Stilobezzia (Stilobezzia) brasiliensis, Da Silva & Ferreira-Keppler & Cazorla, 2023

Da Silva, Irene M., Ferreira-Keppler, Ruth L. & Cazorla, Carla G., 2023, Stilobezzia Kieffer (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from the Brazilian Amazon: three new species, redescription of S. (Stilobezzia) maculata Lane and new records, Zootaxa 5249 (4), pp. 485-499 : 488-490

Stilobezzia (Stilobezzia) brasiliensis n. sp.

( Figs. 13–23 , 50)

Type Material. Holotype male ( INPA ) labeled. “Holotype Stilobezzia (Stilobezzia) brasiliensis Silva & Cazorla ”. BRAZIL, Amazonas , Manaus, Campina Biological Reserve, 02º35′28″ S – 60º01′48″ W, Malaise, 13–27.vii.2018, I.M. Da Silva and R. Ferreira-Keppler . Allotype female, same data as holotype, except: Campinarana, Malaise trap over stream, 23.x–09.xi.2018 .

Paratypes: 2 males, same data as holotype, except Malaise trap, 04–23.x.2018 : 3 males ( INPA ).

Diagnosis. Only extant species of Stilobezzia (Stilobezzia) in the Neotropical Region with the following combination of characters: legs brown with wide pale band on medial portion of mid and hind femora; wing with dark spots on r-m, first radial cell, end of R 1 and end of R 3, followed by a rounded hyaline area. Male: genitalia with slender parameres, with a hand-shaped lateromedial projection. Female: sternite 8 with U-shaped posteromedian excavation and 3 pairs of setae.

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Description. Male. Head ( Figs. 13, 15 ) dark brown; antenna with yellowish brown pedicel; plume dense, golden colored; flagellomeres 1–9 pale brown, apex paler; flagellomere 10–13 paler brown at base; apex darker; 11 pale; 12 light brown at apex; 13 brown AR 0.80–0.89 (0.84; n=3). Palpus black; segment 3 with rounded sensory pit, with stout setae; segment 5 as long as 3; PR 2.18–2.60 (2.46; n=3). Thorax ( Fig. 13 ) dark brown; scutum with small rounded anteromedial projection; posterior portion between wings flattened; scutellum with 4 stout setae, 2 medial, 2 lateral. Legs dark brown, except medial 1/3 of mid, hind femora pale; femora with pale apical rings; tibiae with pale basal rings; hind tibial comb with 6–7 stout spines. Tarsomeres ( Fig. 13 ) pale brown; tarsomere 1 of fore leg with 3–4 stout anterobasal spines; tarsomere 1 of mid leg with anterobasal spine; tarsomere 1 of hind leg with 1 stout anterobasal spine; prothoracic TR 2.12–2.22 (2.16; n=3); mesothoracic TR 2.37–2.61 (2.46; n=3); metathoracic TR 1.90–2.36 (2.12; n=3). Wing ( Fig. 17 ) with dark spot on r-m cross-vein, first radial cell and ends of R 1; another spot at end of R 3, followed by a rounded hyaline area; second radial cell 4X longer than first; cubital fork before level of base of r-m cross-vein; wing length 1.22–1.30 mm (1.26 mm; n=3); width 0.40–0.44 mm (0.42 mm; n=3); CR 0.70–0.76 (0.73; n=3). Halter base pale brown; knob dark brown. Abdomen ( Fig. 13 ) brown, tergites 1–8 with dark brown rectangular spots. Genitalia ( Figs. 19, 20 ) dark brown; tergite 9 shorter than gonocoxite, posterior margin straight; cerci elongate. Sternite 9 3.6X broader than long. Gonocoxite 2.5X longer than wide. Gonostylus shorter than gonocoxite, slightly curved distally, distal half paler, apex rounded. Parameres ( Fig. 21 ) subparallel, as long as gonocoxite, joined at base; mid portion of stem with a hand-shaped lateral projection, apex slender, convergent; basal apodemes stout, boomerang-shaped. Aedeagus ( Fig. 22 ) composed of two elongated sclerites; basal portion curved, slightly, swollen; apical portion narrowed.

Female. Similar to male, with the following notable sexual differences: Head ( Fig. 14 ). Antenna with base of flagellomeres whitish; AR 0.98 n =1. Palpus with segment 3 elongate, stout; PR 2.08. Mandible with 7–8 teeth. Thorax. Claws ( Fig. 16 ) as long as tarsomeres 5; basal tooth surpassing mid-length of the claw; prothoracic TR 2.14; mesothoracic TR 2.69; metathoracic TR 2.05. Wing. ( Fig. 18 ) length 1.48 mm; width 0.52 mm; CR 0.78. Abdomen ( Figs. 14, 23 ). Sternite 8 with U-shaped posteromedian excavation with 3 pairs of setae; sternite 9 sclerotized, with folded margin; sternite 10 with 5 pairs of setae; cerci short, rounded. Two ovoid, sclerotized, spermathecae with long neck, measuring 60–50 µm and 60–30 µm, plus, an ovoid rudimentary third spermatheca.

Distribution. Brazil (Manaus, Amazonas).

Etymology. The specific name brasiliensis refers to Brazil, the country where the specimens were collected.

Remarks. This new Amazonian species shares several characters with S. (S.) beckae Wirth, 1953 , a species also found in the Nearctic Region: the golden yellow coloration of the male antennal plume, the small projection on the anteromedial portion of the scutum, the flattened posterior portion between wings, the presence of two dark spots on the wings and the first tarsomere 1 of the foreleg with 3–4 anterobasal spines. The male genitalia of both species are similar, except for the absence of a hand-shaped projection on the parameres of S. beckae .

The shape of the gonocoxite and gonostylus of the male of S. brasiliensis n. sp. also resembles those of the Neotropical species S. punctulata Lane, 1947 , but the parameres of this species are not joined at base and lack the hand-shaped projection, and the legs are yellowish with dark spots on the femora and tibiae.

Figures

FIGURES 13–23. Stilobezzia (Stilobezzia) brasiliensis n. sp., male 13, 15, 17 20–22; female 14, 16, 18, 23; 13. Habitus, lateral view; 14. Habitus, lateral view; 15. Head, dorsal view; 16. Tarsi and claws, lateral view; 17–18. Wing; 19–20. Genitalia, ventral view; 21. Parameres, ventral view; 22. Aedeagus, ventral view; 23. Genitalia, ventral view