13. Neoephydra araucaria Mathis

Figs. 1, 64–68, Map 13

Neoephydra araucaria Mathis 2008: 10 [revision].

Diagnosis. Specimens of N. araucaria are distinguished from similar congeners by the following characters: generally appearing moderately dark; face moderately setose; gena moderately short; and structures of male terminalia with distinctive conformation. Medium-sized to moderately large shore flies, body length 3.04–4.38 mm; generally dull, grayish with some subshiny areas dorsally.

Head: Head ratio 0.69–0.72; frontal ratio 0.54–0.55; mesofrons with dark, greenish blue to brassy luster, inconspicuously pilose; ocellar triangle differing little from mesofrons in color or vestiture; fronto-orbital setae 2. Antenna mostly concolorous, dark, blackish brown. Facial ratio 0.90–0.93; mostly densely setulose, particularly along oral margin and toward posteroventral portions of face; dorsum of interfoveal hump with subshiny area more or less concolorous with mesofrons, otherwise face densely microtomentose, grayish brown to golden brown, gradually paler ventrally. Eye ratio 1.07–1.10; gena-to-eye ratio 0.32–0.35; gena moderately short, coloration immediately below eye whitish gray, slightly more tannish posteriorly.

Thorax: Scutum thinly microtomentose, subshiny, mostly dark brown, darker and shinier posteriorly; anterior margin slightly more microtomentose, grayer, especially postpronotum and 2 partial, microtomentose stripes laterad of acrostichal track; lateral margins of scutum slightly more microtomentose, more grayish brown; scutellum concolorous with posterior portion of scutum; pleural areas paler, grayer ventrally; anepisternum with dorsal and posterior margins more brownish, otherwise mostly gray; anepimeron mostly concolorous with posterior margin of anepisternum; other pleural areas including coxae whitish gray, concolorous. Wing length averaging 3.55–3.80 mm; faintly infuscate; costal vein ratio 0.20–0.22; M vein ratio 0.69–0.71. Legs generally dark; femora microtomentose, grayish blue to green, only slightly darker than ventral pleural areas; tibiae and tarsi orangish yellow, with blackish tinges apically.

Abdomen: Generally thinly microtomentose to microtomentose; tergites fasciate, anterior margin brownish to brassy, more thinly microtomentose, posterior margin grayish olivaceous green to gray, paler toward lateral margins, some specimens with faint bluish tinges of metallic luster; ventral surface of tergites frequently whitish gray. Tergite 5 of male triangular, nearly equilateral. Male terminalia (Figs. 64–68): margins of epandrium in posterior view (Fig. 65) parallel below cerci, rounded dorsally; surstyli in posterior view roughly forming isosceles triangle, apices of posterior processes forming ventral angle with narrow gap between; surstylus in lateral view (Figs. 66–67) with posterior process wide on basal 2/3, thereafter tapered to anteriorly curved, rounded apex, anterior margin irregularly shaped, posterior margin more regular; lateral process short, bluntly rounded, with patch of long, medioapical setulae.

