Milichiella cinerea (Coquillett, 1900)

Brake, Irina, 2009, Revision of Milichiella Giglio-Tos (Diptera, Milichiidae) 2188, Zootaxa 2188 (1), pp. 1-166 : 63-69

cinerea -group

Species in the cinerea -group are characterized by the combination of grey microtomentose frons, ocellar triangle, and orbital plates, grey microtomentose mesonotum with or without brown stripes, grey microtomentose scutellum, and silvery microtomentose male T2–5.

Distribution: Eastern North America, from Michigan and Ontario, south to Brazil.

Milichiella cavernae Brake , sp. n. (Pl. 27A, D, G)

Diagnosis. Differs from congeners in the combination of grey microtomentose mesonotum, white wing, black halter and narrow notch in posterior eye margin.

Description. Body length: 2.2 mm; wing length: 2.2 mm. Male coloration and vestiture: frons grey, with more or less pronounced median brown stripe, ocellar triangle and orbital plates grey microtomentose, lunule yellow, basoflagellomere basomedially yellow, face grey microtomentose, ventrally yellow, palpus black; thorax with mesonotum grey microtomentose with 5 more or less visible dark stripes; middle stripe extends onto scutellum, pleuron ventrally more brownish microtomentose, anepisternum with horizontal shiny stripe, wing white, veins yellow white, brown spot at apex of vein R1 absent, calypter white, halter black, legs black except for lighter bases of femora and tips of tibiae; abdomen with T2–5 silvery microtomentose except for shiny black narrow posterior tip and posterolateral corners of T5. Female coloration and vestiture: palpus yellow, halter yellow, abdomen with T2–5 brown microtomentose.

Head: frons with 2 (female: 2+0.5) orbital and 2 frontal setae, anterior frontal seta slightly medioreclinate. In males frons 2.1x as wide at posterior margin than at base of antenna, arista about 4.2x as long as basoflagellomere width, pubescence on arista very short, posterior eye margin with narrow notch (3om) and narrow emargination (1om).

Thorax: 2 dc, 1 prsc, 1 pprn, 1 prs, 2 keps setae, posterior prsc less than 0.8x as long as posterior dc, seta between posterior prsc and posterior dc absent. Wing with veins R 4+5 and M convergent (2.2); M-ratio is 2.8. Fore femur normal setulose, tibial organ absent.

Male abdomen: posteromedial triangular projection of T1 into T2 present. Tergal chaetotaxy: T2 anterolateral corner with single line of setae, T2–4 posterior margin with 1 row of scarce setulae, tip of T5 with long setae. S5 0.8 x as long as wide, 1.2x as long and 2.3x as wide as S4, posterior margin indented, nearly crescent shaped, long setulae (Pl. 27G). Male genitalia with apical seta on cercus much shorter than longest epandrial seta, 2 long posteroventral setae on epandrium, 1 seta on subepandrial plate, surstylus 0.5x as long as epandrium high, dilated apically (1.3x), 1.3x as long as wide, structure of lateral surface smooth, medial surface without setulae, but some long sensilla at margin (Pl. 27A, D).

Special characters: Male abdominal tergites and sternites 1–4 more or less yellow, silvery microtomentum long.

Holotype, ♂: TRINIDAD & TOBAGO. Trinidad : Saint Andrew Co., Tamana Caves (10°28'.12" N 61°12'0" W), 17.xi.1966, Darlington ( USNM, 3216633), in good condition.

Paratypes, same data as HT (15 ♂ 21♀ USNM, BMNH, 3216631–43, 3216646–48, 3216677–95, 3216698–99); HONDURAS. Atlantida: Corozal Town (15°48'0"N 86°43'.12"W), 30.viii.1967, Lacy & Lacy (♀ USNM, 3216675); JAMAICA. Surrey : Kingston, Kingston (17°58'.12" N 76°48'0" W) , 1–31.x.1950, Krauss (♀ USNM, 3216700) ; PANAMA. Darien: Garachine (8°4'.12" N 78°22'.12"W), 14.ii.1952, Blanton (♂ USNM, 3216649); Panama: Chilibre, Chilibrillo caves (9°9'0"N 79°37'.12"W), Tipton (9 ♂ 2♀ USNM, 3216663–73); Fort Clayton (9°1'.12" N 79°34'.12"W), 1951 (3 ♂ 4♀ USNM, 3216656–62); San Carlos (8°28'59.88"N 79°57'0"W), 17.ix.1952, Blanton (♀ USNM, 3216650) ; VENEZUELA. Zuila, Carrasquero (11°2'4.92"N 72°0'9"W), 29–30.v.1976, Menke & Vincent (♂ USNM, 3216655) .

