Leptomorphus neivai Edwards

Borkent, Christopher J. & Wheeler, Terry A., 2012, Systematics and Phylogeny of Leptomorphus Curtis (Diptera: Mycetophilidae) 3549, Zootaxa 3549, pp. 1-117 : 49-50

23. Leptomorphus neivai Edwards

( Figures 29, 65, 112, 142, 150, 155)

Leptomorphus neivai Edwards, 1940: 452 .

References: Lane 1958: 150 (distribution list); Matile 1977: 144 (subgeneric placement); Papavero 1978: 50 (catalogue).

DIAGNOSIS: The only extant species of Leptomorphus with R 4 present and forming a triangular cell (rather than rectangular, Fig. 65), and with lateral lobes of parameres longer than tergite 9 and bending sharply dorsally ( Fig. 112). This is the only species in the neotropics with R 4.

DESCRIPTION: Male. ( Fig. 29) Head: yellow, circular in anterior view. Antenna brown; scape yellow, with brown setae in single apical row extending from dorsum laterally into thick patch covering apicoventral process, basal third and entire medial surface bare, anterobasal patch of setulae present; pedicel yellow, with two rows of strong setae on apicodorsal margin, a few small setae on apicoventral margin; flagellomere 1 with tapered base yellow remainder dark brown; flagellomere 6 1.7X as long as broad. Clypeus yellow, slightly laterally compressed oval; bristles on clypeus brown, all similar sized, principally on lateral, ventral margins, ventral bristles directed ventrally, clypeus 2.5X as long as face. Face yellow; shape a slightly wider than tall triangle, bare. Frons brown; bare, frontal furrow running 1/3 distance from dorsal margin towards ventral margin, frontal cleft just anterior of median ocellus. Palpus with segments 1–4 yellow, segment 5 white; segment 1 hidden behind eye, segments 2–3 subequal (1/2 as long as segment 4), segment 5 2X length and 1.5X width of segment 4, segment 3 without apicolateral patch of setae. Labellum yellow. Eye with very few, short inter-ommatidial setulae scattered on surface. Occiput yellow with appressed, anteriorly directed setae. Ocelli with median slightly in front of laterals, space between ocelli less than diameter of laterals, lateral ocelli 2.5X their own diameter from eye margin, ocellar triangle black. Thorax: Length 1.4 ± 0.22 mm (1.23–1.56 mm, n = 10). Dark brown with a few yellow spots. Scutum dark brown/black, occasionally with two paler lines beginning just behind anterior margin and converging just before posterior margin; surface of scutum covered with trichia; acrostichal setae absent; single dorsocentral seta present anteriorly; single row of lateral setae present; patch of setae on scutum at wing base absent. Scutellum yellow with covering of fine trichia; bristles absent. Prescutum light brown. Mediotergite brown with 8–12 bristles on posterior third, and covering of appressed trichia. Laterotergite brown, with covering of appressed trichia; anterior margin of laterotergite abutting katepisternum. Anepimeron brown with posterodorsal corner yellow. Anepisternum brown. Katepisternum brown with dorsal third white. Antepronotum and proepisternum brown. Margin of anterior and posterior spiracles white with white trichia. Metepisternum light yellow with light brown line on ventral margin. Anapleural suture with anterior portion slightly curved dorsally. Halter with basal 1/3 of stem ivory, apical portion and knob dark brown. Legs: principally yellow; trochanters with brown margins; midfemur with basal 1/4 brown, hind femur with basal and apical 1/4 brown; extreme anteroapical corner dark brown on all femora; midtibia with apex light brown, hind tibia brown; tarsi brown. Midfemur without apical spine-like process. Tibia with covering of brown macrotrichia, foretibia with comb of short setae along length of anteroventral surface, foretibial spur dark brown, remainder brown, foretibial spur length 2X apical thickness of foretibia, midtibia with strong, dorsal, bare patch of even thickness for 2/3 of its length, placed basally, shortest midtibial spur 0.75X length of longest, longest midtibial spur 5X apical thickness of midtibia, shortest hind tibial spur 0.8X length of longest, longest hind tibial spur 4X apical thickness of hind tibia. Foreleg first tarsomere 1.7X length of foretibia. Wing ( Fig. 65): Length 5.9 ± 0.8 mm (5.3–6.5 mm, n = 10). Hyaline; apical macula reaching wing tip though fainter towards tip, extending faintly along posterior wing margin into apex of cell cua1, cup, not joining with medial macula; medial macula extending from R 1 to fork of CuA and M 4. Macrotrichia in all cells, though absent from posterobasal margin of cell a. Setae on basal posterior margin of wing (along base of cell a) alternating long, short. Calypter with group of macrotrichia. Vein sc-r present, apical end joining R within its own length prior to origin of Rs. R 4 present, forming a triangular cell by originating at, or close to, the junction of Rs and r-m. R 5 straight, slight posterior turn near tip. M 1 reaching apex before R 5, apices of M veins reaching wing margin. M 4 -CuA fork arising just apical of origin of r-m. A 2 absent. Abdomen: Tergites and sternites 3–5 with anterior 1/3 yellow, remainder dark brown/black. Tergite 8 smaller than all other abdominal sclerites, without bristles. Genitalia ( Fig. 112): basal half brown remainder yellow. Sternite 9 sclerotized, posteriorly pointing triangle with slight bifurcation at apex, as long as aedeagus and 1/2 the width of genitalia. Tergite 9 longer than wide, lateral margins ~parallel, posterior margin ~flat with small point laterally. Gonocoxite placed centrally on T9, medial margin not reaching median line, bearing gonostylus apically. Gonostylus a single apically blunt lobe with several setae, gonocoxite III associated with dorsal margin of gonostylus but not fused to it. Aedeagus mostly membranous and fused with sternite 9, 4/5 length of gonocoxite, tapering towards apex, apodemes 1/5 total length. Parameres with two lobes, lateral lobes longer than T9, sharp bend dorsally after reaching apical margin of T9, medially lobes long and thin, but shorter than lateral and placed dorsally behind aedeadgus; basal bridge between apodeme lobes with dorsally directed pair of hooks; joined basally with aedeagus.

