Brachylinga clausa (Kröber)

Webb, Donald W. & Metz, Mark A., 2006, A Revision of the New World Genera Brachylinga Irwin and Lyneborg and Lysilinga Irwin and Lyneborg (Diptera: Therevidae: Therevinae) with the Description of a New Genus, Elcaribe Webb, Zootaxa 1288 (1288), pp. 1-241 : 67-69

Brachylinga clausa (Kröber)

( Figs. 9, 32, 55, 78, 101, 124, 147, 170, 191, 213)

brunnipes var. clausa Kröber (1929:170 orig. desc.) ( Psilocephala ); Metz et al. (2003:248 status change, comb. change) ( Brachylinga ). Type locality Bolivia, Samauhuate. Holotype female in SMNS.

Diagnosis

Brachylinga clausa is taxonomically associated with B. attenuata in possessing setae on the katepisternum; in having the halter knob yellow; and in having the gonocoxite in ventral ( Fig. 32) and lateral views ( Fig. 78) attenuate. Brachylinga clausa differs from B. attenuata in having the posterior margin of the hypoproct emarginate ( Fig. 9); the distiphallus in dorsal view ( Fig. 124) tapered apically with a bulbous expansion subapically and a dorsal carina; and in lateral view the distiphallus ( Fig. 170) is tapered apically in a broad curve.

Redescription of male

Variation (n=10).

Body length 4.8–6.5, 5.6 mm.

Head. Ommatidia smaller ventrally and laterally. Frons pruinescence silver, darker dorsally; setae black. Antenna with scape and pedicel dark reddish brown, pruinescence gray, dense, flagellum brown; setae on scape dark yellow to pale brown. Parafacial pruinescence silver. Maxillary palpus yellow; setae white. Genal setae white. Occipital setae white becoming appressed, lanceolate dorsally. Postocular macrosetae dark reddish brown.

Thorax. Macrosetae dark reddish brown, 3 np, 2 sa, 1 pa, 2 dc, 2 sc. Mesonotum dark brown, pruinescence brownish gray; setae black, moderately long intermixed with white, lanceolate, subappressed setae. Pleuron pruinescence silver, dense; setae white on propleuron, anepisternum, katepisternum, laterotergite, metanepisternum, and scutellum. Wing. Membrane pale brown; veins pale brown; pterostigma brown, darker than membrane; cell m 3 closed, petiolate. Halter knob pale yellow, stalk brown (occasionally knob pale brown). Legs. Coxa setae white, present on posterior surface of midcoxa; macrosetae dark reddish brown. Femora dark reddish brown, apex paler (considerable variation occurs in the coloration of the femora, from dark yellow to dark reddish brown with several specimens having the ventral half of the femur dark yellow and the dorsal half dark brown, and often the forefemur was darker than the mid­ and hindfemora); filamentous setae white on fore­ and midfemora; av 0:0:2–4, pv 0:0:2–5. Tibiae dark yellowish brown. Tarsomeres 1–2 dark yellowish brown, apex dark reddish brown; 3–5 dark reddish brown.

Abdomen. Dark reddish brown, pruinescence white, dense; dorsal setae white, appressed; lateral setae white, erect. Terminalia (MEI 119715). Dark reddish brown, pruinescence gray. Tergite 8 ( Fig. 9), narrow medially (0.02 mm); setae pale yellow, absent medially on posterior margin. Sternite 8 ( Fig. 32) rectangular, sides tapered posteriorly, posterior margin emarginate. Epandrium ( Fig. 9), sides slightly rounded; setae dark brown. Cercus ( Fig. 9), ending basal to apex of hypoproct. Hypoproct ( Fig. 9), posterior margin slightly emarginate, ending distal to apex of cercus. Gonocoxite ventral view ( Fig. 32), broad basally, curving apically to narrow point, setae pale yellow, brown macrosetae apically; dorsal view ( Fig. 55), posteromedial lobe and gonocoxal bridge absent; lateral view ( Fig. 78) bulbous basally, tapering apically to point; ventral lobe ( Fig. 32) with ventral spines. Gonostylus ( Fig. 101), basodorsal lobe large, rounded; ventral margin straight, setae dark yellow, directed apically in distinct tuft; fine, short, spines absent laterally. Aedeagus with dorsal apodeme ( Fig. 124) quadrate, sides parallel, posterolateral margin rounded; ventral apodeme ( Fig. 147) tapered anteriorly, not extending to anterior margin of dorsal apodeme; distiphallus dorsal view ( Fig. 124) tapered apically with bulbous expansion subapically and median carina, lateral view ( Fig. 170) tapered apically in broad curve, apicolateral spines small; ejaculatory apodeme ( Fig. 124), anterior margin truncate.