Additional material examined: BRAZIL. Ceara: (5°0'0"S 40°0'0"W), Rocha (4 ♂ USNM, 3216651–4) ; VENEZUELA. Falcon: Paraguana Peninsula, Buena Vista, Cueva del Guano , 100 m (11°52'59.88"N 69°57'0"W), 3.iii.1971, Peck (1 ♂ 31♀ DEBU, 3217731–62) .

Material of questionable identity: ARGENTINA. Formosa: Clorinda (25°16'.12" S 57°45'0" W), 1–30.xi.1949, Golbach (♂ USNM, 3218980). Salta: Embarcación (23°15'0"S 64°4'59.88"W), 2–6.ii.1950, Golbach (♂ USNM, 3218979) .

Distribution: Honduras to Jamaica, south to Panama and Trinidad, east to northern Brazil (Ceara),? Argentina.

Etymology. The species name, cavernae , is a noun in the genitive case derived from the Latin caverna = cave, referring to the caves in which the specimens have been collected.

Remarks. Milichiella cavernae has been collected in caves and reared from bat dung.

Milichiella cinerea ( Coquillett, 1900) (Pl. 11E, F, J)

Ophthalmomyia cinerea Coquillett, 1900: 268 . Puerto Rico. Bayamon. HT ♀ USNM [lost]. Aldrich 1905: 651 [catalogue, North America];

Milichiella cinerea . Becker 1907: 535 [citation]; Malloch 1913b: 132 [description of male, Puerto Rico, Santo Domingo, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania] (pers. note: distribution doubtful); Melander 1913: 239 [key]; Curran 1928: 68 [citation]; Wolcott 1936: 391 [checklist, Puerto Rico]; Steyskal 1949: 131 [type information]; Sabrosky 1973: 4 [Neotropical catalogue]; Brake 2000: 105 [world catalogue].

Ophthalmomyia cineria . Misspelling. Wolcott 1923: 234 [citation].

Diagnosis. Differs from congeners in the combination of grey microtomentose mesonotum, white wing, yellow halter, yellow palpus and narrow notch in posterior eye margin.

Description. Body length:? mm; wing length: 1.9–2.1 mm. Male coloration and vestiture: frons grey, ocellar triangle and orbital plates grey microtomentose, lunule brown, basoflagellomere basomedially yellow, face grey microtomentose, ventrally yellow, palpus yellow; thorax with mesonotum grey microtomentose with 5 more or less visible dark stripes; middle stripe extends onto scutellum, pleuron ventrally more brownish microtomentose, anepisternum with small shiny spot, wing white, veins yellow white, brown spot at apex of vein R1 absent, calypter white, halter yellow, legs black; abdomen with T2–5 silvery microtomentose except for shiny black narrow posterior tip and posterolateral corners of T5. Female coloration and vestiture: halter yellow, abdomen with T2–5 brown microtomentose.

Head: frons with 2 (female with 2+0.4) orbital and 2 frontal setae, anterior frontal seta slightly medioreclinate. In males frons 2.9x as wide at posterior margin than at base of antenna, arista about 5.1x as long as basoflagellomere width, pubescence on arista very short, posterior eye margin with narrow notch (3om) and no emargination.

Thorax: 2 dc, 1 prsc, 1 pprn, 1 prs, 2 keps setae, posterior prsc less than 0.8x as long as posterior dc, seta between posterior prsc and posterior dc absent. Wing with veins R 4+5 and M convergent (~2.0); M-ratio is 2.5. Fore femur normal setulose, tibial organ absent.

