Culoptila nahuatl Flint

Fig. 28 A–C

Culoptila nahuatl Flint 1974a: 8 .

This species is similar to Culoptila aluca, C. azulae, and C. bidentata, agreeing in having a relatively short, subtruncate tergum X and an inflated phallobase with 2 prominent, curved spines. In C. nahuatl, however, the curved phallic spine, while enlarged basally, does not have the basal enlargement strongly sclerotized. Culoptila nahuatl differs most from C. aluca and C. azulae in having the posterodorsal apex of the phallobase distinctly upturned, and by the very narrow ventral margin of tergum IX. It differs from C. aluca and C. bidentata by the absence of a strong spine (and apparent fork) of the ventrolateral processes of tergum X, and from C. azulae and C. bidenta ta by its shorter inferior appendages.

Adult. Length of forewing: male 2.5 mm. Color light brown; wing without markings, anastomosis only indistinctly evident. Mesothorax of male narrow and greatly acute anteromesally; mesoscutal wart short, diamond­shaped, sharply angulate anteromesally. Mesothoracic tegulae of male rounded, greatly enlarged; tegular gland large, concertinalike, with small number of pleats (ca. 8–10).

Male genitalia. Sternum VI process short, subtruncate. Tergum IX ventral margin rounded, tapered from anterolateral margin, distinctly produced posteroventrally. Inferior appendages short, subacute apically. Tergum X short, length slightly less than width, apex in ventral view truncate to subtruncate; ventrolateral processes with apices incurved, mesal margin acute, or nearly so, apices slightly posteriorly bent, apical bend near apex and relatively weak, mesal margin of apex bluntly rounded, not acute. Phallobase large, broadly rounded in lateral view, apicodorsal projection short, with very distinct upward inflection at base, apex subacute. Phallic apparatus with 2 phallic spines, both elongate, narrow, weakly sinuous; longer spine about 2/3 length of phallobase, basal part distinctly recurved, with weakly sclerotized basal enlargement; shorter spine subequal, but lacking recurved base and basal enlargement.

Material examined

MEXICO: Veracruz: Fortín de las Flores, 17.v.1964 (Blanton et al.) — 32 male paratypes, 9 female paratypes (NMNH); same, except 24.vii.1966 (Flint & Ortiz) — male holotype (USNM Type No. 72731) (NMNH); Barranca de Metlac, ca. Fortín de las Flores, 30.iii.1976 (J. Bueno­Soria) — 129 males, 33 females (UNAM).

Distribution

MEXICO (Veracruz).