Pseudophygopoda albitarsis (Klug, 1825) comb. nov.

(Figs. 74−94, 148)

Stenopterus albitarsis Klug, 1825: 475, pl. 44, fig. 12.

Odontocera albitarsis; White, 1855: 188.

Acyphoderes albitarsis; Lacordaire, 1869: 506.

Phygopoda albitarsis; Bates, 1870: 327 (distr.; mim.); Gemminger & Harold, 1872: 2892 (cat.); Bates, 1873: 125; Aurivillius, 1912: 284 (cat.); Blackwelder, 1946: 577 (check); Monné, 1993: 50 (cat.); Monné & Giesbert, 1994: 98 (check); Monné, 2005: 499 (cat.); Monné & Hovore, 2006: 123 (check); Wappes et al., 2006: 18 (distr.); Bezark & Monné, 2013: 164 (check).

Physopoda albitarsis; Linsley, 1959: 130 (mim) (sic).

Paraphygopoda albitarsis; Clarke, 2014: 350, fig. 3, 11; Monné, 2015: 781 (cat.).

Epimelitta viridimicans Fisher, 1952: 2; Zajciw, 1960: 94; Zajciw & Campos-Seabra, 1968: 70 (distr.); Zajciw, 1972: 55; 1974: 58 (distr.); Monné, 1993: 50 (cat.); Monné & Giesbert, 1994 (check); Monné, 2005: 463 (cat.); Monné & Hovore, 2006: 116 (check); Monné et al., 2009: 20 (distr.); Monné et al., 2010: 242 (distr.); Bezark & Monné, 2013: 159 (check). Syn. nov.

Paraphygopoda viridimicans; Clarke, 2014: 350, fig. 4, 13; Monné, 2015: 782 (cat.).

Paraphygopoda nappae Clarke, 2014: 353, fig. 5; Monné, 2015: 782 (cat.). Syn. nov.

Epimelitta longipennis Zajciw, 1963: 423, fig. 2; Julio et al., 2000: 11 (holotype); Monné, M. A. 2005: 461 (cat.); Monné, M. L. et al., 2010: 242 (distr.). Syn. nov.

Paraphygopoda longipennis; Clarke, 2014: 351; Monné, 2015: 781 (cat.).

Male (Figs. 75−77; 79−81). Integument from brown to black with metallic violet to greenish iridescence; humeri with yellowish spot at side (rarely absent), reddish-brown legs, metafemora with yellowish ring at base (sometimes absent), and metatarsi whitish to yellowish.

Eyes frontally separated by about 1/7 width of lower ocular lobe; inner margin of lower ocular lobes and margins of clypeus covered with bright whitish pubescence. Antennae (Figs. 75−77; 79−81) reaching second or third ventrite; antennomeres 3−5 each with row of long semierect setae on inner margin; 6 and 7 (sometimes extending to 8) with similar setae at apex of inner margin.

Prothorax sparsely covered with whitish setae, denser at sides. Mesosternum covered with long semierect setae. Mesosternal process about 1/3 to 1/2 diameter of a mesocoxa. Mesepisternum, mesepimeron, metepisternum and metasternum covered with whitish pubescence. Scutellum densely covered with whitish-yellow pubescence, bright or matte surface.

Ratio between length of metafemoral clave and peduncle vary from 0.6 to 1.15; pro- and mesotarsi with ventral surface densely covered with short fine yellowish pubescence and dorsal surface covered with dark-brown pubescence; metatarsi yellowish to brown, covered with whitish pubescence; metatarsomere I from equal to 1.2 times longer than length of II and III together.

Ventrite with lateral spots of bright whitish pubescence (sometimes absent). Last visible urotergite trapezoidal with shortest side facing posteriorly; rounded apex. Last urosternite with apical margin covered with short decumbent whitish pubescence.

Terminalia: sternite 8 (Fig. 83) narrow, with basal margin not excavated at sides, and apical margin with median region flat and projected at sides; sternal apophysis long, about 2 times greatest width of sternite. Tergite 8 (Fig. 82) as wide as long, covered with sparse setae at sides and on apical third; apical and basal margin truncate. Ventral arch (Fig. 84) fork-shaped, with long apophysis, about 2 times longer than arm; dorsal arch absent. Tegmen (Figs. 85−87) as long as median lobe; distal region almost totally divided into cylindrical-elongate parameres, strongly narrowing after base, with apices rounded and short setae; ring piece convergent, acuminate, apically merged and with long projection, half-length of ring piece. Median lobe (Figs 88−90): dorsal lobe shorter than ventral; slightly curved in lateral view. Ventral and dorsal lobes acuminate at apex; basal apophysis longer than apical portion; internal sac without sclerotized pieces.