Female adult. As for male, except as follows. Head: Thorax: Length 1.49mm (±0.28, max: 1.72mm, min: 1.27mm, n = 10). Wing: Length 6.2 ± 0.8 mm (5.5–6.8 mm, n = 10). Legs: Foretibia without comb of short setae on anteroventral surface. Abdomen: Sternites yellow. Cercus yellow.

Immatures. Unknown.

BIOLOGY: Unknown.

DISTRIBUTION: Brazilian states of Sao Paulo, Parana, and Santa Catarina, and adjacent areas of northeastern Argentina (Lane 1958) and south-eastern Paraguay ( Fig. 142), 150–925 masl.

MATERIAL EXAMINED: Lectotype, here designated, adult male, pinned, labelled “ Brasilien [ BRAZIL]/ [Santa Catarina,] Nova Teutonia / 27°11’ B [S], 52°23’ L. [W]/ Fritz Plaumann / 18.XII.1937; [circular label with blue ring] SYNTYPE; Leptomorphus / neivai Edw. / F.W. Edwards; SYNTYPE / Leptomorphus / neivai/ Edwards/ det. J.E. Chainey, 1996.; LECTOTYPE ♂ / Leptomorphus neivai / Edwards/ Det. C.J. Borkent 2012” [ BMNH]. This specimen was chosen as it was in the best condition of the five syntypes available (some minor leg damage).

Paralectotypes labelled as for lectotype except without F.W. Edwards determination label and: 21-IX-1938. (sex? (broken abdomen)); 26.VIII.1937 (1♀); 16. VI.1937 (sex? (broken abdomen)); 8. VI .1937 (1♀), All paralectotypes in BMNH. In the original description Edwards (1940) lists seven type specimens. We are only aware of these five specimens, with the remaining two considered lost .

Other material: All in CNC except where noted. BRAZIL, [Santa Catarina], Nova Teutonia . XI.1966, F. Plaumann. (1♂, 1♀); same data except IX.1966 (3♂, 1♀); V .1966 (1♂, 1♀); I.1965 (1♂); XII.1964 (1♂); IX.1964 (2♂, 1♀); X.1963 (1♂); IX.1963 (1♀); VIII.1963 (1♂); VI .1963 (6♂); XII.1962 (1♂); 30.XI.1962 (1♂); 15.XI.1962 (1♂); 9.XI.1962 (1♀); 6.XI.1962 (1♂, 1♀); 22.X.1962 (1♂); 26.IX.1962 (1♂); 21.IX.1962 (1♂); 3.VIII.1961 (1♂); 5. VI.1961 (1♂); 4. VI.1961 (1♂); 8. V.1961 (1♂); 9.XI.1960 (1♀); 4.XI.1960 (1♂); 8.VIII.1960 (1♂); 9.I.1960 (1♀); 6.I.1960 (1♀); 29.XII.1959 (1♀); 23.XI.1959 (1♀); 24.X.1959 (1♂); 20.IX.1959 (1♂); 29.XI.1958 (1♀); 7. V.1957 (1♂); 12.IX.1944 (1♀); Sao Paulo, Embu. VI .1953, J.P. Duret (1♂, MNHN); Parana, Curitiba , 20–31.I.1969, L. Strange (1♂, MNHN); PARAGUAY, [Guairá] Villarrica , VII.1937, F. Schade (1♂, USNM) .