Female

Similar to male except for following.

Variation (n=10).

Body length 4.8–7.5, 6.3 mm.

Head. Frons pruinescence brownish gray, whitish silver ventrally with small dark brown circle dorsolaterally; setae dark brown, short.

Thorax. Macrosetae 3 np, 2 sa, 1 pa, 1–2 dc, 2 sc. Legs. Anteroventral macrosetae 0:0:3–4, pv 0:0:2–6.

Abdomen. Dark reddish brown, pruinescence gray with denser area of pruinescence laterally on tergites 1–4, and over all of tergites 5–7; dorsal setae dark reddish brown, appressed with white, appressed setae across posterior margin of tergites 1–2; lateral setae dark reddish brown, erect. Terminalia (MEI 119690). Furca ( Fig. 191) oval; length 0.46 mm, width 0.32 mm; anterolateral projection short. Common duct ( Fig. 191) longer than furca. Spermathecal duct ( Fig. 191) diverging horizontally then anteriorly, broad basally with bulbous expansion.

Distribution Brachylinga clausa is known from Argentina and Bolivia ( Fig. 213).

Habitats and phenology

Brachylinga clausa has been handnetted on dry hillsides and ravines; in Malaise traps in dry hillside ravine and inland dunes, in river dunes; in pan traps in inland dunes, and in blacklight traps. Adults have been collected from August to December, and in March.