Female (Figs. 74, 78). Head anteriorly with smooth area, except for sparse punctures. Eyes frontally separated by about 3/2 width of lower ocular lobe; inner margin of ocular lobes and margin of clypeus without bright pubescence and with punctures provided with short decumbent setae.

Last visible urotergite elongate, narrowing to rounded apex; last visible urosternite elongate, with emarginated apex, external angles acutely projected and median region slightly sinuous.

Terminalia: sternite (Fig. 91) and tergite 8 (Fig. 92) elongate, merged, with tubular aspect; apical margin truncate. Sternal apophysis elongate, about 1.5 times longer than sternite. Ovipositor (Figs. 93, 94) membranous, very elongate, more than 7 times longer than wide; limit between proximal and distal region not evident; apical region with elongate subcylindrical lobes, about 3 times longer than wide; external margins with setae; stylus latero-apical, cylindrical; spermathecal duct short, less than 3 times length of spermatheca; spermatheca C-shaped with rounded apex; spermathecal gland as long as spermatheca.

Variation. Elytra (Figs. 74−81) may have lighter spots, from dark brown to yellowish, varying in size, sometimes extended as a central median band from the base toward the elytral apex.

Basal half of metafemora and metatibiae may be yellowish. Metatarsi (Figs. 74−81) ranging from totally whitish to totally black, with some specimens showing tarsomeres of both shades.

Measurements, in mm. Male/female. n = 66/45. Total length, 12.08±0.5/10.15±1.37; prothorax length, 1.61±0.34/1.41±0.35; prothorax width, 1.54±0.3/1.29±0.28; elytral length, 4.54±0.34/2.51±0.7; humeral width, 2.18±0.2/1.8±0.23.

Type-material. We examined the male holotype of Paraphygopoda longipennis from Corcovado (Rio de Janeiro), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (MNRJ). We also examined photographs (taken by Dr. Joachim Willers) of the female holotype of Paraphygopoda albitarsis (Fig. 74) (ZMHB) from Pará, Brazil; photographs (available from: http://plant.cdfa.ca.gov/byciddb/details.asp?id=3841) of the holotype of E. viridimicans (Fig. 78) (AMNH) from Caviuna (Rolândia), Paraná, Brazil and photographs of the male holotype (Fig. 81 from Clarke, 2014: 352, fig. 5) of Paraphygopoda nappae .

Comments. Klug (1825) described Stenopterus albitarsis from Pará (Brazil). Afterwards, White (1855) transferred it to Odontocera Audinet-Serville, 1833 . Lacordaire (1869) next transferred this species to Acyphoderes Audinet-Serville, 1833, them Bates (1870) transferred it to Phygopoda and recently Clarke (2014) described the genus Paraphygopoda designating this species as type species.

Fisher (1952), describing Epimelitta viridimicans (Figs. 78), commented on this species: it seems to be out of place in the genus Epimelitta, but since the genera are so badly confused, it does not seem advisable to erect a new genus for this unique female until a revisional study can be made of the tribe. In fact the specimens examined by Fisher show characteristics that differ from Epimelitta and are similar to Pseudophygopoda . These characteristics are the same as presented above for Pseudophygopoda albitarsis comb. nov.

The examination of large number of specimens of Epimelitta viridimicans, Epimelitta longipennis and Pseudophygopoda albitarsis comb. nov., and their original descriptions and photographs, as well as the study of original description and photographs of the holotype of Paraphygopoda nappae indicated that there is actually only one species and that the differences among the specimens are considered intraspecific variations, which can be partially observed in Figures 74 to 81.

Pseudophygopoda albitarsis comb. nov. differs from Pseudophygopoda subvestita by the characteristics mentioned in the comments on this latter.

Bates (1870) and Linsley (1959) compared this species with large mosquitoes of the genus Culex Linnaeus, 1758 ( Diptera: Culicidae).

Geographical distribution. Brazil (Pará, Rondônia, Espírito Santo to Paraná), Bolivia. This species is newly reported from Brazil for Amazonas, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Bahia and Minas Gerais (Fig. 148).

