Curtonotum helvum (Loew)

Klymko, John & Marshall, Stephen A., 2011, Systematics of New World Curtonotum Macquart (Diptera: Curtonotidae) 3079, Zootaxa 3079 (1), pp. 1-110 : 32-35

Curtonotum helvum (Loew)

Figures 6 , 28–39 , and 203

Diplocentra helvum Loew, 1862: 228 .— Aldrich, 1905: 641 [Nearctic catalogue].— Malloch, 1930: 324 [combination].— McAlpine, 1989: 94 [figures of male and female terminalia].— Meier et al., 1997: 1–20 [description of immature stages, figures of female reproductive system, egg, larva, and puparium].

Diagnosis. Characters to distinguish C. helvum from C. floridense are provided in the diagnosis of the latter species.

Description. Similar to C. floridense , except as follows. Length: 4.0–8.0 mm. Frons width 1.4–1.5 times frons height. Eye height 3.9–6.2 times gena height. Proclinate seta slightly anterior to or at midpoint of sagittal distance from anterior ocellus to ventral margin of frons, minor reclinate seta anterior to slightly medial of major reclinate seta. Parafacials moderately broad, eye height 4.0–6.2 times gena height. Vibrissa very large, more than 5 times longer than adjacent subvibrissals. First flagellomere distinctly longer than pedicel. Thorax white microtomentose throughout, some specimens with very dark medial and lateral vittae on scutum, medial vitta relatively narrow, on entire scutal length, lateral vittae thicker, extending from just anterior of transverse suture to posterior margin; these vittae present in ground colour only and are largely obscured by microtomentum. Fore femur with 9–12 short stout ctenidial setae. Mid tibia with 2 very strong, 1 moderately strong (in some specimens this seta relatively weak), and several weaker apical ventral setae, the moderate seta between the 2 strong setae, closer to the anterior strong seta; hind femur with single subapical dorsal seta.

Male terminalia: Sternite 5 similar to C. floridense , though not as deeply invaginate posteriorly; tergite 6 completely atrophied; tergite 7 relatively narrow, dorsal length slightly more than one-tenth hypandrial dorsal length, extending on left nearly to, but free of, left margin on sternite 7; sternite 6 well sclerotized, with transverse fold on posterior half (similar to flap in C. floridense but more posterior, only slightly raised, not forming leaf), small left lateral extension fused to left portion of sternite 7; sternite 7 separated into right and left portions, right portion broad and relatively long (as long as portion of sternite 6 posterior to fold), left portion very small, fused to small left extension of sternite 6. Epandrium relatively large, setulose, setulae longest posteroventrally; surstylus very elongate, articulating with epandrium, triangular in lateral profile, with slightly upturned apex, lateral margin straight on distal half in posterior profile, posteroventral corner with inward facing obtuse tooth, minutely setulose ventrally. Cercus separate dorsally, setulose (longest cercal setulae shorter than longest hypandrial setulae), fused to opposite cercus ventrally, forming a ventrally oriented process flat in lateral profile and expanded in posterior profile, process bare but for a few scattered setulae, apex bulbous, invaginate or rounded on apical margin, with slightly recurved, short stout spinules (this fused structure often upturned in dried specimens). Hypandrium with broad-based, rounded dorsobasal projection, posterior bridge extending slightly ventrally, hypandrial arm relatively straight, with single elongate ventrally oriented setulae on dorsal projection proximal to postgonite, fused with opposite epandrial arm distally, articulating with postgonite at level of epandrial posteroventral margin; postgonite very slender and elongate, with straight to slightly upturned apex, equaling or slightly exceeding surstylus apically. Phallapodeme “fan” with longitudinal leaf as well as 2 divergent proximal leaves, these 3 leaves sharing a common axis, margin opposite this process concave; basiphallus well sclerotized basally, relatively stout, expanded apically; distiphallus relatively large, contracted subapically, composed of 2 heavily sclerotized plates, ventral plate extending from base to ca. two-thirds distance to apex, dorsal plate extending to apex, bifurcate distal of subapical contraction. Ejaculatory apodeme outside of basiphallus, slightly bulbous and with small pores apically, broadening basally.

