Quichuamyia Brammer, 2005

Brammer, Colin A., 2005, Quichuamyia, a new Neotropical genus of Stratiomyidae (Insecta: Diptera), Zootaxa 990 (1), pp. 1-14 : 2

Quichuamyia Brammer , gen. nov.

Type species. Quichuamyia aplanatantennae sp. nov.

Diagnosis. This genus can be distinguished from other Stratiomyidae by the distinct apomorphy of antennae having eight laterally compressed flagellomeres that are taller than long. The genus can also be recognized by a unique combination of characters: 1) the ocellar triangle is raised above the vertex on a tubercle; 2) the ventral edge of lower frons appears bilobed in the female; and 3) the scutellum has a pair of long, straight spines. Setal pattern of thorax and abdomen is distinct, but, coupled with wing coloration and posterior of head coloration, bears a strong resemblance to Artemita convexa (Walker) (Pachygastrinae) .

Description: Ocellar triangle raised above vertex on a tubercle 1.5–2.0 X height of single ocellus. Antennae laterally compressed, width 0.25 or less the height of flagellomeres; flagellomeres twice as tall as long; eighth flagellomere nearly as long as sixth and seventh combined. Lower frons dark brown to black, with whitish and brown semi­erect setae. Thorax integument black, dull, with silver or gold patterns of appressed pilosity on dorsum and lateral margins; scutellum black with appressed black and gold pilosity, spines yellow, straight, situated close together, longer than scutellum, projecting posteriorly, slightly laterally divergent. Femur yellow, brown cross­band in apical 0.33. Tibia dark brown to black. Anterior tarsus entirely dark brown to black, laterally compressed with a ventral row of thickened setae, giving the tarsus a saw­like appearance. Basal two tarsomeres of meso­ and metatarsus yellow, apical three tarsomeres brown; abdomen black, dull, with contrasting setal pattern. Male: eyes holoptic, bare, adjoined in central 0.33 of head, smaller ommatidia in ventral 0.33 of eye. Ocellar triangle dark brown, raised on tubercle. Lower frons dark brown, with silver appressed and semi­erect setae; outer lateral margins of frons with fine line of silver tomentum. Female: upper frons and post­ocular area orange­red, thick short black setae on upper frons, silver­white tomentum along outer lateral margin of upper and lower frons; ventral margin with central furrow and swollen lateral areas, so lower frons appears bilobed; eyes dichoptic, bare, ommatidia of even size throughout.

Etymology. The genus is named for the native inhabitants of the area in which the taxon was first discovered, and the location of the type species, the Quichua people of the Province of Napo in Ecuador, South America. (Latin myia = fly).