Specimens examined. BRAZIL, Amazonas: Tef, female, XII.1947 (BMNH). Rondônia: Ariquemes (Fazenda Rancho Grande), male, 14.X1993, C. W. and L. B. O'Brien leg. (ACMT); male, 9.XI.1994, C. W. and L. B. O'Brien leg. (ACMT); Ouro Preto do Oeste, male and female, VIII.1980, B. Silva leg. (MNRJ); Pimenta Bueno, male, X.1986, O. Roppa, P. Magno and J. Becker leg. (MNRJ); Vilhena, 2 males, X.1988, O. Roppa, P. Magno and J. Becker leg. (MNRJ). Mato Grosso: Barra do Bugres, 11 males and 3 females, X. 1984, B. Silva leg. (MNRJ); Sinop, male, X.1976 (MNRJ). Mato Grosso do Sul: Bataguassu (Rio Caraguatá), 2148’S, 5227’W, female, XI.1953, Fritz Plaumann leg. (MNRJ). Bahia: Encruzilhada (Estrada Rio-Bahia, Km 965), 960 m, 3 males, XI.1972, C. A. Seabra and O. Roppa leg. (MNRJ); male and female, XI.1974, C. A. Seabra and O. Roppa leg. (MNRJ). Minas Gerais: Águas Vermelhas, male, XI.1970, F. M. Oliveira leg. (MNRJ); Chalé, female, XI.1973, Emerich leg. (MNRJ); Barreira de Piquete (Serra da Mantiqueira), 1,500 m, 10.I.1961, male, P. San Martín and H. Schubart leg. (MNRJ); Pedra Azul, male, XII.1970, F. M. Oliveira leg. (MNRJ); male and female, XI.1971, F. M. Oliveira leg. (MNRJ); 700 m, 16 males and 10 females, XI.1972, C. A. Seabra and F. M. Oliveira leg. (MNRJ); Santana do Riacho (Parque Nacional Serra do Cipó), 11 males, XI.1996, M. L. and M. A. Monné leg. (MNRJ). Espírito Santo: Baixo Guandu, 7 males and 3 females, X.1976, B. Silva leg. (MNRJ); female, 8.IX.1971, P. C. Elias leg. (DZUP); Barra de São Francisco (Córrego do Itá), 3 females, XI.1956, W. Grossmann leg. (MNRJ); 3 females, XI.1957, A. Almeida leg. (MNRJ); Colatina, female, X.1976, A. Silva leg. (MNRJ); Linhares (Parque Sooretama), female, X. 1962, F. M. Oliveira leg. (MNRJ); female, 2.XI.1964, Werner, F. M. Oliveira and C. A. Seabra leg. (MNRJ); female, X.1967, F. M. Oliveira leg. (MNRJ). Rio de Janeiro: Rio de Janeiro (Corcovado), male, 7.XI.1956, D. Zajciw leg. (MNRJ); female, 28.XI.1957, C. A. Seabra and Alvarenga leg. (MNRJ); female, 26.XII.1957, D. Zajciw leg. (MNRJ); female, 21.VIII.1958, C. A. Seabra leg. (MNRJ); female, 10.X.1958, Alvarenga and C. A. Seabra leg. (MNRJ); 2 females, 30.X.1958, Alvarenga and C. A. Seabra leg. (MNRJ); female, 6.I.1960, Alvarenga and C. A. Seabra leg. (MNRJ); male, X.1960, Alvarenga and C. A. Seabra leg. (MNRJ); male, 18.X.1963, Alvarenga and C. A. Seabra leg. (MNRJ); female, 8.XI.1963, Alvarenga and C. A. Seabra leg. (MNRJ); male, 28.XI.1963, Alvarenga and C. A. Seabra leg. (MNRJ); female, 3.XII.1965, Alvarenga and C. A. Seabra leg. (MNRJ); male, 15.IX.1968, S. F. A. leg. (MNRJ); male, 31.XII.1969, Alvarenga and C. A. Seabra leg. (MNRJ); female, 16.XI.1970, Alvarenga and C. A. Seabra leg. (MNRJ); Barra de São João, male, 26.IX.1990, O. Roppa leg. (MNRJ); Floresta da Tijuca, male, 20.XI.1981, C. A. Campos Seabra leg. (MNRJ); 2 males, 22.XI.1981, C. A. Campos Seabra leg. (MNRJ); 2 males, 30. XI.1981, C. A. Campos Seabra leg. (MNRJ); male, 3.XII.1981, C. A. Campos Seabra leg. (MNRJ); male and female, 22.X.1982, C. A. Campos Seabra leg. (MNRJ); male, 3.XI.1982, C. A. Campos Seabra leg. (MNRJ); female, 31.X.1985, C. A. Campos Seabra leg. (MNRJ). São Paulo: Campinas, male, 6.IX.1981, A. M. Silva leg. (MNRJ); Regente Feijó, 2 males, 26 and 30.X.1945, Nick leg. (MNRJ); São Paulo (Jabaquara), female, 1.XII.1943, H. Zellibor leg. (MNRJ); Serra da Bocaina (São José do Barreiro), 1600 m, female, XI.1967, Alvarenga and C. A. Seabra leg. (MNRJ). BOLIVIA, Cochabamba: Chapare, 2 females, 12.IX.1945, H. Zellibor leg. (MNRJ).