Female terminalia: Similar to C. floridense , except as follows. Sternite 5 length 1.2–2.0 times width, sternite 6 length 0.6–0.7 times width. Sternite 8 moderately densely setulose. Sternite 10 broad apically, lateral margins broadly rounded. Tergite 10 with medial break. Spermatheca very elongate, with very small scattered spinules. Ventral receptacle with bulbous apex and flanged base, with slightly heavier sclerotization basally, duct with fine transverse wrinkles.

Comments. The transverse fold in male sternite 6 is similar to the male sternite 6 flap in C. floridense , but it is more posterior, only slightly raised, and does not form a leaf. In both species the sensory setulae are located just anterior of the transverse feature, suggesting that the folds are homologous although the anterior portion of sternite 6 is much more expanded in C. helvum than in C. floridense .

Type material. Loew’s (1862) type series included one male and one female syntype from North Red River , Minnesota. Photographs of the two syntypes provided by P.D. Perkins ( MCZN) have been examined. Both specimens are labeled “Type”. The male specimen is designated the lectotype and the female specimen is designated the paralectotype. A lectotype has been designated to avoid any confusion surrounding the definition of C. helvum should the original type series prove to be made of more than one species .

Lectotype here designated: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Minnesota: [ North Red River ], ♂ ( MCZN) . Paralectotype: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Minnesota: [ North Red River ], ♀ ( MCZN) .

