Culoptila aluca Mosely

Figs. 6, 11 A, B

Culoptila aluca Mosely 1954: 337 .

This species is very similar to Culoptila azulae Bueno­Soria & Santiago ­ Fragoso 1996, and also to C. bidentata, n. sp. It differs from either of these by its shorter inferior appendages and also by the apical fork of the lateral process of tergum X, which is absent in C. azulae and less distinctly branched in C. bidentata . All of these species have a short, subtruncate tergum X and an inflated and much rounded phallobase with 2 prominent spines, 1 of which is much enlarged and heavily sclerotized basally. In Culoptila aluca the longer spine is the one without a prominent enlarged base, whereas the opposite is true in the other 2 species. In both C. aluca and C. azulae the tegulae of the males are much enlarged and the shape of the anterior margin of the thorax is consequently much narrowed (a character shared with a number of other species); in C. bidentata the tegulae of the males are only moderately enlarged and the shape of the thorax is not greatly modified.

One examined specimen of C. aluca had inferior appendages similar in size and shape to C. azulae . The form of the apicolateral process of tergum X and the shape and relative lengths of the phallic spines were otherwise typical of C. aluca .

Adult. Length of forewing: male 2.0– 2.8 mm. Color yellowish­brown in alcohol, appendages paler. Mesothorax of male narrow and greatly acute anteromesally; mesoscutal wart elongate, narrowed, rounded anteromesally; mesoscutal setae long. Mesothoracic tegulae of male rounded, greatly enlarged; tegular setae long; tegular gland elongate, pleated, concertina­like.

Male genitalia. Sternum VI process short, rounded. Tergum IX ventral margin rounded, tapered from anterolateral margin, slightly produced posteroventrally. Inferior appendages short, subtruncate apically. Tergum X short, about as long as wide, apex in ventral view truncate to subtruncate; ventrolateral processes with apices incurved, nearly planar in caudal view, mesal margin acute; apices not or scarcely posteriorly bent, with prominent, diverging fork or branch from posterior margin, forming acute spine­like projection. Phallobase large, broadly rounded in lateral view, apicodorsal projection short, with slight inflection at base, apex subacute. Phallic apparatus with 2 phallic spines, one greatly elongate and narrow, strongly recurved at base, without basal enlargement, the other shorter, stouter, extending over 2/3 length of phallobase, basally greatly enlarged.

Material examined

MEXICO: Guerrero: Zihuaquio, km 95, ruta Ciudad Altamirano­Zihuatanejo, 24.vii.1985 (R. Barba) — 2 males (NMNH), 9 males (UNAM); Acahuizotla, 4.v.1982 (Barrera & Brailovsky) — 1 male (UNAM); Morélos: San Rafael V. Aranda, 26.iii.1982 (H. Velasco) — 1 male (UNAM); Vicente Aranda, Río Amacuzac, 26.ii.1986 (H. Velasco) — 37 males (NMNH), 303 males (UNAM); 2.5 km N of Huautla, Estación C.E.A.M.I.S.H., 18°27’40"N, 099°02’29"W, 940 m, 14.ii.1996 (E. Gonzalez) — 3 males (UNAM); Oaxaca: Candelaria de Loxicha, Finca Pacífica, 510 m, 2.vi.1985 (E. Mariño) — 1 male (UNAM).

Distribution

MEXICO (Guerrero, Michoacán, Morélos, Oaxaca).