Male abdomen: posteromedial triangular projection of T1 into T2 present. Tergal chaetotaxy: T2 anterolateral corner with single line of setae, T2–4 posterior margin with 1 row of scarce setulae, tip of T5 with long setae. S5 1.1 x as long as wide, 1.5x as long and 2.5x as wide as S4, trapezoid, posterior margin indented, setulose (Pl. 11J). Male genitalia with apical seta on cercus longer than epandrial setae, 1 seta on subepandrial plate, surstylus less than half as long as epandrium high, dilated apically (1.6x), 5.0x as long as wide, structure of lateral surface smooth, medial surface without setulae (Pl. 11E, F).

Special characters: silvery microtomentum on male tergites long and in rows.

Holotype, ♀: PUERTO RICO. Bayamon: Bayamon (18°24'0"N 66°10'.12"W), 1–31.i.1899, Busck ( USNM, 3218319; 4388), specimen lost, only pin with drop of glue left.

Additional material examined (all USNM): CUBA. Havana (23°7'.12" N 82°21'0" W), 28.i.1956 (♀, 3216626); DOMINICA. Roseau (15°18'0"N 61°22'59.88"W), 1–30.xi.1967, Krauss (♀, 3216627); DOMINI- CAN REPUBLIC. (19°0'0"N 70°40'.12"E), 6.viii.1905, Busck (♂, 3216622); GUYANA. Cuyuni- Mazaruni : Mazaruni Potaro Distr. , Kartabo Point (5°0'0"N 59°30'0"W), 27.xii.1983 (1 ♂ 1♀, 3216623–4); HONDURAS. Cortes: San Pedro Sula [?] (15°25'59.88"N 88°1'.12"W), 23.x.1956 (♀, 3216625) .

Material of questionable identity: BRAZIL. Santa Catarina: Nova Teutonia , 300–500 m (27°11'S, 52°23'W), 16.ix.1944, Plaumann (♀ USNM, 3216674) ; PANAMA. Colon: E shore Gatun Lake, near Colon (9°12'0"N 79°55'.12"W), 2–14.vii.1979, Broadhead (♀ USNM, 3216676); BOLIVIA. Santa Cruz: Boyuibe , 11 km W, 940 m (20°25'.12" S 63°16'59.88" W), 18.viii.–2.ix.2000, Irwin & Hauser (♀ DEBU, 3217728) ; COLOMBIA. (4°0'0"N 72°0'0"W), 1–31.v.1939, Dahl (♂ USNM, 3216629) ; COSTA RICA. Alajuela: Volcan Tenorio, Bijagua Biological Station , 700 m (10°43'59.88"N 85°6'0"W), 20.vi.2000, Buck (2♀ DEBU, 3217729–30) .

Distribution: Honduras and Cuba, east to Dominica and south to Guyana,? Brazil (Santa Catarina).

Remarks. The female type specimen of M. cinerea is lost. A male and female from Guyana were the only pair of the specimens available from a single collecting event that fit the original description of M. cinerea and were chosen as representatives of the species. Some specimens have been collected closer to the type locality, but never both sexes together, which made the allocation of the correct male to the original description of the female difficult. Milichiella cinerea has been reared from dry frass in a basal tree hole. Questionable specimens were collected through canopy fogging in humid forest and in Malaise traps and pans.

Pl. 11: A–B. Male genitalia, lateral view. A. Milichiella plaumanni, HT ; B. M. sp. F. C–D. M. tricincta . C. Surstylus; D. Male genitalia, lateral view. E–F. M. cinerea . E. Male genitalia, lateral view; F. Surstylus. G–J. Male sternite 4–5. G. M. plaumanni, HT ; H. M. sp. F; I. M. tricincta ; J. M. cinerea . Scale bar: 0.1.

Milichiella urbana Malloch, 1913 (Pl. 23A, B, G)

Milichiella urbana Malloch, 1913a: 284 . UNITED STATES. District of Columbia: Washington. HT ♀ USNM [lost]. Sabrosky 1965: 733 [Nearctic catalogue]; Poole 1996: 179 [Nearctic checklist]; Brake 2000: 106 [world catalogue].