Specimens examined

Type specimen. The holotype female of Psilocephala brunnipes clausa Kröber (MEI 121031) is labeled "Samuhuate, Bol., IV.26, Lind. D." and is in the SMNS. Other specimens. ARGENTINA. CATAMARCA. 2 km N Belen, Quebrada Belen [­27.616, ­ 67.013], 1094 m, 17–19.X.1997, MEI, FDP, Roig, S., 1♀ MEI 110411 ( MEIC), Malaise trap in dry hillside ravine; 28 km SE Tinogasta [­28.245, ­67.456], 1100 m, 17.X.1997, MEI, FDP, Roig, S., 1♀ MEI 110412 ( MEIC); 4 km N Andalgalá, El Rincon [­27.554, ­ 66.31], 1000 m, 2–3.X.1968, Peña , 1♀ MEI 039702 ( CNC); 46 km S Santa María, Los Corales [­27.005, ­66.252], 1100 m, 17–19.X.1997, MEI, FDP, Roig, S., 1♂ MEI 110409 ( MEIC), Malaise trap in white dunes; Andalgalá [­27.58, ­66.32], 4.XI.1972, Bohart, G. E., 1♂ MEI 007775 ( EMUS); Sierra de Ambato , 16 km NW Chumbicha, Hwy 60 [­28.811, ­66.40], 2760 m, 9–13.IX.1999, MEI, FDP, 1♂ MEI 121751 ( MEIC), Malaise trap in large dry wash; 10 km West Chumbicha [­28.834, ­66.30], 5590 m, 15.IX.1999, MEI, FDP, 7♀ MEI 119693–4, 119708, 119710–3 ( MEIC); 4 km West Chumbicha [­28.856, ­66.26], 9590 m, 13.IX.1999, MEI, FDP, 1♀ MEI 119709 ( MEIC), dry hillside. LA RIOJA. 6 km W Nonogasta, E side Cuesta Miranda [­29.345, ­67.695] 1500 m, 12–15.X.1997, MEI, FDP, Roig, S., 5♀ MEI 110396, 110398–401 ( MEIC), Malaise trap; Rosaro V. Peñaloza, east base of Sierra de Argañaraz [­31.221, ­66.72], 8610 m, 11–23.X.1997, MEI, FDP, Roig, S., 2♀ MEI 110381, 110405 ( MEIC), Malaise trap, east base of mountain, in wet spot in wash; Sierra de Argañaraz , 1 km W El Rocillo [­31.207, ­66.71], 4716 m, 11–22.X.1997, MEI, FDP, Roig, S., 2♂ MEI 110369, 110372, 9♀ 110373–5, 110379–80, 110382, 110402–4 ( MEIC), Malaise trap in dry canyon; 22.X.1997, 14♀ MEI 110383–95, 110397 ( MEIC); Sierra de Argañaraz , El Rocillo [­31.221, ­66.72], 8610 m, 11.X.1997, MEI, FDP, Roig, S., 1♀ MEI 110407 ( MEIC), Malaise trap in wet spot in wash; [­31.207, ­66.71], 3722 m, 11.X.1997, MEI, FDP, Roig, S., 1♀ MEI 110408 ( MEIC), handnetted in wash with water; 22.X.1997, 2♂ MEI 110370–1, 3♀ 110376–8 ( MEIC); Termas de Santa Teresita [­28.597, ­66.54], 9610 m, 5.IX.1999, MEI, FDP, 1♀ MEI 119691 ( MEIC), at light; 14.IX.1999, 1♂ MEI 119714, 1♀ MEI 119692 ( MEIC), Malaise trap in yard. MENDOZA. Lavalle , Parque Provincial Telteca [­32.385, ­68.049], 10–23.X.1997, MEI, FDP, Roig, S., 1♀ MEI 110406 ( MEIC), pan trap inland dunes; [­32.382, ­68.055], 10–23.X.1997, MEI, FDP, Roig, S., 1♂ MEI 110410 ( MEIC), Malaise trap inland dunes. NEUQUEN. Hua Hum , Lago Lacar [­40.12, ­71.67], 11–16.XII.1946, Hayward , 2♀ MEI 037024, 037033 ( IMLA). SALTA. 27 km S Molinos, El Carmen [­25.6, ­66.18], 1900 m, 6.X.1968, Peña, L., 1♂ MEI 039686 ( CNC). TUCUMAN. Fuerte Quemado [­26.617, ­ 66.05], 18.X.1997, MEI, FDP, Roig, S., 1♀ MEI 110413 ( MEIC). BOLIVIA. SAMUHUATE. [­21.811, ­62.868], 26.VI., Chaco, D., 1♀ MEI 121031 ( MEIC). SANTA CRUZ. 11 km N Boyuibe [­20.39, ­63.37], 3884 m, 4.III.1999, MEI, FDP, 2♀ MEI 110558–9 ( MEIC); 4–6.III.1999, 1♀ MEI 111750 ( MEIC), Malaise trap; 5.III.1999, 3♀ MEI 110560–2 ( MEIC), pan trap; 6.III.1999, 3♀ MEI 110563–5 ( MEIC), Malaise trap; 20 km S Camiri, Quebrada Isiri [­20.174, ­63.47], 9865 m, 18.VIII–2.IX.2000, MEI, Hauser, M., 2♂ MEI 121654, 121833, 3♀ 121834–6 ( MEIC); 865 m, M. Hauser, 2♂ MEI 114543, 114604 ( MHPC), collected as larva and reared; Rio Seco [­18.664, ­63.2], 4610 m, 18.VIII–2.IX.2000, 2♀ MEI 121856–7 ( MEIC), Malaise trap, river dunes; Acite Cuevo , 12 km W Boyuibe [­20.384, ­63.40], 4890 m, 18.VIII–2.IX.2000, MEI, Hauser, M., 1♂ MEI 121181, 6♀ MEI 121172, 121179, 121309, 121314, 121321, 121323 ( MEIC), Malaise trap; Campo Guairuy , 24 km S Camiri [­20.197, ­63.476], 1082 m, 4.III.1999, ME I, FDP, 1♀ MEI 111741 ( MEIC); 870 m, 18.VIII–2.IX.2000, MEI, Hauser, M., 9♂ MEI 121839 ( BMNH), 121840 ( CSCA), 121841 ( INHS), 121842 ( USNM), 12183–47 ( MEIC), 7♀ 121655 ( BMNH), 121849 ( CSCA), 121850 ( INHS), 121851 ( USNM), 121852–54 ( MEIC), Malaise trap .