Type material. The holotype male is labeled “ CHILE: Osorno Pr. Anticura (1 km. W) 430 m 1–3 Feb. 1978 W N Mathis/Ƌ/ HOLOTYPE Ƌ Neoephydra araucaria Mathis USNM [red].” The holotype is double mounted (minuten in a plastic elastomer block), is in excellent condition, and is deposited in the USNM. The allotype female and 123 paratypes (71♂, 52♀; USNM) bear the same locality label data as the holotype. Other paratypes are as follows (all in USNM): CHILE. Bio Bio: Santa Barbara (25 km E; 37°40'S, 72°01'W; 350 m), 24 Jan 1978, W. N. Mathis (21♂, 11♀; USNM). Curico: Estero Potrero Grande (3 km E Potrero Grande; 35°11'S, 71°07'W; 400 m), 8 Feb 1987, C. M. and O. S. Flint (5♂, 5♀; USNM). Malleco: Victoria (11 km N; 38°13'S, 72°20'W; 300 m), 25 Jan 1978, W. N. Mathis (15♂, 8♀; USNM). Maule: Constitución (35°20'S, 72°30'W), 16 Dec 1976, A. Gurney, Barria (1♂; USNM). Nuble: Río Perquilauquen, Parral (12 km S; 36°10'S, 71°50'W; 160 m), 24 Jan 1978, W. N. Mathis (5♂, 3♀; USNM). O'Higgins: Río Claro (5 km N Rengo; 34°24'S, 70°52'W; 300 m), 23 Jan 1978, W. N. Mathis (9♂; USNM). Osorno: Termas de Aguas Calientes (1 km SE; 40°41'S, 72°21'W; 530 m), 7–8 Feb 1978, W. N. Mathis (12♂, 3♀; USNM); Anticura (4 km W; 37°40'S, 72°01'W; 400 m), 3 Feb 1978, W. N. Mathis (2♂, 3♀; USNM); Anticura (1 km W; 40°39'S, 72°10'W; 430 m), 5–6, 11–12 Feb 1978, W. N. Mathis (6♂, 1♀; USNM); Lago Puyehue (SE shore; 40°45'S, 72°25.2'W), 6–10 Feb 1978, W. N. Mathis (23♂, 20♀; USNM); Lago Puyehue, Entre Lagos (40°45.2'S, 72°34.8'W), 14 Feb 1978, W. N. Mathis (40♂, 24♀; USNM); Lago Rupanco, El Encanto (40°49'S, 72°28'W), 6 Feb 1978, W. N. Mathis (2♂, 3♀; USNM); Laguna El Pato (41°10'S, 73°40'W; 1100 m), 13 Feb 1978, W. N. Mathis (5♂, 12♀; USNM); Laguna El Toro (41°09'S, 73°28'W; 780 m), 8 Feb 1978, W. N. Mathis (1♂, 2♀; USNM); Salto del Río Pilmaiquen (40°08'S, 71°59'W), 14 Feb 1978, W. N. Mathis (15♂, 14♀; USNM). Palena: Termas El Amarillo, (30 km SE Chaitén; 42°52.9'S, 72°21.4'W; 250 m), 22 Jan 1987, C. M. and O. S. Flint (3♂, 7♀; USNM). Santiago: El Alfalfal (33°30'S, 70°11'W; 1320 m), 22 Jan 1978, W. N. Mathis (20♂, 5♀; USNM); Lampa (22 km NW Santiago; 33°17'S, 70°54'W), 21 Jan 1978, W. N. Mathis (5♂, 9♀; USNM). Talca: Río Lircay (11 km N Talca; 35°23'S, 71°39'W; 85 m), 23 Jan 1978, W. N. Mathis (3♂, 1♀; USNM).

Type locality. Chile. Osorno. Anticura (1 km W; 40°39'S, 72°10'W).

Additional specimens examined. ARGENTINA. Buenos Aires: Médanos (38°49'S, 62°41'W), 11 Nov 1946, K. Hayward (1♂; USNM). Mendoza: Uspallata (9 mi W; 32°40'S, 69°25'W), 6 Feb 1951, E. S. Ross, A. E. Michelbacher (1♂; CAS). Rio Negro: San Carlos de Bariloche (49°09'S, 71°18'W), Nov 1926, R. C. and E. Shannon (5♂, 2♀; USNM).