Milichiella populi Steyskal, 1949: 130 . UNITED STATES. Michigan: Grosse Ile. HT ♂ UMMZ. Steyskal 1949: 130 [on bark of trunk of dead Populus deltoides ], 1953: 255 [on poplar], 1957: 92 [eye colour]. Syn. Sabrosky 1965: 733.

Diagnosis. Differs from other congeners in the combination of silvery grey microtomentose mesonotum, white wing, black palpus and wide notch in posterior eye margin.

Description. Body length: 2.4–2.5 mm; wing length: 2.3 mm. Male coloration and vestiture: frons sometimes greyish, ocellar triangle and orbital plates silvery grey or brown microtomentose, lunule brown, basoflagellomere brown, face greyish microtomentose, palpus black; thorax with mesonotum silvery grey microtomentose, sometimes with pair of brown stripes anteriorly and with different degree of brown shine, scutellum silvery grey microtomentose, pleuron brown microtomentose, wing white, veins white, brown spot at apex of vein R1 absent, calypter white, halter yellow (var.: black), legs black except for yellowish basitarsi (var.: completely black); abdomen with T1–5 silvery microtomentose except for brown microtomentose anterolateral corners of T2 and posterolateral corners of T5. Female coloration and vestiture: thorax with mesonotum brown microtomentose with a slight silvery shine, wing veins yellowish, halter yellow, abdomen with T2–5 subshiny brown.

Head: frons with 2+0.7 orbital and 2 frontal setae, anterior frontal seta medioclinate. In males frons 2.0x as wide at posterior margin than at base of antenna, arista about 6.0x as long as basoflagellomere width, pubescence on arista shorter than base of arista wide, posterior eye margin with wide notch (8om) and narrow emargination (2om). Female posterior eye margin with notch (6om), wide emargination (3om).

Thorax: 2–5 dc, 1–2 prsc, 1 pprn, 1 prs, 1–2 keps setae, posterior prsc less than 0.8x as long as posterior dc, seta between posterior prsc and posterior dc absent. Wing with veins R 4+5 and M weakly convergent (1.9); M-ratio is 3.3. Fore femur normal setulose, tibial organ absent.

Male abdomen: posteromedial triangular projection of T1 into T2 present. Tergal chaetotaxy: T2 anterolateral corner with single line of setae, T2–4 posterior margin with 1 row of setulae. S5 1.2 x as long as wide, 1.3x as long and 1.4x as wide as S4, setulose with relatively long setulae; triangular apodeme in middle of anterior margin of S4+5 (Pl. 23G). Male genitalia with apical seta on cercus as long as epandrial setae, 1 seta on subepandrial plate, surstylus 0.5x as long as epandrium high, slightly bent anteriorly, slightly dilated apically (1.2x), 1.8x as long as wide, structure of lateral surface smooth, medial surface without setulae, some long sensilla at margin (Pl. 23A, B).

Milichiella populi Paratypes: UNITED STATES. Michigan: Wayne Co., Grosse Ile (42°7'.12" N 83°9'0" E), 27.vi.1948, Steyskal (3 ♂ USNM, 3216448–9, 3216453), 3.vii.1948 (2 ♂ USNM, 3216451–2), 5.vii.1948 (♂ USNM, 3216450), 25.vii.1948 (♂ USNM, 3216454) .

