Culoptila barrerai Bueno ­ Soria & Santiago ­Fragoso

Fig. 14 A, B

Culoptila barrerai Bueno­Soria & Santiago­Fragoso 1996: 448 .

This distinctive species is not obviously similar to any other described species. It can be readily diagnosed by the elongate, apically truncate tergum X and the curved, acute, bifid apex of the lateral process of the same structure.

Adult. Length of forewing: male 2–2.6 mm. Color yellowish­brown in alcohol, appendages paler. Mesothorax of male slightly narrowed anteromesally; mesoscutal wart short, heart­shaped. Mesothoracic tegulae of male rounded, distinctly enlarged; tegular setae short; tegular gland short, pleated, concertina­like.

Male genitalia. Sternum VI process short, subtruncate. Tergum IX ventral margin rounded, tapered from anterolateral margin, distinctly produced posteroventrally. Inferior appendages short, subtruncate apically. Tergum X long, length greater than width, apex in ventral view truncate to subtruncate; ventrolateral processes with apices strongly curved and bifid, forming paired spine­like structures, both oriented posteriorly. Phallobase moderate in size, rounded in lateral view, apicodorsal projection moderately elongate, with very distinct upward inflection at base, apex rounded. Phallic apparatus apparently with three phallic spines, one elongate narrow, only slightly curved, slightly more than 1/2 length of phallobase, second narrow, slightly curved, about 1/2 length of longer spine, third spine about same length as second, very fine and needle­like (possibly part of phallotremal sclerite complex).

Material examined

MEXICO: Oaxaca: Pochutla, Finca Progreso, 2.vi.1987 (E. Barrera) — male holotype, 4 male paratypes (UNAM); Loxicha, 450 m, 22.x.1982 (J. Bueno­Soria) — 2 males (UNAM); Finca Pacifica, 2.vi.1985 (E. Barrera) — 5 male paratypes (NMNH).

Distribution

MEXICO (Oaxaca).