CHILE. Aconcagua: Guardia Vieja (E; 32°54'S, 70°17'W), 3 Dec 1976, A. Gurney, G. Barria (1♂; USNM). Antofagasta: Pocos (23°15'S, 68°04'W; 2800 m), Des Atacama, Apr 1954, L. E. Peña (l♂; USNM). Bio Bio: El Abanico (37°20'S, 71°31'W), 31 Dec 1950, E. S. Ross, A. E. Michelbacher (l♂; USNM). Cautin: Temuco (20 km E; 38°44'S, 72°35'W), 7 Jan 1951, E. S. Ross, A. E. Michelbacher (39♂, 46♀; USNM). Concepción: Cosmito (36°46'S, 73°01'W), 31 Dec 1966, O. S. Flint, Jr., T. Cekalovic (l♂, 1♀; USNM); San Rosendo (37°16'S, 72°43'W), Dec 1926, R. C. and E. Shannon (l♂; USNM). Coquimbo: Bosque de Nague-Los Vilos (31°54.7'S, 71°30.8'W), Nov 1969, L. E. Peña (27♂, 24♀; MZUSP, USNM); Freirina (28°30.3'S, 71°04.6'W), Oct 1969, L. E. Peña (4♂, 13♀; USNM); Hda Illapel (31°37.8'S, 71°09.9'W; 600–1200 m), 24–30 Oct–19 Dec 1954–1966, M. E. Irwin, L. E. Peña, E. Schlinger (4♂, 2♀; USNM); La Serena (50 km S; 29°55'S, 71°15.2'W), 1 Dec 1950, E. S. Ross, A. E. Michelbacher (2♂; CAS); Los Loros (Boca Rio Limari; 30°47.5'S, 71°37.3'W), Sep 1969, L. E. Peña (93♂, 126♀; MZUSP); Ovalle (32 km SE; 30°36'S, 71°11'W), 12 Dec 1950, E. S. Ross, A. E. Michelbacher (4♂, 11♀; USNM); Río Colorado-Pichidarqui (32°52'S, 72°25'W), 7–11 Aug 1960, L. E. Peña (2♂, 1♀; CNC); Port Tres Cruces (Portuzuelo; 29°22.3'S, 70°56'W), 30 Oct 1957, L. E. Peña (2♂, 2♀; CNC); Tilama, El Naranjo (32°05'S, 71°10'W), Oct 1967, L. E. Peña (2♂, 2♀; USNM). Curico: Cajon de Río Claro-SE Los Queñes (35°0.1'S, 70°49.1'W; 1100 m), 8 Dec 1966, E. I. Schlinger (1♂, 1♀; USNM). Llanquihue: Frutillar (41°07'S, 73°03'W), 22 Jan 1953, P. G. Kuschel (4♂; USNM). Malleco: Angol (37°48'S, 72°43'W), 28 Nov–1 Jan 1926– 1932, D. S. Bullock (3♂; USNM). Maule: Curanipe (35°50'S, 72°38'W), 4 Dec 1953, L. E. Peña (1♂; USNM). Nuble: San Carlos (18 km E; 36°20'S, 71°44'W), 24 Dec 1950, E. S. Ross, A. E. Michelbacher (1♀; CAS); San Carlos (40 km E; 36°20'S, 71°43'W), 23 Dec 1950, E. S. Ross, A. E. Michelbacher (l♂, 1♀; USNM). O'Higgins: Rancagua (23 km N; 34°09'S, 70°45'W), 21 Dec 1950, E. S. Ross, A. E. Michelbacher (30♂, 26♀; USNM). Osorno: Río Bueno-N Osorno (40°19'S, 72°58'W), 14 Jan 1951, E. S. Ross, A. E. Michelbacher (30♂, 38♀; USNM); Termas de Puyehue (40°42'S, 72°18'W), 7 Jun 1940, G. H. Schwabe (2♂, 1♀; USNM). Santiago: Baños de Morales (33°50'S, 70°03'W), 12 Jul 1940, G. H. Schwabe (1♂; USNM); Chacabuco, Tiltil (33°04.3'S, 70°58.3'W; 950 m), 18–19 Jan 1999, P. and M. Kerr (1♂, 1♀; USNM); Refugio Lo Valdés (33°48'S, 70°03'W), Jun 1954, L. E. Peña (2♂, 4♀; USNM); Los Maitenes (33°32'S, 70°16'W; 1200–1300 m), 19 Oct 1954, L. E. Peña (1♂; USNM); Cantillana (33°58'S, 70°58'W; 2000 m), Dec 1969, L. E. Peña (2♂, 1♀; USNM). Talca: Talca (29.5 km N; 35°25'S, 71°25'W), 22 Dec 1950, E. S. Ross, A. E. Michelbacher (1♀; CAS); Vegas del Flaco (34°56'S, 70°02'W; 1350 m), Nov 1969, L. E. Peña (1♂; USNM). Valparaiso: Islas Juan Fernandez: Mas-a-Tierra (33°38'S, 78°52'W), 15 Jan–24 Mar 1951–1973, G. Barria, L. Cartagena, P. G. Kuschel, L. E. Peña (47♂, 53♀; CNC, USNM); Isla Más Afuera (33°45'S, 80°46'W), 31 Jan 1973, L. E. Peña (51♂, 68♀; CNC); Isla Santa Clara (33°42'S, 79°W), 1 Jun–30 Dec 1952–1954, P. J. Kusch, P. G. Kuschel (7♂, 3♀; USNM).

Distribution (Map 13). Neotropical: Argentina (Buenos Aires, Mendoza, Rio Negro) and Chile (Antofagasta, Bio Bio, Cautin, Concepción, Coquimbo, Curico, Llanquihue, Malleco, Maule, Nuble, O'Higgins, Osorno, Santiago, Talca, Valparaiso), between 28°–42°S and 62°– 79W.

Remarks. This is a common and widespread species in southern South America. Specimens are frequently abundant, and large numbers can often be collected in marshy habitats.

MAP 13. Distribution map for Neoephydra araucaria Mathis.