Additional material examined (USNM unless otherwise indicated): CANADA. Ontario: Essex Co., Point Pelee National Park, wooded area by W beach (41°59'N, 82°27.5'W), 10–21.viii.1999, Lonsdale (3 ♂ 6♀ DEBU, 3217702–4, 3217721–6), 21.viii.–10.ix.1999 (2 ♂ 3♀ DEBU, 3217700–1, 321705–7); Point Pelee National Park (41°59'N, 82°27.5'W), 20–26.vii.1999, Tesolin (2♀ DEBU, 3217719–20), 26.vii.–4.viii.1999 (5 ♂ DEBU, 3217708–12), 4–10.viii.1999 (3 ♂ 3♀ DEBU, 3217713–8); Ottawa (45°25'.12" N 75°43'.12"W), 17.vii.1979, Teskey (♀ CNC, 3217148); UNITED STATES. Delaware: Sussex Co. , Gumboro (38°28'.12" N 75°21'0" W), 2.viii.1952, Sabrosky (♂, 3216470) . District of Columbia: Patuxent Refuge (39°19'59.88"N 77°10'.12"W), 10.vii.1924, Malloch (♂, 3216468); Washington (38°52'59.88"N 77°1'59.88"W), 8.vii.1925, Malloch (♀, 3216472) . Florida: Jackson Co., Florida Caverns St. Park (30°48'0"N 85°13'.12"W), 26.v.1973, Wirth (♀, 3216619); Leon Co. , Tall Timbers Research Station (30°25'59.88"N 84°16'.12"W), 29.v.1973, Wirth (♀, 3216620) . Michigan: Saginaw Co. (43°19'59.88"N 84°1'59.88"E), 23.viii.1942, Dreisbach (♀, 3216618); Wayne Co., Grosse Ile (42°7'.12" N 83°9'0" E), 19.vi.1949, Steyskal (♂, 3216466), 27.vi.1949 (♂, 3216465), 28.vi.1951 (4 ♂, 3216458–62), 7.vii.1949 (2 ♂ USNM, BMNH, 3216463–4), 27.vii.1951 (2 ♂, 3216455, 3216457), 28.vii.1951 (♂, 3216460) . New York: Lawrence Co., Coles Creek St. Park (44°49'59.88"N 75°6'0"W), 10.viii.1976, Alm (♀, 3216614) . Pennsylvania: Philadelphia Co., Philadelphia (39°57'0"N 75°9'0"W), 1–31.vii.1926, Johnson (♂, 3216469) . Tennessee: Anderson Co., Oak Ridge (36°0'0"N 84°16'.12"W), 23.vi.1955, Howden (1 ♂ 1♀, 3216467, 3216471). Texas: Travis Co. , Austin (30°16'.12" N 97°43'59.88" W), 10.x.1950, Wheeler (♀, 3216617) .

Milichiella urbana var. 1: UNITED STATES. West Virginia: Kanawha Co., So. Charleston (38°19'59.88"N 81°37'.12"W), 4.vi.1982, Adler (♂ USNM, 3216621) .

Distribution: Eastern North America, from Michigan and Ontario south to Florida, also Texas.

Remarks. The holotype of Milichiella urbana is lost. According to the original description the type was deposited in the author's collection, which is now in USNM. However, it was not found there.

One male from West Virginia has black halteres and tarsi. Milichiella urbana has been collected in Malaise and pan traps, from a beech tree hole and a sandy creek.

Milichiella sp. F (Pl. 11B, H)

Diagnosis. Differs from congeners in the combination of grey microtomentose mesonotum, scutellum and pleura, as well as hyaline wing and silvery white microtomentose T2–5.

Description. Body length: 1.7 mm; wing length: 2.0 mm. Male coloration and vestiture: frons grey, ocellar triangle and orbital plates grey microtomentose, lunule black, basoflagellomere basomedially red, face grey microtomentose, palpus dark; thorax with mesonotum grey microtomentose, scutellum and pleuron same, wing hyaline, veins light brown, brown spot at apex of vein R1 absent, calypter hyaline, halter light brown, legs black except for yellow fore coxa, basal half of fore femur, tip of fore and middle tibia, and tarsi; abdomen with T2–5 silvery white microtomentose. Female coloration and vestiture: palpus yellowish, thorax with mesonotum grey microtomentose, slight indication of brown stripes, calypter light brown, halter light brown, abdomen with T2–5 brown microtomentose.

Head: frons with 2 orbital and 2 frontal setae, anterior frontal seta medioclinate. In males frons 1.6x as wide at posterior margin than at base of antenna, arista about 4.0x as long as basoflagellomere width, pubescence on arista very short, posterior eye margin with notch (3om) and emargination (2om).

