Chrysomydas phoenix Calhau & Lamas, 2019

Calhau, Julia, Lima, Sheila, Rafael, José Albertino & Lamas, Carlos José Einicker, 2019, A taxonomic synopsis of Chrysomydas Wilcox, Papavero & Pimentel (Diptera: Mydidae: Mydinae), with first bionomic records for the genus and description of a new species from Brazil, Zootaxa 4664 (1), pp. 103-114 : 107-111

Chrysomydas phoenix Calhau & Lamas sp. nov.

( Figs 2 A–F, 3H–K, 4F–J, 6)

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Diagnosis. Labellum about 1.7x longer than wide. T2–T5 with discrete green metallic reflection, with long black setulae, directed outwards. Scutum without distinct pruinose spots. Male cerci exposed, uncovered by epandrial lamellae; distal process of the gonocoxite-hypandrial complex apically wide, truncate, with roundish dorsal tip and acute ventral tip.

Description. Male holotype. Greatest length, excluding antennae 29.4 mm. Head ( Figs 2A,B,D,E ). 4.0 mm high in lateral view, 6.3 mm wide in anterior view. Black, facial gibbosity dark brown, about as high as wide. Setulae dark brown to black; mystax dark brown, centrally sparse. Pruinescence scarce, gray. Mouthparts: proboscis dark brown. Labellum about 1.7x longer than wide. Antenna: dark brown. Setulae of scape and pedicel all black. Scape 0.7 mm long. Pedicel 0.3 mm long; proximal postpedicel 4.2 mm long; distal postpedicel not distinctly inflated, 3.3 mm long, 0.7 mm wide, broader at about three-quarters of its length; sensory area rounded, restricted to apex on inner surface of antenna. Thorax ( Figs 2A,B ). Dark brown. Setulae of scutum black, present anteriorly on dorsocentral area, lateral margins, postalar callus and posteriorly close to scutellum; pruinescence grayish, scarce. Scutum without distinct pruinose spots. Scutellum black setulose, lightly pruinose. Mediotergite lightly pruinose. Pleura dark brown; lightly gray-pruinose. Anepisternum black setulose on dorsal and posterior margins. Anepimeron long black setulose. Katepimeron black setulose. Prosternum and proepisternum long black and white setulose. Meso- sternum long black-setulose. Metakatepisternum ventrally long black setulose. Metepimeron black setulose. Legs ( Fig. 2B ). Dark brown; setulae black, fore and mid tibiae densely setulose. Hind femur 8.6 mm long, 1.5 mm wide; black spiniform macrosetae distributed in anteroventral and anterodorsal rows. Hind femur with long, erect setulae dorsally. Hind tibia 6.95 mm long, 0.72 mm wide; ventral keel developed; apical spur acute, 0.46 mm long. Hind tibia with strong anteroventral setulae at base of spine. Hind tarsomere 1 1.64 mm long; 0.46 mm wide; hind tarsomere 2 0.75 mm long; hind tarsomere 3 0.59 mm long; hind tarsomere 4 0.49 mm long; hind tarsomere 5 1.08 mm long. Pulvillus pale brown, shorter than fore, mid and hind tarsomere 5. Claw reddish brown, tip black. Wing ( Fig. 2F ). 23.97 mm long, 7.53 mm high. Alula 2.23 mm long, 2.05 mm high. Membrane hyaline, very light brown; microtrichiae absent. Veins orange to brown. C with short black setulae on anterior wing margin and very short brown microtrichia on posterior wing margin. Sc ending in C, reaching about two thirds of length of cell r 4. R 3 (“stump vein”) emerging from R 4, a little after its base; cell r 4 closed (R 5 terminating in R 1); M 3+4 present. Upper calypter pale brown with margin yellow; broader medially; marginal squamous setulae yellowish-white. Halter dark brown. Abdomen ( Figs 2A,B,F ). Tergites and sternites mostly with dark brown to black setulae; T1 and T2 with few golden setulae; T1 black; T2–5 with discrete green metallic reflection, with long black setulae, directed outwards. Sternites black setulose. Tergites and sternites very lightly pruinose. Anterior portion of T1 convex, slightly pointed, asetulose. Bulla reddish brown, about 4x as long as wide. Male terminalia ( Figs 3 A–D). Black, setulae black. Epandrial lamella with distinct posterior spur, tip slightly curved. Cercus uncovered by epandrial lamellae. Phallus with bifid dorsal crest. Distal process of gonocoxite-hypandrial complex apically wide, truncate, with roundish dorsal tip and acute ventral tip.