Other material examined. CANADA. Alberta: ♂ Lethbridge , 17.viii.1929 ( CNCI) ; ♂, “M. bervies”?, 8.ix.1924, H.L. Seamans ( CNCI) . Manitoba: ♂, Treesbank , 10.viii.1929, G.F. Manson ( CNCI) ; 17♂, 14♀, Bald Head Hills , 13 miles N Glenboro, 9.viii.1958, R.L. Hurley ( CNCI) ; ♀, Victoria Beach , 8.viii.1926, N. Criddle ( CNCI) . Ontario: ♂, Toronto , 9.viii.1933, H.S. Parish ( USNM) ; ♂, Bruce Co., Tobermory, Dorcas Bay , 27.viii.1996 , ♀, 28.viii.2005, same data plus sand dune, 45˚11.66’N, 81˚35.04’W , ♂, 2♀, 19–24.viii.1997, Malaise, ♀, 2.viii.1999, ♂, 2♀, 2–25.viii.1999, all S.A. Marshall ( DEBU) ; ♂, 2♀, Manitoulin Island, Providence Bay , dunes, 45˚39’41”N, 82˚15’40”W, 7.viii.2003, S.A. Marshall ( DEBU) ; ♂, ♀, Manitoulin Island, Portage Bay , 45˚45’N, 82˚32’W, dunes, 6.viii.2003, S.A. Marshall ( DEBU) ; 7♀, Manitoulin Island, Carter Bay , 1.viii.2002, S.A. Marshall ( DEBU) , same data plus 45˚36’23”N, 82˚8’27”W, dunes , 2♀, 1.viii.2003, S.M. Paiero, ♀, 8.viii.2003, S.A. Marshall, 3♂, ♀, 28.viii.2003, S.A. Marshall, same data except open dunes , ♂, 2♀, 6–8.viii.2003, yellow pans, S.A. Marshall ( DEBU) ; ♂, 5♀, Bruce Co., Inverhuron Provincial Park , 44˚18’N, 81˚35’W, dunes, 22.viii.2003, M. Buck ( DEBU) ; ♀, Lambton Co., Pinery Provincial Park , 13.vii.1979, Dael Morris , 2♀, 12.ix.1981, K.N. Barber, 5♀, 14.vii.1980, K.N. Barber, ♂, ♀, 19.viii.1980, K.N. Barber, ♂, 2♀, 7.viii.1995, K.H. Stead, same data plus beach dunes , ♂, ♀, 17.vii.1982, S.A. Marshall, same data except Dunes Campground, beach dunes , ♀, 14.ix.2001, S.M. Paiero, same data except 500 m south of Picnic Area 9 on second dune, blacklight trap , ♀, J. & A. Skevington, G. Vogg, same data except Dunes Beach, grass and poplar sand dunes , 5♀, 17.vii.1977, D. Maddison, same data except Burley Beach, dunes , 2♂, 25.vii.2001, M. Buck, same data except Carolinian Trail parking lot, 43˚14’15”N, 81˚52’31”W, grassy sandy area , ♂, 26.vii.2001, sweeps, M. Buck, same data except Riverside Trail , ♂, 3.viii.1994, J. Skevington (all DEBU) ; ♂, Kent Co., Rondeau Provincial Park, South Point Trail , east parking lot, dunes, 42˚15’42”N, 81˚50’49”W, 16.vii.2003, D. Cheung, same data except near east parking lot, oak savanna, 42˚15’42”N, 81˚50’49”W , ♀, 3–16.vi.2003, Malaise, Marshall et al., ♀, 29.vi–14.viii.2003, S.M. Paiero and S.A. Marshall, ♂, 29.vii.2003, S.A. Marshall, 2♂, 16–29.vii.2003, Malaise, S.A. Marshall, same data except dunes , ♂, ♀, 20.vii.2004, D.K.B. Cheung, 2♂, 9–10.viii.2003, yellow pans, M. Buck (all DEBU) ; ♀, Kent Co., Rondeau Provincial Park, Visitor Centre, 42˚46’50”N, 81˚50’38”W, mercury vapour light, 16.vii.2003, O. Lonsdale ( DEBU) ; ♂, 3♀, Haldimand-Norfolk Region, Manestar Tract , 6 km NNW St. Williams, 42˚42’17”N, 80˚27’38”W, 24.viii.2005, J. Klymko ( DEBU) ; 2♂, 3♀, Lambton Co., Port Franks, Richmond Subdivision , wet meadow, 1.ix.1994, J. Skevington, same data except Karner Blue Sanctuary , ♀, 8–15.viii.1996, Malaise, J. Skevington ( DEBU) ; ♀, Lambton Co., Port Franks , 25.viii.1994, A. Rider ( DEBU) ; ♀, Lambton Co., Port Franks, Watson Property near L-Lake, 8–12.vii.1996, Malaise , ♀, 6.viii.1996, 3♂, ♀, 7–14.viii.1996, pans, ♂, 3♀, 14– 19.viii.1996, Malaise, ♀, 19–26.viii.1996, pans, ♂, 