Thorax: 2 dc, 1 prsc, 1 pprn, 1 prs, 2 keps setae, posterior prsc less than 0.8x as long as posterior dc, seta between posterior prsc and posterior dc absent. Wing with veins R 4+5 and M convergent (2.2); M-ratio is>3. Fore femur normal setulose, tibial organ absent.

Male abdomen: posteromedial triangular projection of T1 into T2 present. Tergal chaetotaxy: T2 anterolateral corner with single line of setae, T2–4 posterior margin with 1 row of very scarce setulae, tip of T5 with some more setae. S5 0.9 x as long as wide, 1.2x as long and 3.3x as wide as S4, roughly triangular posterior margin indented, scarcely setulose (Pl. 11H). Male genitalia with apical seta on cercus shorter than longest epandrial seta, 1 seta on subepandrial plate, surstylus 0.7x as long as epandrium high, dilated apically (2.1x), 7.1x as long as high, structure of lateral surface smooth, medial surface without setulae, some longer sensilla along anterior margin (Pl. 11B).

Material examined: ECUADOR. Morona-Santiago: Rio Cuangos, Cuevas de Los Tayos (3°7'S, 78°12'W), 16.vii.1976, Hutson (1 ♂ 2♀ BMNH, 3215778–80) .

Distribution: Ecuador.

Remarks. Milichiella sp. F is not named because the description is based on only one male, which is not in very good condition.

Milichiella sp. G (Pl. 28C, D, G)

Diagnosis. Differs from congeners in the grey microtomentose mesonotum in combination with brown microtomentose pleura, yellow bases and tips of tibiae, and silvery microtomentose T2–5.

Description. Body length:? mm; wing length: ~ 2.3 mm. Male coloration and vestiture: frons grey except for yellow anterior margin, ocellar triangle, orbital and frontal plates grey microtomentose, lunule yellow, basoflagellomere basomedially yellow, face greyish microtomentose, palpus with at least tip black; thorax with mesonotum grey microtomentose, scutellum same, pleuron brown microtomentose except for shiny spots, wing hyaline, veins yellowish, brown spot at apex of vein R1 weak, calypter hyaline, halter yellow, legs black except for yellow bases and tips of all tibiae and tarsi; abdomen with T2–5 silvery microtomentose.

Head: frons with 2 orbital and 2 frontal setae, anterior frontal seta medioclinate. In males frons 2.1x as wide at posterior margin than at base of antenna, arista about 3.3x as long as basoflagellomere width, pubescence on arista very short, posterior eye margin with wide notch (7–8om) and narrow emargination (1om).

Thorax: 2 dc,? prsc, 1 pprn, 1 prs, 2 keps setae, posterior prsc less than 0.8x as long as posterior dc, seta between posterior prsc and posterior dc absent. Wing with veins R 4+5 and M slightly convergent (1.7); M-ratio is 2.5. Fore femur normal setulose, tibial organ absent.

Male abdomen: posteromedial triangular projection of T1 into T2 present. Tergal chaetotaxy: T2 anterolateral corner with single line of setae, T2–4 posterior margin with 1 row of scarce setulae. S5 0.9 x as long as wide, 1.3x as long and 1.1x as wide as S4, roundish with posterior margin indented, setulose (Pl. 28G). Male genitalia with apical seta on cercus longer than epandrial setae, 1 seta on subepandrial plate, surstylus 0.8x as long as epandrium high, bent posteriorly, dilated apically (1.6x), 4.0x as long as wide, structure of lateral surface smooth, medial surface without setulae (Pl. 28C, D).

Material examined: ARGENTINA. Tucumán: Villa Padre Monti (26°28'59.88"S 64°58'.12"W), 17.i.–7.ii.1948, Golbach (♂ USNM, 3216630); UNITED STATES. South Carolina: Beaufort Co., Fripp I. (32°22'.12" N 80°49'59.88" W), 26.ix.1973, Steyskal (♂ USNM, 3216628) .

Distribution. Argentina, South Carolina.

Remarks. The description of Milichiella sp. G is based on two male specimens that are very similar. However, they were collected far apart (South Carolina and Argentina) and one of the males is slightly discoloured. Therefore, I refrain from naming the species.