59 Genitalia at focal level of parameres, gonocoxites and gonostyli. 60 Genitalia at focal level of parameres, aedeagus, right gonocoxite and gonostylus.