Geron painteri Hall & Evenhuis

Hall, Jack C. & Evenhuis, Neal L., 2003, Review of the subgenus Geron (Geron) Meigen in the Nearctic Region (Diptera: Bombyliidae: Toxophorinae), Zootaxa 181, pp. 1-72 : 46-47

Geron painteri Hall & Evenhuis , sp. nov.

Description. Male. Head. Front silvery tomentose, with a few white hairs; antenna black, scape with white hair, pedicel with short black hair; first flagellomere subparallel on basal two­thirds then tapering to acuminate apex; antennal ratio: 12:5:27; face cinereous pollinose, white pilose bare medically, silvery tomentum lateral to antennal base; oral margin white; proboscis projects beyond oral margin for a distance two times head height; gena white pilose and tomentose; occiput with lower half white pilose and tomentose, upper half white to pale yellow pilose, tomentum wanting; ocellar tubercle with dark, not black, hair.

Thorax. Mesonotum dull black, side cinereous pollinose; median longitudinal stripe vague, medially divided, not reaching transverse suture; notum white pilose, tomentum wanting; pleura white pilose and tomentose; legs black, with white hair and scales; mid and hind tibiae ferruginous; halter with stem and knob white to pale yellow; scutellum white pilose, tomentum wanting.

Wing. Hyaline; venation normal; crossvein r­m at middle of cell dm; crossvein m­cu sinuate; basicosta with white hair.

Abdomen. Dorsum white to pale yellow pilose, tomentum shiny yellow; side and venter white pilose and tomentose; tergites with lateral margins narrowly pale; sternites with posterior margins narrowly pale.

Genitalia ( Fig. 48 ) with gonocoxa in ventral view flat, without depressions or ridges, in lateral view gonocoxa boot­shaped, ventral margin straight, or nearly so; gonostylus short, thick, broadly rounded apically, slightly curved on apical third, inner margin with a basal triangular projection (best seen in ventral view); lateral ramus narrow, curved, nearly coextensive with gonostylus; dorsolateral ramus short, rounded apically.

Female. As in male except as follows: Head. Eyes separated at vertex by about one and one­half times width of ocellar tubercle; front white pilose and tomentose; pedicel with white hair; occiput with upper half pale yellow pilose, yellow tomentose. Thorax. Mesonotum white to pale yellow pilose with a few scattered, short, black hairs medially behind transverse suture; tomentum yellow; median longitudinal stripe broad to near transverse suture then narrowed apically, extends beyond middle of notum; scutellum with yellow tomentum; fore tarsi with palynophilic setae. Genitalia ( Fig. 17 ) with posterior projection on tergite VIII fulvous; vaginal furca simple, upper half narrowly U­shaped, lower half with arms bowed outward, base slightly enlarged and with a short inward projecting, somewhat pointed ramus.

Types. Holotype male and allotype (Madera Canyon, Santa Cruz County, Arizona, 19.viii.1965, C.A. Saario). Paratypes. Arizona. Santa Cruz County: 2, topotypic, 16.viii.1964, 3.vii.1958 (M.E. Irwin, R.M. Bohart); Cochise County: 1, Portal, 30.viii.1975 (J.D. Pinto); 1, 3 mi. S Portal, 13.viii.1965 (C.L. Crow); 1, 1 mi. E Portal, 6.viii.1967 (E.I. Schlinger); 1, Cove Creek Ranch, 3.viii.1965 (G.R. Ballmer). California. San Bernardino County: 1, Rock Corral, 24.iv.1985 (J.C. Hall); 3, Baker, 29.viii.1979 (J.C. Hall & N.L. Evenhuis). New Mexico. Grant County: 3, 1 mi. Silver City, 1.vi.1965 (M.E. Irwin). Holotype and allotype deposited in USNM. Paratypes deposited in USNM and UCR.

Variation. In both sexes, the hair on the ocellar tubercle varies from dark yellowish to brown, never black. The second antennal segment may or may not have black hair. In most of the males, there is a tuft of yellow hair at the apex of the venter of the gonocoxa.

Discussion. This species appears to be closest to G. eriogonae , sp. nov. The males may be separated by the absence of a small spur on the venter of the gonocoxa in G. painteri , sp. nov. The vaginal furca in the female of G. painteri , sp. nov. has a much more pronounced inward projecting ramus. These flies appear to be on the wing in southern Arizona in August, while other species occurring throughout the same range are found earlier in the year.

Biology. Immature stages are unknown.

Distribution. United States (Arizona, California, New Mexico).

Etymology. Named for Reginald Henry Painter (1901–1968) in honor of his contributions to the knowledge of North American Geron .

Figures

FIGURES 46 – 49. Geron male genitalia. 46, G. niveus Painter; a, lateral view; b, tip of gonocoxa, dorsal view, epiphallus removed. 47, G. notios Hall & Evenhuis, sp. nov.; a, lateral view; b, gonocoxa, dorsal view. 48, G. painteri Hall & Evenhuis, sp. nov.; a, lateral view; b, tip of gonocoxa, ventral view. 49, G. parvidus Painter; a, lateral view; b, gonocoxa, dorsal view, epiphallus and phallic complex removed.

FIGURES 13 – 18. Geron vaginal furcae. 13, G. monticola Hall & Evenhuis, sp. nov. 14, G. nevadensis Hall & Evenhuis, sp. nov. 15, G. nigripes Painter. 16, G. notios Hall & Evenhuis, sp. nov. 17, G. painteri Hall Evenhuis, sp. nov. 18, G. parvidus Painter.