26.viii–3.ix.1996, Malaise, 3♂, ♀, 31.vii–6.viii.1996, pans, all J. Skevington (all DEBU) ; ♀, Presquile Pronvincial Park , pannes, 5.viii.2001, Malaise, P. Careless ( DEBU) ; 6♂, 7♀, Sauble Beach , 9.viii.1983 , 7♂, 8♀, 10.viii.1983, same data plus vegetation near sand , ♀, 23.vii.2005, M. Bergeron ( DEBU) ; ♀, Pelham , 30.vii.1923, W.A. Ross ( DEBU) ; ♂, 2♀, Long Point , 23.vii.1983, J.E. Corrigan ( DEBU) ; ♀, Point Pelee National Park , 30.vii.1920, N.K. Bigelow ( CNCI) , ♀, 31.vii.1978, W.A. Attwater ( DEBU) , ♂, 7.vii.1980, D.L. Krailo ( DEBU) , ♂, 22.vii.1981, K.N. Barber ( DEBU) , ♂, ♀, 9.viii.1980, K.N. Barber ( DEBU) , ♀, 17.viii.1980, K.N. Barber ( DEBU) , ♀, 18.viii.1980, K.N. Barber ( DEBU) , 2♀, 7.vii.1982, K.N. Barber ( DEBU) , 3♀, 9.vii.1982, K.N. Barber ( DEBU) , 5♂, 3♀, 11.vii.1982, K.N. Barber ( DEBU) ; 12♂, 19♀, Sandbanks Provincial Park , 3.ix.1980 , 16♂, 38♀, 29.viii.1981 (1 female ”reared from egg ovip. 8.ix.1981 /placed with hopper eggs/pupa 29.ix.1981 /adult female 28.x.1981 ”), all K.N. Barber ( DEBU) ; ♂, Dyers Bay , 16.viii.1953, D.H. Pengelly ( DEBU) ; ♂, Penetang , 1.viii.1955, J.G. Chillcott ( CNCI) ; 42♂, 70♀, Prince Edward Co., Outlet Beach , 13.viii.1968 , 5♂, 7♀, 14.viii.1968, all J.R. Vockeroth (all CNCI) ; ♀, St. Thomas , 1.viii.1924, H.S. D. ( CNCI) . UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. ♂, “ Waq ”, viii.1913 ( USNM) . District of Columbia: ♂, 2♀, Washington, 18.viii.1907, W.L. McAtee ( USNM) . Colorado: 2♂, Saguache Co., Great Sand Dunes National Monument, Light , 8,000’, 11.viii.1976, D. Gwynne ( USNM) . Connectitcut : ♂, ♀, Cansan , 28.viii.1952 , ♀, 29.viii.1952, A. Stone ( USNM) . Illinois: 3♂, 7♀, Chicago ( USNM) ; ♀, Chicago , Edgewater ( USNM) . Indiana: 8♂, 8♀, LaFayette , 1.viii.1922 , ♂, 1.viii.1922, E.W. Stafford, 2♂, 25.vi.1922, 3♂, 4.viii.1922, ♂, 6♀, 4.viii.1922, E.W. Stafford, ♂, ♀, 6.vii.1922, ♂, 20.vii.1922, ♂, 21.viii.1916, ♂, 13.viii.1915, ♂, 8.vii.1915, ♂, 14.vii.1915, 2♀, 30.vii.1915, 4♀, 20.vii.1922, ♀, 17.vi.1922, ♀, 6.viii.1916, ♀, 13.vii.1922, ♀, 21.viii.1916 (all USNM) ; ♂, “ MichiganCv ”, 5.ix.1917, J.M. Aldrich ( USNM) . Georgia: ♀, “S. Georgia ”, Morrison ( USNM) . Massachusetts: ♂, Wood’s Hole , on apple, 15.viii.1917 ( USNM) ; ♀, Horseneck Beach , 3.viii.1896 , ♀, 10.viii.1896, Hough ( USNM) , ♀, Wood’s Hole , 24.vii.1901, 1 sex unknown (abdomen missing), 9.viii.1899 ( USNM) ; ♂, 1 sex unknown (abdomen missing), Mas[sachusetts?] ( USNM); ♀, Plymouth Co., Myles Standfish State Forest, Barrets Pond , 11.ix.1982 ( DEBU) . Maryland: ♂, Cabin John , 27.vii.1916 , 4♂, ♀, 29.vii.1916, W.L. McAtee ( USNM) ; ♂, Hyattsville , vii, N. Banks ( USNM) ; ♀, Chesapeake Beach , ix.1906 ( USNM) ; ♂, 4♀, Beltsville , 6.vii.1916, F.R. Cole ( EMEC) ; ♂, W.L. McAtee ( USNM) ; ♂, Glen Echo , 23.vii, J.R. Malloch ( USNM) . Michigan: 2♂, East Lansing , 4.viii.1941, C. Sabrosky , ♂, ♀, 27.vii.1941 ( USNM) ; 4♂, ♀, Pentwater , 9.vii.1936, C.W. Sabrosky ( USNM) ; ♂, Presque Isle Co., 19.vii.1942, C.W. Sabrosky ( USNM) ; 2♂, Hart , 14.vii.1942 ( USNM) ; Livingston Co., ♂, 6♀, E.S. George Reserve , 23.vi.1943, G. Steyskal , 3♂, 25.vi.1943, G. Steyskal, ♀, Field , 10.vii.1957, U.N. Lanham (all USNM) ; ♂, Grand Traverse Co., Williamsburg , 24.viii.1960, G.C. Eickwort ( USNM) ; ♂, Wexford Co., 23.viii.1960, R.A. Scheibner ( USNM) ; ♂, Barry Co., Yankee Springs Game Area , 15.vi.1960, G.C. Eickwort ( USNM) ; ♀, Ingham Co., 4.viii.1949, R. Namba ( USNM) ; ♀, Dexter , 14.ix.1924, E.G. Anderson ( USNM) ; ♀, Warren Dunes, Beach , 13.v.1952 ( USNM) . Mississippi: ♀, “A.M.C.”, 26.vi.1920 ( USNM) ; 3♀, Oxford Co., 15.vii.1945 ( CNCI) ; ♂, Lafayette Co., vi.1934 , ♀, vii.1945, ♀, v–vi.1962, all F.M. Hull (all CNCI) . North Carolina: 2♀ ( USNM) . Nebraska: ♂, Fremont , 30.vi.1900 ( USNM) . New Jersey: ♀, Rancocas Park , 2.viii.1927, R.S. Lehman ( USNM) ; ♀, Haddonfield , 3.viii.1927, R.S. Lehman ( USNM) ; 2♂, Riverton , 12.vii.1908 ( ANSP) , ♀, 6.ix.1927, C.H. Ballou ( USNM) ; 10♂, 5♀, Riverton , 12.vii.1908 , ♂, 20.ix.1904, ♂, 13.vi.1909, ♀, 18.vii.1909 (all USNM) ; ♂, Fort Dix, Wrightstown , Light Trap, 19–15.vii.1962 ( USNM) ; 2♀, Burlington Co, Oswego Lk. , 30.viii.1974, Malaise, Menke & Miller ( USNM) ; ♀, Lakehurst, Wrangle Brook Rd. , 30.viii.1956, C.B. Knowlton Jr. ( USNM) ; 2♀, Pemberton , 11.vii.1909 ( USNM) ; ♀, Malaga , 20.vii.1909, G.M. Greene ( USNM) ; ♀, Clementon , 29.vii.1906 ( USNM) ; ♀, Glassboro , 11.vii.1963, G.R. Glase ( USNM) ; ♀, Bullock , 16.vii.1932 ( USNM) ; 24♂, 25♀, Medford , 12.viii.1902 ( ANSP) , ♀, 5.ix.1904 ( CASC) , 5♂, 2♀, 5.ix.1904 ( ANSP) ; ♀, Cape May , 30.vi.1909 ( ANSP) ; ♂ ♀, Pemberton , 8.vii.1907 ( ANSP) ; 3♀, Burlington Co., Mount Misery Brook and area, 6.4 km E of junction Highways 70 and 72, 39˚55’11”N, 74˚31’24”W, 38 m, 9.vii.1993, J. Gelhaus, M. Livingston, N. Welch , 3♂, 2♀, 16.vii.1993, 2♀, 29.viii.1993, J. Gelhaus, same data except 6.5 km E of junction Highways 70 and 72, 39˚55’11”N, 74˚31’24”W, 38 m , 2♀, 26.viii.1993, J.K. Gelhaus (all ANSP) ; ♀, Calvert Co., Port Republic , 3.viii.1998 , 2♂, ♀ 5.viii.1998, all D.M. Wood (all CNCI) . New Mexico: 3♀, Espanola , 11.viii.1953, W.B. Heed ( AMNH) . New York: 2♀, Oak Island , vii ( USNM) ; ♀, Ithaca ( USNM) ; ♂, Long Island, Riverhead , 24.viii.1954 ; ♀, Long Island, Montauk , 23.vii.1932, A.L. Melander (all USNM) . Ohio: ♀, Kent, 1.viii.1964, B.A. Foote , ♂, 8.viii.1967, D. Trelka (all CMNH) . Pennsylvania: ♀, Germantown , 2.vii.1908 ( USNM) ; 3♀, Swarthmore , 18.vii.1909, E.T. Cresson ( ANSP) . Virginia: ♂, ♀, Virginia Beach , 13.viii.1913, F.K. Knap , ♀, vii, F.K. Knap (all USNM) ; ♂, Fairfax Co., Black Pond , 19.vi.1919, W. Middleton ( USNM) ; ♀, Chain Bridge , 20.viii.1922, J.R. Malloch ( USNM) ; ♂, Fairfax Co., Scott’s Run , 21.vii.1963, D.C. & K.A. Rentz ( CASC) .

Figures

FIGURES 6–7. 6. Curtonotum helvum (Loew) in copula. Warren Dunes, Michigan, United States. 7. Curtonotum bivittatum Klymko & Marshall, sp. n. Jatun Sacha Reserve, Napo, Ecuador.

FIGURES 28–31. Curtonotum helvum (Loew). 28. Male terminalia, posterior. 29. Male terminalia, left lateral. 30. Hypandrium and subepandrial sclerite, posterior. 31. Distiphallus, dorsal.

FIGURES 32–37. Curtonotum helvum (Loew). 32. Ovipositor, left lateral. 33. Female sternite 8, ventral. 34. Ovipositor, dorsal. 35. Female sternite 10, ventral. 36. Ventral receptacle. 37. Spermatheca.

FIGURES 38–39. Curtonotum helvum (Loew). 38. Head, anterior. 39. Fore femur, anterior.