Coniceromyia browni, Kung, Giar-Ann, 2009

Kung, Giar-Ann, 2009, Four distinctive new Neotropical species of Coniceromyia Borgmeier (Diptera: Phoridae) with patterned-wings, Zootaxa 2273, pp. 49-58 : 50-51

Coniceromyia browni new species

( Figs. 1 , 5–6 , 13 , 23 ; Morphbank images 477856, 477857, 477860)

Recognition. This species is most easily recognized by its laterally flattened forefemur and foretibia, anterior orange ring on basal two-thirds of forefemur, and distinctive setation of foretibia. C. browni is also distinguished by its minimal patterning of the wing, restricted to darkening of the membrane along M1 and M2, and sometimes along CuA1.

This species keys to couplet 5 in the 2000 key to patterned-wing Coniceromyia males ( Kung & Brown 2000a). Forelegs of C. browni are mostly dark brown, whereas forelegs of C. aurantia Kung & Brown are yellow. In addition, the basal orange macula on the anterior face of forefemur of the two species differ, with that of C. browni appearing as an orange ring encircling a dark central area, and the macula of C. aurantia lacking a darkened center, instead being solid orange. A small apical seta is present, as well as a complete posteroventral row of setae on foretibia of C. browni , whereas the posteroventral row of setae on foretibia of C. aurantia is present only in the apical half.

Description. Body length 2.48–2.52 mm, mean 2.51 mm. Frons and flagellomere 1 dark brown. Frontal height 0.96–1.0 frontal width, mean frontal ratio 0.98. Flagellomere 1 pyriform. Palpus yellow. Scutum and scutellum light brown. Pleuron yellow. Anepisternal setae present. Forefemur thickening with narrow, flattened medial posterolateral face, while laterally flattened and broadened; dark brown, except for large, orange, oval macula on basal two-thirds of anterior face, in addition to small yellow posterobasal patch. Orange patch appears as orange ring, with center of ring covered in fine yellow setae and thicker, longer dark setae (refer to Morphbank image number 477856). Foretibia laterally flattened, dilated; with uneven posteroventral row of eight to nine long, thick setae and posterodorsal row of three long, thick setae. Posterior of foretibia brown, anterior dark brown. Tarsomere 1 of foreleg with long, narrow excavation along length of tarsomere 1 ( Fig. 1 ). Excavation with small, short basal seta and setose, narrow anteroapical projection. Foretarsomeres slightly tapered apically. In one specimen, tarsal ratio 3.8:1.5:1.33:1.75:2.00. Mid- and hind legs yellow. Hind femur with tiny, blunt, posterior setae on basal one-half; setae arranged broadly basally, gradually tapering apically to a single row ( Figs. 5–6 ). Hind tibia with two anterior to anterodorsal setae; one in basal two-fifths, one at apical one-fifth. Apical one-third of hind tibia broad, with orange posterodorsal setae. Costa not thickened ( Fig. 13 ). Wing vein R2+3 entirely absent. Membrane along veins M1 and M2 darkened by pigment; CuA1 with or without pigment. Veins M1 and M2 diverge apically. Vein CuA1 slightly thinner than M1 and M2; CuA1 and M2 relatively parallel. Costa length 0.38–0.40 wing length; mean 0.39.

Halter white. Abdominal tergites dark brown, tergites 2–5 lighter anteromedially. Venter of abdomen white. Left surstylus of genitalia broad, ventrally directed, rounded apically, with approximately 23 long setae ( Fig. 23 ). Left hypandrial lobe tapered apically, to pointed apex.

Distribution. Colombia.

Derivation of species name. This species is named for my mentor and friend, Brian V. Brown.

Holotype. 3. COLOMBIA: Amazonas, PNN Amacayacu, Matamata, 3.82°S, 70.26°W, 25.viii– 3.ix. 2000, 150 m, D. Chota, Malaise trap, CAP-2240 [ LACM ENT 185128] ( IAVH).

Paratypes. COLOMBIA: Amazonas, PNN Amacayacu, Matamata, 3.68°S, 70.25°W, 13, 25.viii– 3.ix. 2001, 150 m, D. Chota, Malaise trap, CAP-2242; PNN Amacayacu, Matamata, 3.82°S, 70.26°W, 13, 15.x–5.xi.2001, A. Parente, Malaise trap, CAP-2762 ( IAVH, LACM).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 4. Foretibiae and foretarsi, dorsal view. 1. Coniceromyia browni new species (foretibia in posterior view). 2. C. hoggi new species. 3. C. sakaii new species. 4. C. valdesi new species.

FIGURES 5 – 8. Scanning electron micrographs, hind femora, posterior view, low magnification and high magnification. 5 – 6. Coniceromyia browni new species. 7 – 8. C. hoggi new species.

FIGURES 13 – 14. Photographs, wings, dorsal view. 13. Coniceromyia browni new species. 14. C. hoggi new species.

FIGURES 23 – 26. Genitalia, left lateral view. 23. Coniceromyia browni new species. 24. C. hoggi new species. 25. C. sakaii new species. 26. C. valdesi new species.