Pattonella (Peckia) gulo, (Fabricius, 1805)

Camargo, Sofia Lins Leal Xavier De, Carvalho-Filho, Fernando Da Silva & Esposito, Maria Cristina, 2018, The genus Peckia Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) in the Brazilian Amazon: a new species, new records, descriptions of female terminalia and key to species, Zootaxa 4483 (1), pp. 1-35 : 19

Peckia (Peckia) gulo ( Fabricius, 1805)

( Figs 75–80 )

Description of female terminalia. Posterior margin of T5 triangular, reddish, with golden microtrichosity and a row of robust, spine-like setae near posterior margin ( Figs 78–80 ). T6 divided into two halves, brown, covered with golden microtrichosity and with grooves on its surface (visible in dry specimens) and robust setae near posterior margin. Spiracles 6 and 7 located on T6. T8 absent ( Figs 75, 78 ). Epiproct triangular, poorly sclerotized, reduced to a patch of setae on the membrane, near the cercus. Cercus covered with fine setae. Hypoproct triangular, covered with long and fine setae ( Fig. 76 ). ST6 elongate, with a pair of robust setae near posterior margin. ST7 shieldshaped, without setae. ST8 wider than long, with lateral margin curved inward and a row of setae near posterior margin ( Fig. 75 ). Spermathecae globular, with grooves and a small rounded chamber where they receive the spermathecal duct ( Fig. 77 ).

Material examined. BRAZIL. Pará: Bragança, Ilha Canelas , 0°47'06"S 46°43'41"W, 27.IX–5.X.1995, suspended trap, oceanic side of island, mangrove margin, leg. N. Bittencourt (1 ♂, MPEG) ; Bragança, Ajuruteua, 23–24.XI.1988, Malaise trap, leg. F.F. Ramos (1 ♂, MPEG); Bragança , 7.III.1983, leg. F.F. Ramos & R.B. Neto (1 ♂, MPEG) ; Bragança , 5.X.1995, leg. N. Bittencourt (7 ♀♀, MPEG) ; Bragança , 11.V.2007, leg. R. Santos (1 ♀, MPEG) ; Bragança , 11.IV.2008, leg. R. Santos (1 ♀, MPEG) ; same data but 7.III.1983, leg. F.F. Ramos & R.B. Neto (5 ♀♀, MPEG) .

Distribution in Brazil. Pará.

Remarks. The female of P. (P.) gulo shares some morphological similarities with those of P. (P.) hillifera and P. (P.) lutzi , such as T5 with a triangular posterior margin ( Figs 78 , 84 , 90 ). In addition, these three species are found mainly along the coast. Females of P. (P.) gulo can be distinguished from females of P. (P.) hillifera and P. (P.) lutzi by the following features: T5 reddish with spots of silver microtrichosity and a row of thick spine-like setae near posterior margin; ST6 with only one pair of median robust setae; T6 with grooves on its surface ( Figs 75, 78 , 81, 84 ). In P. (P.) hillifera and P. (P.) lutzi T5 is brownish-black with spots of silver microtrichosity and with a row of long, not spine-like setae near posterior margin; ST6 has more than one pair of robust setae near posterior margin, and T6 lacks grooves on its surface. In addition, P. (P.) gulo is a large and robust species, reaching up to 20 mm in length, while P. (P.) hillifera and P. (P.) lutzi reach about 17 mm.

This species was collected only on oceanic beaches and in mangroves in the Brazilian Amazon, with traps baited with rotting organic matter (dead fish and crab, fermented banana and pineapple); it seems to be restricted to estuaries and marshy coastal habitats ( Reeves et al. 2000; Buenaventura & Pape 2013). Its larvae appear to breed only in dead crabs ( Reeves et al. 2000; Méndez & Pape 2002), which is consistent with some specimens obtained from a dead crab [Ucides cordatus (Linnaeus)] collected by Dr. Rita Santos (College Bragança, Universidade Federal do Pará) in mangroves of the Brazilian Amazon.

Figures

FIGURES 75–80. Peckia (Peckia) gulo (Fabricius), female from Pará, Bragança (MPEG). 75. Abdominal sternites and tergites 5 and 6 in ventral view. 76. Epiproct, cercus and hypoproct in apical view. 77. Spermatheca in lateral view. 78. Abdomen in posterior view. 79. Abdomen in dorsal view. 80. Abdomen in ventral view. Scale bars: 73, 76–78 = 2 mm; 74–75 = 0.5 mm. Abbreviations: CE = cercus; EP = epiproct; HP = hypoproct; ST = sternite; T = tergite.

FIGURES 81–86. Peckia (Peckia) hillifera (Aldrich), female from Pará, Bragança (MPEG). 81. Abdominal sternites and tergite 6 in ventral view. 82. Epiproct, cercus and hypoproct in apical view. 83. Spermatheca in lateral view. 84. Abdomen in posterior view. 85. Abdomen in dorsal view. 86. Abdomen in ventral view. Scale bars: 79, 83–84 = 2 mm; 80 = 0.5 mm; 81 = 0.1 mm; 82 = 1 mm. Abbreviations: CE = cercus; EP = epiproct; HP = hypoproct; ST = sternite; T = tergite.

FIGURES 87–92. Peckia (Peckia) lutzi (Lopes), female from Pará, Bragança (MPEG). 87. Abdominal sternites and tergite 6 in ventral view. 88. Epiproct, cercus and hypoproct in apical view. 89. Spermatheca in apical view. 90. Abdomen in posterior view. 91. Abdomen in dorsal view. 92. Abdomen in ventral view. Scale bars: 85, 88–90 = 2 mm; 86–87 = 0.5 mm. Abbreviations: CE = cercus; EP = epiproct; HP = hypoproct; ST = sternite; T = tergite.