Pupa ( Figs 4 A–E). Greatest length, not including anterior antennal or dorsal posterolateral processes 27.7 mm. Greatest width of thorax 5.8 mm. Greatest width of abdomen 6.4 mm. Body pale brown. Spines reddish brown, distally darker. Anterior antennal processes spiniform, reddish on proximal third, black on distal two thirds, rugose, curved outwards. Maxillary sheath rugose. Proboscidal sheath short, rugose, truncate. Prothoracic spiracle laterally at anterior margin of thorax on highly rugose, raised area. Anterior lateral mesothoracic callosity reddish, flat, rugose. Wing sheath with small basal reclinate spine. Thoracic area above wing sheath smoothly transversely rugose. Leg sheaths rugose. Leg sheath 3 reaching to middle of abdominal segment 2. Spiracles of abdominal segments 1–7 situated along midline laterally, raised, shining, reddish. Spiracle of segment 8 not as conspicuous as the remain- ing abdominal spiracles. Abdominal segment 1 anteriorly with 14 flattened proclinate spines, posterolaterally with 10–12 reclinate spines, some of them bifid. Abdominal segments 2–7 each with 39–57 posterior flattened erect to reclinate spines. Abdominal segment 2 with 57 posterior flattened erect to reclinate spines, with 18 dorsal, 8–10 on each lateral and 21 ventral. Abdominal segment 3 with 49 posterior flattened erect to reclinate spines, with 18 dorsal, 9 on each lateral and 22 ventral. Abdominal segment 4 with 54 posterior flattened erect to reclinate spines, with 17 dorsal, 8–9 on each lateral and 20 ventral. Abdominal segment 5 with 56 posterior flattened erect to reclinate spines, with 18 dorsal, 7–8 on each lateral and 23 ventral. Abdominal segment 6 with 48 posterior flattened erect to reclinate spines, with 15 dorsal, 8 on each lateral, and 17 ventral. Abdominal segment 7 with 39 posterior flattened erect to reclinate spines, with 15 dorsal, 6 on each lateral and 12 ventral. Abdominal segment 8 dorsally with 4 reclinate short spines, laterally with 1 long and 1–2 small reclinate spine on each of two raised tubercular areas on each side, with 8 erect ventral spines. Abdominal segment 9 with pair of divergent long posterior spiniform processes, ventrally curved.

Etymology. The specific epithet is an allusion to the Greek mythological bird Phoenix, which obtains new life by arising from its own ashes. This name represents the resurgence of the MNRJ after the terrible fire that destroyed most of its collections, including nearly the entire insect collection.

Type material. HOLOTYPE ♂: [ Brazil, Rio de Janeiro State] Rio de Janeiro, ii. xi.1964, P. Buhrnheim [col.] [ Male imago with associated pupal exuviae on two separate pins]. ( MNRJ)* * It should be noted that this specimen was borrowed from the Museo Nacional several years ago. It was not impacted by the loss of the collection due to the fire in September 2018 as the specimen remained on loan to the senior author at MZUSP. It will be returned to MNRJ when appropriate collection spaces are available.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Chrysomydas phoenix sp. nov., male holotype (MNRJ), before dissection of terminalia. A. Dorsal habitus; B. Lateral habitus; C. Labels; D. Antenna, inner surface; E. Head, frontal view; F. Wing.

FIGURE 3. Male and female terminalia of Chrysomydas. A–D. Chrysomydas nitidulus (male, UFMG); A. Epandrium and proctiger, dorsal view; B. Gonocoxite-hypandrial complex and associate structures, dorsal view; C. same, ventral view; D. same, lateral view; E–G. Chrysomydas nitidulus (female, INPA); E. Sternite 8; F. Female terminalia, dorsal view; G. same, ventral view; H–K. Chrysomydas phoenix sp. nov. (male holotype, MNRJ); H. Epandrium and proctiger, dorsal view; I. Gonocoxite-hypandrial complex and associate structures, dorsal view; J. same, ventral view; K. same, lateral view. Abbreviations: cerc, cercus; ph, phallus; phc, phallic crest; sps, sclerite of spermathecal ducts; S, sternite; S9, genital fork; T, tergite.

FIGURE 4. Pupal exuviae of Chrysomydas. A–E. Chrysomydas nitidulus (female, INPA). F–J. Chrysomydas phoenix sp. nov. (male, MNRJ). Abbreviations: aap, anterior antennal process; abs, abdominal spiracles; amsp, anterior mesothoracic spines; dpp, dorsal posterolateral process; ls, labral sheath; ls1, leg sheath 1; ls2, leg sheath 2; ls3, leg sheath 3; ms, maxillary sheath; pap, posterior antennal processes; pmc, posterior mesothoracic callosity; prs, proboscidal sheath; ps; palpal sheath; pths, prothoracic spiracle; vc, ventral callosity; vpp, ventral posterolateral process; ws, wing sheath.